Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i want to build my yellow tree monitor a new cage, i need some new ideas like what to use for walls, roof,floor ????? something that can hold and take humidity and not go bad like wood after a while
thanks tjreptiles

Since Varanus melinus is more closely related to Blue Tailed Monitors and Mangrove monitors (not in any way related to the tree monitor complex), I would recommend you go with something which offers a lot of floor space, as opposed to vertical space. If you could afford the vertical space in addition to the horizontal space, great, the more the merrier...These animals would benefit from more ground surface area than vertical space..

When i kept V. melinus, they seemed to prefer burrowing beneath the substrate I provided her with, as well as used tight fitting cork hollows mounted to the cage walls, as if to simulate a hollow tree trunk.

While I do not doubt that Varanus melinus does climb in nature, it is obviously not a tree monitor, as it is not exclusively arboreal, or exhibit the traits shared by Blue trees, Green Trees, Black Trees, etc possess, such as a prehensile tail, sticky pads on the soles of their feet, slim/streamline body type, etc.- which aid in a tree-dwelling lifestyle..

The name "Yellow Tree Monitor" has been erroneously used to describe V. melinus for many years now, thanks to the pet trade. I believe the original common name given to this species was the Quince Monitor, and is what I always referred to them as.

There was a new tree monitor species just recently described a few weeks ago, named V. reisingeri, which is in fact a true, "Yellow Tree Monitor"....You can see photos of the new species, along with the abstract of the writeup by clicking the link below.

I just think that referring to V. melinus as a tree monitor does nothing but confuse people, and implies that these lizards are canopy dwellers as the true tree monitors are; often times causing keepers to set them up improperly...

Just my .02- Give them a lot of floor space and branches for climbing/basking- make sure you offer them lots of tight fitting hide spots, as well as a deep substrate that they can burrow/dig under- cypress mulch works, as does leaf litter.. I wouldn't recommend dirt or soil or sand for these guys. Good luck, have a great day.
Newy Yellow Tree Monitor Species Described- Varanus reisingeri

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TheOdatriad