Care Sheet for Dwarf MonitorsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.25 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 04/15/2005 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Dwarf Monitors |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Flip21 |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Varanus Beccari (Black Tree Monitor) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | The entire prasinus complex. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Males have larger heads, usually grow larger than females, and usually have a thicker build than females. Males have two bulges at the base of there tails, which are the concealed hemipenis.
Black Tree Monitors are usually skittish and usually dislike human interaction. Male Black Trees usually get 36+ inches long and females get around 30 inches long. Keep in mind that Black Tree Monitors are 60-70% tail. Their tail is completely prehensile, all members of the prasinus complex have these very long prehensile tails. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I would not use a substrate and just have a large water pan at the bottom. Black Tree Monitors (and other tree monitors) spend most of their life in the tree tops, so substrate is not a huge concern. But if you are to decide to use a substrate go with cypress mulch.
Water should be in a large pan. And should be clean and fresh. |
Lighting and UVB: | A 45 watt outdoor flood light, is what I use. No need for any so-called "magic UVB lights". |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Basking=130-140 (surface temp keep in mind) degrees
Ambient- should be about 80-85 degrees with access to warmer 90-95 degree spots and cooler 70-75 degree spots.
Humidity= never fall below 60% can be as high as 90-100%. |
Heating and Equipment: | 45 watt out door flood light. Digital thermometer that reads humidity and heat with min/max setting and a temp gun. |
Caging Provided: | I am building a 3.5x2x6 (LWH) enclosure. Go to treemonitors.com and look for the DIY section, there is a complete guide on how to build a treemonitor enclosure. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | A lot of keepers feed an insect based diet and a lot feed a rodent based diet. There have been successful mating and egg laying using both diets in captivity, you have to experiment with diets, what works for another keeper might not work for you. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Miner-all or rep-cal are the best. |
Maintenance: | Clean cage every day! Fresh water at all times, even though they will drink 90% of the time from the mister.
|
Some Words on this Species: | I am currently preparing for a male black tree monitor. They require a lot of time and $$$, so be prepared. Check out treemonitors.com great site.
Books:
The biology of varanid lizards
The truth about savanna monitors (even though it is about savs it will help you under stand you black Tree a lot better). |
How Members Rated
This Care Sheet | Rate This Care Sheet
Please keep all comments constructive to Varanus Beccari (Black Tree Monitor) husbandry methods and care. Any degrading, sarcastic, or disrespectful comments will be removed. |
Total Members Rating: 4
| 1 |  ( 0 ) |
| 2 |  ( 0 ) |
| 3 | ( 1 ) |
| 4 | ( 1 ) |
| 5 | ( 2 ) |
|
|
