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Monitors do not adapt to captivity well since they may require specialised diet and husbandry. The larger ones can be very dangerous. The giant species (Nile monitors (V. niloticus niloticus and V. n. ornatus), Salvador or crocodile monitor (V. salvadorii) and the water or Asian water monitor (V. salvator) need very large enclosures and have powerful crushing jaws and bites can result in very serious injuries. Adapting to captivity varies between species but most specimens are wild caught and mortality can be high. There is very little breeding achieved outside zoos and wildlife parks.

Monitors do not adapt to captivity well since they may require specialised diet and husbandry. The larger ones can be very dangerous. The giant species (Nile monitors (''V. niloticus niloticus'' and ''V. n. ornatus''), Salvador or crocodile monitor (''V. salvadorii'') and the water or Asian water monitor (''V. salvator'') need very large enclosures and have powerful crushing jaws and bites can result in very serious injuries. Adapting to captivity varies between species but most specimens are wild caught and mortality can be high. There is very little breeding achieved outside zoos and wildlife parks.

==Nile Monitor==

==Nile Monitor==

Scientific name: ''Varanus niloticus''

Scientific name: ''Varanus niloticus''

==Savannah monitor==

==Savannah monitor==

Scientific name: ''Varanus exanthematicus'', four subspecies, the one most commonly found in pet stores is the ''V. e. exanthematicus''.

Scientific name: ''Varanus exanthematicus'', four subspecies, the one most commonly found in pet stores is the ''V. e. exanthematicus''.

===Description===

===Description===

Averaging 1-1.2m in length, savannahs have a shorter snout and blunter face than the other monitors, and tend to be a dark or dusty grey with touches of rusty orange on scattered scales. The have long, blue forked tongue with are actively used in exploring their environment. Sexing monitors is difficult; their hemipenal retractor muscles are exceedingly strong thus difficult to evert, and there are no external characteristics to differentiate males from females. Ultrasonography is useful.

Averaging 1-1.2m in length, savannahs have a shorter snout and blunter face than the other monitors, and tend to be a dark or dusty grey with touches of rusty orange on scattered scales. The have long, blue forked tongue with are actively used in exploring their environment. [[Lizard Physical Examination|Sexing]] monitors is difficult; their [[Hemipenes|hemipenal]] retractor muscles are exceedingly strong thus difficult to evert, and there are no external characteristics to differentiate males from females. [[Lizard and Snake Imaging|Ultrasonography]] is useful.

===Range===

===Range===

During the day, temperatures should range from 29-32ºC. At night, it can drop to 24ºC. Heat should be provided in two ways: a subtank or sub-substrate heating pad under half the tank, and a basking area. Heat tapes, incandescent lights and ceramic-heating elements are all suitable for providing heat. Use the combination as necessary to maintain the proper temperature ranges day and night. Space heaters are also very suitable.

During the day, temperatures should range from 29-32ºC. At night, it can drop to 24ºC. Heat should be provided in two ways: a subtank or sub-substrate heating pad under half the tank, and a basking area. Heat tapes, incandescent lights and ceramic-heating elements are all suitable for providing heat. Use the combination as necessary to maintain the proper temperature ranges day and night. Space heaters are also very suitable.

==Other species==

==Other species==

Mangrove monitor (''V. indicus''), which is 1.5m long and semi-aquatic. They are rarely fully tameable.

*'''Mangrove monitor''' (''V. indicus''), which is 1.5m long and semi-aquatic. They are rarely fully tameable.

 

 

Dumeril's monitors, sometimes called the grey roughneck monitor (''V. dumerilii heterophilis'' and ''V. d. dumerilli''), grow to 1.2m. They are arboreal with long claws, a rainforest species, and require relatively high humidity and temperatures of 29-35ºC during the day and about 23ºC at night. They require large enclosures and pools for soaking.

Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).

[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=(od:(%22Monitor%22)+OR+title:(%22Monitor%22)+OR+ab:(%22Monitor%22)+OR+od:(Varanus)+OR+title:(Varanus)+OR+ab:(Varanus))+AND+(od:(lizards)+OR+title:(lizard)+OR+ab:(lizard))&fq=sc:%22ve%22 Monitor lizards (''Varanus'' spp.) publications]

The green tree monitor (''V. prasinus'') also requires specialised diet and husbandry. They grow to about 0.75m, are arboreal, spend most of their time in the high canopy in the vine, monsoon, palm, rain and mangrove forests, require high humidity, have a prehensile tail, feed mostly on arthropods, lizards and small birds, and require a lot of space.

[http://www.cabi.org/cabdirect/FullTextPDF/2007/20073120075.pdf '''Biology and medicine of monitor lizards.''' Mitchell, M. A.; The North American Veterinary Conference, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Volume 21, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2007, 2007, pp 1598-1600 - '''Full Text Article''']