My Peacock Monitor

[sirtalis]

Hi everyone, less than a week ago I got my newest reptile, he/she is an adult peacock monitor, varanus auffenbergi, its approximately 24 inches but it is rather slim but with regular feeding I assume that it will bulk up a bit, the enclosure, as recomended by murindini, is a 5Lx2.5Dx6H its has about a foot of substrate, dirt from my backyard. The humidity is roughly 60-90% depending on various areas of the enclosure. Atm his ambient temp is about 70-90 f and the basking spot is between 130-160 f. He already ate about 50 crickets and a some fertile egg (one of my neighbors breeds quail :)) Its also eaten an adult anole :p. His primary diet is going to consist of 50% mixed insect, 25% mice/rats, 25% other (fish, birds, lizards, egg, mazuri croc diet, etc.) Even a small lizard can cause quit a bit off damage lol look at the picture of my hand :p. Im just glad its already eating and active, any comments concerns advice etc is greatly appreciated.
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[sirtalis]

Oh, and I have about 1/2-1 inch of leaf litter covering the entire floor of the cage

[Minkness]

That is ALOT of space for a 2 foot lizard O.O

He's beautiful though!
What made you choose a peacock over another type of monitor?

[Albert Clark]

Amazing looking reptile! Congrats. I just don't think I would use the soil from my back yard for him though. Keep an eye out for any suspicious outbreaks on the lizards scales. He resembles a Savannah monitor. Make sure you keep that bite washed and cleaned with some antibacterial soap. Haha.

[dannybgoode]

Beautiful - and good to see him being kept in a really good enclosure...

[eminart]

Very cool. I've always been interested in monitors. I can't handle one of the really big ones, but I'd like a smaller one that still has the classic monitor look and behavior. How are you liking this guy so far?

[murrindindi]

That is ALOT of space for a 2 foot lizard O.O

He's beautiful though!
What made you choose a peacock over another type of monitor?

Hi, in reality it`s a TINY space for a 2 ft long lizard, especially when it`s a Varanid, and could possibly live for the next 15 to 20 years in the "matchbox".

[murrindindi]

Oh, and I have about 1/2-1 inch of leaf litter covering the entire floor of the cage

Hi again, if the 1st (top) photo is the most recent, he/she looks to have gained some weight which is good.
How did you manage to get bitten?

[sirtalis]

@minkness, i'm not really sure, monitor lizards have always fascinated me but I don't have room for a 6 foot long lizard lol

@Alberclark thank you! I thought be resembled an argus though :p, as for the soil, many monitor lizard keepers use soil from outside, here's a pretty interesting link Correct Savannah Monitor Care (http://www.savannahmonitor.net)

@dannyboggle thanks mate!

@eminart, I haven't had him that long so i'm not entirely sure yet lol. These guys are more of a display animal than handleable though :p.

[sirtalis]

Hi, in reality it`s a TINY space for a 2 ft long lizard, especially when it`s a Varanid, and could possibly live for the next 15 to 20 years in the "matchbox".

True... Once I graduate high school and have my own place I plan on building a 12 foot cage in which I could house a colony, maybe a male and a trio of females, i'd really like to see some cbb monitors in the next few years :) he kinda inflates himself when basking which is why he looks fatter/bulkier. Though he does look like he gained some weight. The bite hapend when I unboxed him/her. Since then I only held him once, I'm trying a strictly hands off taming method.

[sirtalis]

Here's a picture I took today, hands off taming is the way to go... Its not anything like a "tame" beardie but I'm able to interact with him without the fear of him biting or trying to run away.
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