Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am considering the purchase of a young captive hatched croc monitior. I have seen the animal before, and I was handling him at the last hamburg show. He is very calm for a croc monitor, and he was warm too, so his calm demeanor wasnt due to lethargy from being too cold.

To my surprise the animal is still available, so I am thinking about getting him now. His stv length is under a foot long. I was thinking about setting him up in a 60 gallon aqaurium (36"long, 18" wide, 24" high) temporarily, and I would build a larger enclosure when he gets bigger.

What is the growth rate on a hatchling crocodile monitor? Will I only have a couple months before I need to build it a bigger cage?

As for husbandry, I just want to check on the temperatures they like. I am asuming that the ambient air temperature on the hot side of the enclosure should be 85 degrees farenheit. The cool side ~70 farenheit? I pretty much am aware of all its other needs.

Check out this link: http://www.kingsnake.com/monitorfaq/intro.htm#1.4

Other than that, just expect your monitor to grow really fast, like all reptiles! Not too much is known about the croc monitor. Hopefully that will change in the near future.

I don't know about having a bigger cage in a couple of months, but I would say certainly within one year.

Eric

If the croc is about a foot STV he is probably 30 inches long. Therefore that cage is already to small. If the monitors needs are met it will grow faster than you can build a cage. Go big to start, in fact bigger than what your planning to be safe. An aquarium is not a good place to keep monitors, even if big enough they dont hold heat or humidity well. I made a comparison myself between 2 cages once, a 55 gallon aquarium with plexiglass top, fiberglass insulation, and plastic to assist. I compared it to a plastic vision cage with extra vents. The much smaller 55 gallon needed higher wattage lights to keep the same temps. Aquariums were designed to visually accent fish not to house reptiles. If temporary means a few days then build away. But that aquarium is too short to allow proper heat and cooling.

Thanks guys. I will take this informtaion into consideration. i guess I will be holding on to one of the cages I wanted to sell. It will either be a 6'x2'x2' or a 4'x2'x2'. If I do get him, I will be sure to post pics as soon as possible. Thanks again.

Billy

defently get something better then a tank. No thermo-regulation would occur in something like that. I keep my Crocs at low end of 80 and high end at 120 and very high humidity 80%. Plenty of hides and room to climb as well. No screens all plexiglass and wood. Also use large water tub, mine like to soak.They are almost 4' now.

arn't these guys known as the longest monitor? A tiny glass tank isn't gonna hold him

arn't these guys known as the longest monitor? A tiny glass tank isn't gonna hold him

arn't these guys known as the longest monitor? A tiny glass tank isn't gonna hold him