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Varanus melinus is a fairly new monitor species to the scientific world. It was only described by Bohme and Ziegler in 1997. Varanus melinus has a few common names: Quince monitor, Yellow monitor and Yellow Tree monitor. Of these, the later is probably the most incorrect. When it was initially being imported it may have been referred to as a 'tree' monitor but this is probably a reflection of collection techniques more than anything else.
With the recent discovery of Varanus yuwonoi and Varanus caerulivirens the Yellow monitor seems to add yet another bit of complexity to the Mangrove monitor complex. It appears to be similar in morphology to other members of this group. The head is small and slender in build with the nostrils located toward the tip of the snout. It has a long neck and slim body. The four limbs are powerful but not robust and armed with five claw tipped digits each. The pattern varies from specimen to specimen but usually contains a great deal of yellow throughout which gives it its common name. The yellow color is broken by varying degrees of black that form a roughly reticulate pattern (see skin plate at left). The head is mostly yellow and the tail is about 1.5 times as long as the SVL (Snout to Vent Length) and banded with alternating yellow and black. I've read that the teeth are blunt, but having been bitten by one I don't know if I can agree with that.
Locality data on this monitor is still sparse. It has been suggested that they are from Obi Island in the Mollucas but until more definite data are published I can only say that they are an Indonesian monitor lizard.
So far there have been no known captive breedings of this species although a number of people have produced eggs from them that have not gone to full term. Hopefully this will change in the future but for now any of these animals in the pet trade are wild caught (WC). I urge that with such a rare and expensive monitor that you have it checked out by a qualified reptile vet for parasites, bacteria, fungus, etc. I initially acquired a trio and lost one of them to an infection.....have them checked to minimize the chance of a costly loss.
Heating your enclosure so that you provide the proper temperature gradient is very important to all monitors. Heating can be provided by ceramic heaters that produce no light, halogen flood lights or any number of commercial reptile bulbs. Yellow monitors will bask at high temperatures but must be able to escape them when they need to. I have observed Yellow monitors basking at temperatures of 125°F and even higher for extended periods of time. The temperature gradient in the enclosure should be in the range of 80 to 95°F. I won't get into the whole issue of whether or not monitors need UV lighting, except to say that there is no definitive proof to show that they need it in captivity or to show that they suffer from receiving it. Many people have successfully kept monitors both ways. You can do some research and make your own informed decision on this one.
Depending on how your enclosure is set up, you may find that more light is needed because the heat lamp does not provide enough background light. If this the case a keeper can easily and cost effectively install a flourescent fixture or low wattage incandescent fixture to give off the needed light.
Varanus melinus will need a fairly large enclosure. As a minimum for an adult I would recommend an enclosure with dimensions 6 feet long x 3 feet high x 2.5 feet deep. This is only a suggestion. Obviously the bigger the cage the better off the monitor will be. This can easily be constructed out of melamine and glass that you could purchase from any large hardware store. Building your own enclosure gives you a lot more control over the size and shape of your cage and you will find that you can build a large cage for a relatively low price. Give it a try!
As a substrate there are many options available to the keeper. Some good choices include aspen, mulch, sand, soil, newspaper and many others. For Yellow monitors I would recommend either cypress mulch, soil, or a mixture of the two. Cypress mulch is very good because of its ability to hold moisture. Also, Varanus melinus will bury itself in the substrate if allowed for a major part of the day. I provide a five inch layer of substrate and this seems to give them enough depth to hide in. Deeper would probably be better.
Hiding places are important for this species just as in any other monitor species. Hide boxes should be dark places that allow the monitor to feel secure. There are many commercially available hide boxes but they are usually not suited for large monitors so building your own is an option you should explore. Another option that works well is going out and looking for a hollow logs or other appropriate sized and shaped articles you can find in nature.
Humidity is another important factor that must be considered. Varanus melinus, being from Indonesia will require a higher relative humidity than monitors from say, Africa. This can be achieved in a number of ways. The most costly would probably be to install a misting system to spray your enclosure at set intervals. The more frugal way of achieving the same thing would be to use a spray bottle of sorts and mist the tank everyday or as needed. Remember, you don't want to have the monitor in a constantly wet environment. Give it the chance to choose its conditions. This can be done by providing a few hide spots- some damp and some dry.
If you can provide climbing areas in your tank, do so. Varanus melinus will climb if given the chance but then so would most monitors. Also, if you can provide areas of dense vegetation by placing plastic plants in the enclosure you may find this helps them feel more secure and not so exposed.
Feeding Varanus melinus should not be a difficult task. Prey items that have been excepted include eggs, mice, small rats, crickets, mealworms, fish and other seafood. They are usually very eager feeders and are not as shy as some other members of the Mangrove complex. Fresh water should be made available at all times. They may also defecate in their water bowl making daily cleanings a must.
Varanus melinus is a medium sized monitor that seems to average around 4 feet in TL. This number is rough and may change as we learn more about this monitor. They have been reported to hit adult size anywhere from 3.5 to 5ft but in my limited experience four feet seems to be average. At this point hatchling size data is not available but it seems safe to assume they would be comparable to Mangrove monitor.
Yellow monitors are hesitant to bite as a first defence but would rather flee an aggresor. I was bitten once during feeding but it was not in response to a perceived threat but rather my own carelessness. Speaking with other owners, it is hard to come to a consensus over their temperament. Definitely non-aggressive but some say skittish while others say very tame. It is this author's experience that they become tame with handling and are comparable to a Dumeril's monitor in this sense.
When first handled they will be nervous and scratch or defecate on the handler but mine lost this reaction with persistent gentle handling. Cutting the nails helps immensely during this time. I have never seen one of these tail whip as a defense nor have I seen the huffing and puffing common to most monitors.
They are also tolerant to each other when kept in groups and I have never seen aggression in this type of situation, even at feeding time.