Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Anyone know the lifespans of monitors. In particular that of an argus. I know that Terry Lilly has 20 year old arguses that are healthy and producing eggs. In theory I would think that with the right husbandry they could live for 40 years. Anyone have any thoughts. All the books I have read only give limited info on this. That is bevause not many people have kept them their potential lifespans. Anyone who has kept monitors until they for long periods of time or anyone else please respond.

I have had females reported to be 50 Plus. Hope that helps

Although i have not had long-term captives (yet). I currently keep and breed Argus monitors. I have had them for 3 years and have done a bunch of research on them. My first female was purchased at about 2 months old and laid her first clutch of 7 eggs (infertiles) at about 11 months old. She subsequently laid two more clutches that first year that were fertiles-got a male and i had 4 hatch out of 11 laid. From my readings, V.p. horni argus (new guinea, not the 2 australian subsp) can live for up to 20 years. Eggs laid from years 1 through 10 or 12 are likely to be viable, anything after that... i would be hard-pressed to believe on the whole that they would still be viable eggs. Factors that will keep them going a long time (20 years) would include: proper temperatures with a winter cooldown to induce brumation (sort of hibernation), diet that is not 100% rodent or egg as this leads to fatty liver disease and harder on kidneys, lean more towards insects(which they will eat alot of!) and some lean meat (i use semiraw turkey burger once a week), feeding smaller meals daily (vs 3 rats once a week), exposure to sun or at least artificial lighting with UVA and B, good floor space to move and explore-they are extremely active monitors and produce little waste compared to many other more sedentary monitors. The only downside to these wonderfully, bold lizards is the 8 months it takes for eggs to hatch and the clutches tend to be 5-7 eggs at most twice or three times per year.

so you dont think they can reach 50 years. It says 40 in the book Robert Sprackland wrote and argus are one of the larger pseicies. Would you say a water monitor would live longer. There have been reports of 34 year old arguses. This seems like it is possible for an age of at least 30-40. Any ideas about what age.

I think longevity is a kinda dumb concept. In most cases, longevity records are generally set by individuals that are under metabolizied and never actually perform life events. Remember I said generally.

Practically speaking, they live long enough. I think its far better to think of it on a day to day basis. Keep them healthy, starting day to day, then week to week, then year to year. How long that goes on really doesn't matter, because 99.9 percent of the keepers will not keep their monitors for one year, or 5 years or even 10 years, muchless longer.

Also think about life events, which is far more important then longevity. After all, whats longevity for? its to experience life events. If they do not grow, breed, interact, etc, who cares how long they life.

FYI, I have a Argus cross, that has laid 60 clutches since I hatched her. Now thats life events. FR

I plan on keeping my monitor as long as he will live and give him some good life events like breeding. Thanks, I was just curios thats all. If he lives 50 years than so be it. He will have a home with me for the rest of his life, witch I hope will be 50 years.Thanks

I have had a nile fo 12 years and plan on letting him live out his life too. I think it is only fair because I purchased them and they are my responsibility. I have also had water dragons for 5 years. Thanks

There is a record of a V. salvator living 52 years - but few agree with this report. There is accurately reported Varanus niloticus living 11 years in the wilds of West Africa (Buffrenil, 2001). The 7'11" 1/4 inch female V. niloticus captured and killed near Pretoria in ca. 1992 must surely been older than 10 years. There are reports of 10 foot long Varanus in Africa, and these animals probably are 10 years old...
Cheers,
markb