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When I tell people that I keep monitors most of them are confused. Then I go on and explain to them that monitors are a type of lizard that belong to the same family as the ever popular Komodo Dragon. This is when they begin to understand what I'm talking about.
For those of us who have a soft spot for these animals there is no explanation necessary when you hear the word 'Monitor', and if you're like me you try to read, read and then read some more to learn as much as you can about these fascinating animals.
My interest in monitor lizards has been ongoing for a few years now and The Dragon's Lair is my little contribution to the hobby. No matter how much we may think we know about them there's probably ten times as much that we don't know. This is why research and captive breeding of these animals is so very important. It is through research and breeding that we learn more and more what it is that makes these reptiles work. Captive breeding is the key and we should all make an effort to try and reproduce our animals so that less and less pressure will be placed on wild populations.
The information given on this web site was obtained from my personal experiences with these reptiles as well as any information I may have gathered from reading books, magazine articles and speaking with other monitor owners and enthusiasts. I've tried to make the information as accurate as possible and have taken strides to give proper credit to all in the bibliography section. I encourage you to take a look at the Bibliography because there are excellent resources listed there.
Monitors are found on the continents of Africa, Asia, and Australia as well as various islands around these land masses. They range from arid climates such as African savannahs and deserts to the drenched rainforests of New Guinea and a variety of climes in between.
Monitor lizards belong to the genus Varanus. These reptiles all have the same general body shape with a few specific exceptions.(i.e. Varanus brevicauda, the Short Tailed Monitor, which has a shorter than usual tail). They all possess a well defined head, long neck (again with exceptions), a slender body with four well muscled limbs and an elongate tail that is usually one and a half to two times the body length.
Monitor lizards are poikilothems which just means they are cold blooded and must obtain heat from external sources such as the sun, warm air currents or wherever else they can find it. In captivity we supply them with this needed heat in the form of heat lamps and heating pads of sorts. Before becoming active monitors must reach a certain body temperature. This optimal temperture may vary from specie to specie. However, as we all know, there are few monitors in captivity that will turn down a meal regardless of whether or not their optimal temperature has been reached. I'd assume their wild relatives would also share this trait. Being poikilothemic saves the monitor from having to expend the energy needed to produce it's own heat which makes monitors and reptiles in general able to cope in some of the harshest climates on earth where mammals just aren't that successful (i.e. Deserts). This energy saving benefit does however come at a cost. Monitors must themoregulate in order not to overheat, which can be fatal, or to become too cold which will make them sluggish and slow their reaction times. This constant balance is an amazing feat and is carried out for their entire lives. In captivity it is the keepers responsibility to see to it that a thermal gradient is maintained that will allow the monitor to thermoregulate at it's leisure.
Monitors are generally thought to be solitary animals that come together during a breeding season but it has been observed by some that certain species, especially in the genus Odataria may live in a communal setting year round.
Monitors are carnivorous and insectivorous with one known frugivorous specie (Varanus olivaceus, Gray's Monitor). In the wild, many monitors are specialized feeders, feeding on insects, mollusks, and other lizards. Others act as opportunistic feeders that will generally prey upon whatever animal is thought to be of reasonable size. Some will even attempt to devour prey items much too large for them to swallow whole. In this case the prey is usually dismembered which is a very messy process or if it is actually swallowed then it may be regurgitated soon after. In the wild, some monitors will eat carrion (dead animals), as it provides them with an easy meal and saves them the energy that would be expended on chasing down and killing their own meal. What could be better. In captivity, you as the keeper should feed your monitor a varied diet. Mammals such as various sizes of rats, mice, chicks and a selection of insects and crustaceans usually form the staple diet. There are also turkey diet alternatives formulated by the San Diego Zoo that make a good supplement to your monitor's diet. Some people choose to feed their monitors canned cat or dog food but I don't use this diet for my monitors because I feel these foods are created for mammals and don't serve the long term needs of a reptile. These mammal foods are high in protein so your dog or cat can convert this to heat....your monitor doesn't need to do this. However, I can't argue against this practice because there are keepers out there who have been successful with this diet over a number of years, however I'm not sure if it will affect the animals breeding potential or longevity.
Many monitors are fossorial, meaning they like to burrow. We've probably all seen our own animals attempt to do this even if the substrate is only newspaper. Perhaps they feel more secure knowing they are concealed from view. Burrowing also conserves moisture that can be lost through evaporation. It's a good idea to give your monitor ample hiding spaces so that they have a safe area in which to retreat. If you can provide your monitor with a deep enough substrate bed that will allow it to do its own burrowing I encourage you to do this as it is not only good for the monitor (giving it exercise and wearing down it's nails) but I find it interesting and entertaining to watch my monitors engage in this activity.
In addition to being fossorial there are also many arboreal monitors that feel more at home in the tree tops than they do on the ground. In fact the longest lizard in the world (Varanus salvadorii) is known to be arboreal. Many hatchlings and young terrestrial monitors live an arboreal existence for the first year or more of their lives. Here they are safer from intraspecific predation and other natural threats. Some of the highly arboreal species have specific adaptations that make them better suited for a treetop life. The limbs are usually elongated and slender making them more agile. The toes also show this elongation which allows them to grasp branches a little better. Their nails are needle sharp and add to their grasping ability. The tails of these treedwellers are somewhat prehensile, giving them the luxary of a fifth limb. As well, their teeth may be more needle like to grasp and hold prey as opposed to the blunter adult teeth of some terrestrial monitors that are built for crushing power.
Monitors have a few lines of defence. The most obvious is their speed which allows them the rapidly flee an enemy. They might flee to a nearby burrow, up a tree or take to the water depending on the species. In the majority of species the tail can and is used in a whip like manner to deliver sharp blows to an aggressor. If you have ever been on the receiving end of one of these stikes you can attest to its effectivness. Another method of defense is the voiding of the cloaca. This may be done either when confronted by an aggressor or when picked up by a keeper. Perhaps the foul smell is meant to deter an enemy. Also, when a monitor feels threatened it may vomit its stomach contents. I once had a large Water Monitor do this and beleive me, it had to be the worst smelling thing I've ever had to clean up. Finally, the most feared line of defense is the monitor's bite. They are quite adept at making a u-turn with their necks when you are handling them and placing a good bite on their handler. The force exerted by even a juvenile monitor is surprising and seems to tighten with every effort you make to free yourself. I know for SURE that I don't want to be bitten by an angry adult. Once a grip on an aggressor or handler is established it's not an easy task to remove it. I once saw a documentary in which a White Throat was being attacked by a leopard. The monitor was able to place a bite on the cat's leg after which the leopard left it alone.
In the pet trade there is a wide variety of monitor species available to a keeper. I would urge you to buy a captive bred or hatched monitor whenever possible because by doing this you make the hobby stronger. The money goes to the breeder who in turn puts some of it back into his program to make it better which enables him/her to produce more animals on a regular basis. If we all do this we can all own healthier animals and put less strain on wild populations. Imagine what it would be like if wild populations became so taxed that importing stopped altogeher. A scary thought. With all this said I welcome you to the hobby if you're new and urge you to continue your work if you've been at it for some years now. But I've got to warn you, it's addictive. Just ask any keeper.