Varanus Gilleni

[SnakeyJay]

Hi, I'm doing a little research into dwarf/Pygmy monitors for my first foray into the world of varanids (though this won't be for a while until I move property) and I'm getting a lot of conflicting information on the care of v.gilleni. Specifically towards substrate and diet..

If anyone has a reliable care sheet or personal experience with these please could you help.

Thanks in advance,

Jamie :)

[Pirarucu]

Get in touch with Gregg, he keeps them.
In short, deep sand/soil for substrate and a diet of whole prey items, I would think primarily insects.

[SnakeyJay]

Thanks Pirarucu, I was thinking primarily insects aswell but there's so many lies/misinformation on the Internet... Some places say a shallower substrate is ok for these as they're primarily arboreal, some say very deep substrate.. Grrr..

[Pirarucu]

Thanks Pirarucu, I was thinking primarily insects aswell but there's so many lies/misinformation on the Internet... Some places say a shallower substrate is ok for these as they're primarily arboreal, some say very deep substrate.. Grrr..Females need somewhere to put their eggs whether they're arboreal or not. I really don't understand the logic behind some of these arguments. They don't use it often, so it shouldn't be provided? I say offer everything they could possibly use, simply because there's no reason not to and if it is necessary, then you're SOL without it.

[red ink]

I kept mine with 4-5 inches of loamy sand substrate with half PVC pipes embeded everywere in the sand. The enclosure was 3x2x3 with multiple elevated basking spot. Plenty of brances for them to climb on. The basking bulbs (3) were differing wattages to give a different temp. They like to climb but burrow as well. I never bred mine as I only kept one.

[Pirarucu]

I kept mine with 4-5 inches of loamy sand substrate with half PVC pipes embeded everywere in the sand. The enclosure was 3x2x3 with multiple elevated basking spot. Plenty of brances for them to climb on. The basking bulbs (3) were differing wattages to give a different temp. They like to climb but burrow as well. I never bred mine as I only kept one.You would still need a proper substrate for a female to nest in, they lay eggs whether they breed or not.

[infernalis]

from what I understand, all monitors benefit from having a pile of dirt to dig into.

correct me if I am wrong. ;)

[DeadlyDesires]

from what I understand, all monitors benefit from having a pile of dirt to dig into.

correct me if I am wrong. ;)

this is what i have been told too lol :D:yes:

[red ink]

You would still need a proper substrate for a female to nest in, they lay eggs whether they breed or not.

Yeah... proper substrate, 4-5 inches of loamy sand was what I used for mine with half cut pvc pipes as burrows embeded in the sand. I did not have a lay box in there as mine was a male.

Greg will know more about their prefered nesting materials...

[SnakeyJay]

I think I'd go with a male aswell then if its easier then.. So would 6 inches of good substrate be ok in this case?

[Pirarucu]

I think I'd go with a male aswell then if its easier then.. So would 6 inches of good substrate be ok in this case?Gonna be hard to tell the sex unless you buy an adult that has shown what it is already.. I would go a bit deeper, just because it's not hard to provide and won't hurt

Edit: I take that back, if I remember right HTI works on these guys.

[SnakeyJay]

gonna be hard to tell the sex unless you buy an adult that has shown what it is already.. I would go a bit deeper, just because it's not hard to provide and won't hurt

edit: I take that back, if i remember right hti works on these guys.

hti ?? :).....

[Pirarucu]

http://www.varanidae.org/Vol3_No1_Brown.pdf

[SnakeyJay]

Thank you piraracu, that link is amazing.. :)

[Gregg M]

A bit late on this but here it goes.

They are by far my favorite varanid species. Super bold and do everything the big varanids to right in front of you.

You should offer them no less than 6 inches of sandy soil. The deeper you can make it, the better. They will also benefit from having leaf litter on top. The deep substrate is to offer a good humidity gradient and the leaf litter will hold the humidity in the soil and promote active hunting for crickets and roaches.

We offer them high basking temps. Up to 140 degrees F.

They are not arboreal. and will use the ground frequently. They do like to climb so you should offer plenty of rocks, branches, and cork tubes.

They are fed lots of insects but they are offered chopped up pinks as well.
Here is a vid for you to check out.

Gravid Varanus gilleni - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzf0029dIoU&feature=player_detailpage)