Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all-

Just picked up a baby Argus from a reptile show today, got it all set up, and am leaving it alone to settle in. A few quick questions, though. First off, I was actually unaware that the Argus comes from New Guinea, as I thought it was strickly an Australian species. Is it common for dealers to confuse it with a Gould's or a Sand monitor, or is it safe to assume it is in fact an Argus? Second, I am getting conflicting info on humidity needs, as some say it is a dry, grasslands species, while others say it needs fairly high humidity? Lastly, I was told is is CB, and I know they are on CITES, so I assume this to be true. Any possibility is is an import, or not? Please help me clear up these few questions, as I want to make sure the litte one is happy and healthy!

thanks,
Brian

but I have an argus and at 60-70% humdity, my guy sheds just fine. I give him a water container big enough for him to walk in. Jaws uses it several times a day. I would be almost certain yours is cb. If I'm not mistaken both a goulds and flavirufus command a higher price making misidentification unlikly. Goodluck with your little hell'in, Clint

Argus are the big member of the gouldi complex. My friends is missing around a foot of tail and is 4.5ft. The goulds Ive seen were around 3 or so ft, and same for sand monitors. The goulds and sand are alot more expensive than an argus and are supposed to have a better attitude on average. Goulds and sand are from Australia and most argus are originally New Guinea. I think argus are really neat, as adults kinda like a body builder with a long tail. I dont know of hand the CITES number of any gouldi monitors.

All monitors are listed as CITES II, except five. The following five are CITES I:

V. bengalensis
V. flavescens
V. griseus
V. komodoensis
V. nebulosus

Your animal could be captive born, and it probably was captive born. There are several people breeding argus monitors. However, I have heard of arguses still being imported even though I was under the impression that importation of argus was not currently allowed. Someone else can probably provide you with more details on the status of argus importation.

Arguses do come from dry, not desert, location. This does not mean you should keep it bone dry. In my opinion, it means they will tolerate dry conditions better than monitors unaccustomed to dry conditions. Your argus should still have water to drink. If you notice your argus trying to soak or sitting in the water for extended periods of time, then that is likely to be an indication that the enclosure is too dry. Mist down the substrate.

Unlike many keepers, I could not tell you off-hand what the humidity is in most of my enclosures for any of my monitors. I have the tools to find out if I feel I need to do so, but I do not regularly monitor temperatures or humidity. I gauge what I do by what they do or what the substrate looks/feels like.

What I have seen with my arguses is that they do not soak in their water containers at the same time my salvators flock to their water containers (this rarely happens as it is). Still, my baby waters are occasionally found swimming or floating or submerged in their water containers and an argus would not even be thinking of soaking. Also, whereas my salvators rarely seem to mind a torrential downpour (via the hose), my argus usually have a lower tolerance for the same level of water.
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^x^ Bloodbat ^x^
Monitors, monitors everywhere
and all the food they ate.
Monitors, monitors everywhere,
their parents loved to mate.

Dang are you getting a pot full of odd answers. First, no one can tell what you have, we do not see it. Could it be something else, of course it could. Could it be WC, again of course it could, they are indeed still coming in. If you purchased the argus from a dealer and not a breeder, then most likely its WC. But there are exceptions to that too.

If you want to know, have the monitor checked for parasites, CB do not have indo specific parasites.

Argus are CITIES II, but unless you are exporting the monitor, it does not matter what it is.

Argus monitors are not desert monitors. They are wetland, raparian, seasonally wet/dry grassland monitors. But again that does not of any importance in captivity. All species of monitor, no matter where they come from require moisture and drinking water. The different habitats they occur in merely expresses a varity of behavioral approaches to conserving water. All species must not be allowed to dehydrate in captivity. I do not think anyone keeps any species of montior without drinking water.

Why some people think Argus, V.panoptes horni, are a desert species is odd, please check the books. Good Luck, Argus are great monitors, FR

brian, i have no doubt in my mind that whoever sold you the baby argus was positive of what kind of monitor it was. The only reason i say this is because of the prices that the other two species you mentioned are alot higher than a argus. Im also almost positive that it would be captive due to their increase in popularity and the quality of all the animals i have been seeing. I dont keep any argus monitors but i do have a trio of argus/flavi crosses, and the upkeep is identical, i keep my monitors very happily at about 60-65 percent humidity, and increase the mistings when they are shedding. I hope i have helped you, good luck with the argus.

Hey all-

Thank you so much for the many responses you have given. Yeah, I figured they were not desert animals, and will maintain a moderate humitity in the cage, plus several areas of variance. I had never implied NO water to drink at all...ALL my animals have water dishes, even my Middle Eastern Scorpions have small ones, though they almost never drink. As for CB, I will have a fecal done just to be sure! I appreciate you help, and will give this guy/girl the best of care! I am already amazed at their "intelligence" and curiosity.

Brian

Also, as soon as he/she calms down and settles in, I will shoot a few pics for you all...

thanks,
Brian