Argus/Goulds monitor questions

[dinosaurdammit]

So I am in the process of acquiring an argus/goulds monitor cross. As far as the shop knows they are the only ones that have been bred. They are both full grown but I am only getting one as I cant afford the both of them. At 3 years old they are about 4 feet long give or take an inch and are already pretty docile around people as they were the shops pets.


What temps do they need?
What size set up?
Any particular things I should know about them?
What kind of soil?
Any branches or other climbing things?


here is when they were babies although that was some time ago. Funny thing is they are gay, they wont mate with females but attempt to breed with each other often o_O
http://www.reptilespecialists.com/_imagecontent/GouldsCross.jpg

[War Machine]

They can hit 5', so enclosure size is 10x5x5 at least. Argus are awesome monitors. Never kept em, so I can't contribute much more.

[dinosaurdammit]

Could I just put him in my niles set up? The guy selling the monitor is interested in my nile.

[War Machine]

An adult? What size is your niles enclosure again? If I remember it wasn't very big

[dinosaurdammit]

its 12 long x6 wide x3 foot high now that we had to fix what the dog destroyed.

[BarelyBreathing]

Can you post pictures of your Nile's enclosure?

[dinosaurdammit]

I lack a camera but the 15 ive been planing to get a camera so I can take pics of all the set ups and monitor the progress on the water dragons as well.

[War Machine]

3' is too shallow I would think. Not sure if Argus like to burrow, If so, that's enclosure is no good

[dinosaurdammit]

everything so far I have read doesnt mention burrowing :/

I can make it deeper if need be- I would really love some correct pages to look at true argus stuff, some pages conflict and I am left bewildered. Infern told me there were some argus peeps on here and to ask here to get some help.

[infernalis]

I believe they do. Crocdoc will most likely read this thread, so let's see what he says.

[dinosaurdammit]

crossing my fingers i get some more advice as I just feel so conflicted on a good portion of the online guides

[War Machine]

Yeah croc has them on point. You should get in touch with him Dino.

[BeardedDee]

Argus are natural born diggers, around 18" of moist soil and sand mix would help enormously. That though would leave only 18" height above ground in your Nile set up for it. I'd reconsider getting an Argus/Goulds if sticking with that enclosure.

[Gatorhunter1231]

There are several crosses out there. Most want pure breeds so there isnt large number of crosses but still out there. They dig like crazy, are active like crazy, and eat like crazy lol. Tend to make better capitives then niles and adult size is easier to manage.

[War Machine]

I'd love an argus someday. Someday lol.

I'd make your enclosure 5-6, tall, and fill it with 2.5-3' of dirt. Seal it up air tight and you'll be set.

[War Machine]

And to answer your questions. Monitor care is pretty generalized, with expections for certain species.

Basking spot of 130-150, enough footage to cover the monitor.
10x5x5 or bigger, sealed, no vents.
Dirt/sand mix, 2-3' of it.
60-80% humidity gradients.

I'm not sure if they're climbers, but it won't hurt to have a few elevated basking logs/spots

[dinosaurdammit]

Would a piece of oak that was cut for fire wood work? its fairly large and I figured why not as cedar smells too strong for me and the split log would be big enough to hold the whole monitor on it at one time, I also plan on getting that shale/slate you talked about war, I am going to head out to home depot to get some lumber to make it taller. For a water dish would an old standard plastic rubbermaid work?

[War Machine]

For a water dish, I'm using this for the albigs, I a wheel barrow bucket, fitted with a drain system. Large enough and easy. And strong. Make sure to frame support under your water system too. Don't want the monitor to burrow beneath it.

[dinosaurdammit]

so i would want to afix the dish to the bottom then surround it with soil right so he cant get under it?

[War Machine]

Not fix it to the bottom, build a frame around it to support it at ground level. Then put dirt under and around it as well.

[Pirarucu]

Argus are big on digging, and they climb as well. I have heard reports of them swimming not rarely but I can't attest to that one.
12x6 would be a great footprint, if you could only make it taller. Could you cut out a hole i the bottom and put it on a stand maybe 2-3 feet high? Then you could put in a big horse water trough in the hole, so it's under the cage and inside the stand. Then fill the trough with dirt and presto, you've got a great cage.

[varanus_mad]

gouldi's are smaller than argus's top out at 3.5'/4' for males females are typically smaller. and at 3 years old they will be fully grown

Gouldii cross's are smaller than pure argus's.

They do need a good range of substrate and are typically fussier nesters than argus's to.

the gouldii in em typically makes em more shy than pure argus's but they retain the food response.

If they are "docile" around people that sort of suggests there being kept to cool.

Gouldii/argus types in general do not become docile around people.