| general
|
| description |
World's most popular pet
monitor lizard. for monitors, it is easy-taming and not
getting too big in size, as well, has no problem eating
usually. |
| a.k.a
|
Bosc's Monitor |
| distribution |
 
 
 
 African
countries included : Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritania, Senegal,
Chad, Sudan, Togo, Ghana |
| adult
size |
3' - 4'; 10 - 13 lbs.;
reach that in 2 years; largest in record is 6' 7" |
| hatchling
size |
4" |
| life
span |
8 - 10 years; oldest in
record is 11 years |
| housing |
| natural
habitats |
Terrestrial; Savannahs,
open grasslands |
| cage |
A simple and easy-to-clean
cage is the best thing, specially for adults. It should
be large enough but does not need to be high because they
do not climb much. (e.g. Wooden
Terrarium, Glass
Terrarium) |
| substrate |
wood shavings, barks (e.g.
Repti Bark, Coconut
Bark), gravel, sand (e.g. Repti
Sand, Calci-Sand),
compressed paper granules (e.g. Good
Mews) |
| activity
period |
 Daytime (diurnal);
12
- 14 hours each day with direct natural sunlight or UV
lamp (e.g. ReptiSun 5.0,
UV Heat Bulb) |
| temperature |
32 - 35 ¢XC -- basking
spot (e.g. Basking
Spot Lamp)
25 - 30 ¢XC -- cooler area (e.g. Daylight
Blue Bulb)
22 - 26 ¢XC -- at night (e.g. Nightlight
Red Bulb, Infrared
Heat Lamp, Ceramic
Heat Emitter) |
| humidity |
mid to low |
| hiding
place |
Essential, since it seems
to need its privacy.
Possibllites include caves (e.g. Habba
Hut, Heat Cave), etc |
| water
bowl |
a large shallow water
bowl or pool is needed for it to soak in and drink. also
it almost always excrete in the water. |
| diet |
| diet |
Carnivorous (meat-eating);
Hatchlings should be fed on insects.
Adults can be fed on rodents and low-fat meat, occasionally
cooked eggs and high quality canned reptile, dog or cat
food. |
| how
often to feed? |
Every day for hatchlings;
3 - 5 times a week for juveniles;
1 - 2 times a week for adults |
| notes |
Do not ever try to move
your hands close to it when it is eating since monitors
are usually aggressive feeders.
Food items should be no larger than the diameter of its
head. |
| reproduction |
| reproduction
|
Oviparous |
| mating
age |
from 15 - 18 Months Old |
