Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are they for advanced, intermediate, or beginners? What kind of experience should one have before keeping them? What's the usual price on a CB (if they exist)? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

but if its something you are going to take on regardless of what people say, i'd suggest talking to odatriad, JPshadows or Dragoon. I think they all keep this species.
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Jaye- "If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation.". ... Jiddu Krishnamurti

I didn't say I was a novice or that I was going to purchase the animal. But thanks for the info none the less.

and i was not calling you a novice, instead answering your question which was if they were for advanced, intermediate or beginner. I was simply crossing beginners off the list of choices. Nor was i assuming you were out to purchase one but incase you were being as though i dont know you or your intentions, i was simply giving you a small list of successful keepers of the species of interest. I had hoped if you were to ask one or all of them about the specifics of the animal that it might help. So if you still interested in learning abit more about the ease or difficulty of this species scroll down and look for any posts by odatriad- he usually attaches a link to his site after his posts. He shares some knowledge about the different species in his care which also includes black as well as blue tree monitors.
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Jaye- "If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation.". ... Jiddu Krishnamurti

Perfectly alright. Just a misunderstanding. Thanks again for the info. I have had some varanid experience but not much. I had been researching green trees when I saw a pair of black trees yesterday and wanted to know. It seems like something a little down the road but I'll do my research now. I was hoping to find something five feet or under, dwells in mangroves, arboreal (doesn't have to be), and for an intermediate. Thanks again for the info.

As a keeper of several tree monitor species, I can tell you a little about my experiences with them. First off, I would not recommend this species to people who are just getting into the monitor hobby(not implying that you are). Many people are allured to them because of their beauty, and the thought of what a cool pet it would make. If you are looking for an animal to hold; count black tree monitors out. The stress from being handled can greatly affect their health.

As there are no(for the most part) captive bred babies ever available, attributed to the level of difficulty in successfully breeding wild caught adults, all of the adult individuals that you frequently see offered for sale are wild caught animals, which can prove to be very difficult in acclimating to life in captivity. They are a very high strung species which stress out very easily if their most basic needs arent' met. Humidity is the number one necessity in my opinion to the success of this species in captivity. As I had posted in a previous post, a couple of days ago, many people do not realize their need for moisture and humidity, and keep them as most people keep savanah monitors-rather dry. I feel that this is the number one reason why there is such a very high mortality rate with this species as well as other members of the complex.

I am by no means in the position to tell you whether you are or you arent' 'ready' for this species, however, I will tell you that caring for a tree monitor is a lot of work, when compared to many other monitor species. If you slack in their care the slightest bit, it could mean the animal's life, whereas in a sav it might not make too much of a difference. I have some of my husbandry practices posted on my website, I encourage you to check it out to give you an idea of how I keep mine, which, by the way, is by no means the correct way to keep them, it's just my techniques which I have been able to keep my animals healthy with.

I encourage you to talk to Jody as well as Phil(over at varanusweb.com), and dragoon, for they all keep black tree monitors; it's always to get a broad scope of different techniques and experiences to give you a 'bigger picture'.

I hope this helps a little, best of luck to you with your decision, they truly are magnificent creatures....

Bob

The Odatriad

Awesome. One of the big reasons I enjoy herps is most of them aren't for handling. :-D If the animal dislikes handling, it shall not happen. They appeared to be more of the hands off secluded keep the humidity up kind of animal when I saw them. I'd love to share space with one of these animals, not torment it. So is the toughest part the acclimation process? I don't think I could ever buy one wc if there is at least one cb. Answering the when should I get it questions are always tricky, but you've managed to fill me in and give me places to seek info. Thanks! What size enclosure do you keep them in? And are they the kind of monitor that'll tear out live plants or enjoy them? I've heard of great vivs being destroyed by a varanid inhabitant...

Hey there,

I try to keep my tree monitors in as tall of an enclosure as possible. I think my beccari enclosure is about 7'tall or so, five feet wide and 2.5' deep. I have a misting system hooked up to a digital timer to provide daily/bidaily 'rainstorms', which helps keep the humidity high.

As for live plants, I would say you should avoid them, despite the 'natural appearance' that would help compliment the beauty of the animal.. I am here to tell you that the synthetic plants industry has made some outstanding accomplishments with the realism they achieve with some of their plants.. I have a silk flower warehouse/showroom right around the corner from me, so I have a wide selection of plants to choose from to dress up my enclosures. I have been very impressed with some pothos vines I have gotten. Although they weren't cheap($50 each), you would be fooled into thinking they were real if you looked at them(these aren't those cheap plastic pothos vines you can get at walmart, although I don't think you're animals would care either way...As long as it offers cover for them...

Yes their acclimation can be difficult, but I would also say that the entire tree monitor complex is a difficult species to keep due to their slender build. I think that they would dehydrate much easier than a heavier-built monitor such as a water monitor. They definately aren't an animal you want to turn your back to for even a short period of time... Best of Luck to you, have a great day!!

BOb
The Odatriad