Mangrove Monitor questions

[smy_749]

Any people have experience keeping these before? Any specific differences about mangrove husbandry? And what do you guys think a decent sized pretty looking mangrove would go for like the one in the pic? :-P

[smy_749]

Any people have experience keeping these before? Any specific differences about mangrove husbandry? And what do you guys think a decent sized pretty looking mangrove would go for like the one in the pic? :-P


Nobody has experience with any of the indicus complex? Also, where can I get a decent hygrometer for a decent price. (I'm stocking up on supplies so I'm fully ready when I decide to purchase this time)

[Grendel]

I have a peach throat monitor , but I only have had him for a month so I can't really say much.

[smy_749]

I have a peach throat monitor , but I only have had him for a month so I can't really say much.


Do you offer a deep substrate for burrowing? If so, have you seen him burrow? I haven't really found anyone with a tree dwelling species that has pics of them burrowing and was curious about deep substrate for any purpose other than humidity

[murrindindi]

Hi, I`ve never kept the species, though at one time I did order one but the pet shop didn`t manage to get them so I bought an Ornate monitor instead.
The care is much the same as for many other species, and the relatively deep substrate is still recommended because it helps with the humidity, they will also burrow, and obviously if you have a female, she may well decide to deposit eggs there.
I think they`re a very pretty species, they are semi arborial and semi aquatic.
I`m not sure but I think you can get a decent digital hygrometer from Walmart for around $12? I usually buy mine on Ebay.

[jarich]

So far this is one of my favourite ones. Its cordless and you can add multiple sensors to a single base station. I have three in different enclosures that are all fed to one base station. They have been very good and easy to use.

Amazon.com: Ambient Weather WS-0101 Wireless Thermo-Hygrometer with Indoor Temperature and Outdoor Temperature and Humidity: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-0101-Thermo-Hygrometer-Temperature/dp/B003OT33HQ/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1364685030&sr=8-29&keywords=hygrometer)

[smy_749]

The walmart in my area is a bit under maintained, CVS has them so thats where I'll get mine, for 12 dollars. (they keep them for humidity in baby rooms apparently) . Jarich how is the battery life on those? I hate ordering things online because Its a pain in the *** to return it, and I hate waiting for stuff to come in the mail. What do you think something like the one in the pic would go for? Kingsnake classifieds had a bit larger one for 750$ from S S exotics in las vegas, which I know is expensive, but was just curious.

Also for one that size, do you think 8 inches of dirt from outside and some leaf litter would be ok, I know its not enough to burrow but I can just make a burrow with an upside down tupperwear that wont collapse no?

[Pirarucu]

Their care is like most monitors. Dirt to burrow in, high humidity, and hot basking temperatures. Then add a larger than average water area and lots of climbing branches. Done.

I'd say eight inches would suffice for now.

[Pirarucu]

On another note, this individual makes me think it could be juxtindicus... But I'm bad at differentiating the two, maybe someone else can say for sure.

[smy_749]

What is juxtindicus lol?

From my quick google search I found the differences are " Varanus juxtindicus is a large member of the V. indicus group and therefore belongs to the subgenera Euprepiosaurus.
This species can reach a total length of up to 150 cm. The coloration and pattern on the back is very similar to V. indicus, but this species is distiguished from the other members of the V. indicus group by the absence of the blue coloration (V. yuwonoi, V. doreanus), the tail shows no bands, there is no visible band on the side of the head, the throat has no pattern, and the tongue is only slightly pigmented ath the tip. "

I'd say it fits the description.

[Pirarucu]

It's a different species in the indicus complex, often labeled as an indicus when they do pop up for sale. Not a very common species in the pet trade, or if they are I'm not aware of it, LOL.. Go for it!

[jarich]

The walmart in my area is a bit under maintained, CVS has them so thats where I'll get mine, for 12 dollars. (they keep them for humidity in baby rooms apparently) . Jarich how is the battery life on those? I hate ordering things online because Its a pain in the *** to return it, and I hate waiting for stuff to come in the mail. What do you think something like the one in the pic would go for? Kingsnake classifieds had a bit larger one for 750$ from S S exotics in las vegas, which I know is expensive, but was just curious.

Also for one that size, do you think 8 inches of dirt from outside and some leaf litter would be ok, I know its not enough to burrow but I can just make a burrow with an upside down tupperwear that wont collapse no?

The battery life is great. I've had to replace the batteries in the base station once (they're just AAs, so no big deal). The sensor batteries on my oldest ones have lasted over a year so far.

As for your question about the set up, it's a risky thing to ask if its "ok" with any indicus species. This is a rare animal. If you are worried about whether you can provide just what's ok, I think you should reconsider. Although you may just be researching, so no harm in that.

[varanus_mad]

Home - Varanus indicus species-complex (http://indicus-complex.webs.com/)

^ I would be inclined to agree thats a juxti as opposed to indicus...

[smy_749]

The battery life is great. I've had to replace the batteries in the base station once (they're just AAs, so no big deal). The sensor batteries on my oldest ones have lasted over a year so far.

As for your question about the set up, it's a risky thing to ask if its "ok" with any indicus species. This is a rare animal. If you are worried about whether you can provide just what's ok, I think you should reconsider. Although you may just be researching, so no harm in that.

Yea I was just curious if anyone has actually seen them burrow, when provided with the substrate. Because I know from rudi owners that its not really common, an I don't know about the true tree monitors, if anyone has seem them burrow as well. Perhaps the tree species regulate humidity at different levels of the canopy in the wild, or inside hollow trees as a substitute for ground burrows. I know with other tree dwelling animals, ground activity is a rarity, was just wondering if true tree monitors were generally the same, and if indicus is one of them.

On another note, has anyone made a topic on how to save money not shopping from pet stores. Like the cheaper 'better' substitutes? I'd like to make a thread about that I feel it would be very useful. I picked up a new temp gun today from a good reliable brand with a 2 year warranty and reads temps up to 700 for 27 dollars....

[infernalis]

On another note, has anyone made a topic on how to save money not shopping from pet stores. Like the cheaper 'better' substitutes? I'd like to make a thread about that I feel it would be very useful. I picked up a new temp gun today from a good reliable brand with a 2 year warranty and reads temps up to 700 for 27 dollars....

We had a thread like that but it faded away long ago. Start another... :) I have a bunch of contributions for such a thread.

[Grendel]

I haven't seen my peach throat burrow. His "house" is a large gourd with a small round hole it out at the bottom. He climbs up to the top of it ( the thiner part) and sleeps attached to the wall. I figure it simulates a hollow in a tree. I keep ambient temp at 85-90, hot spot 130-150 deg F, depending how close he gets to the light (there are few levels of branches he can choose from). Humidity 70-90%. I put moss bed over part of the enclosure which helps keep humidity, not counting the substrate. He is about 16 inches long and at the store they were feeding him crickets, catfood and repashy insect diet. When I suggested at least trying a pinky they said he is too small for it. But the first day I got him he devoured two hopper mice no problem.

[smy_749]

I haven't seen my peach throat burrow. His "house" is a large gourd with a small round hole it out at the bottom. He climbs up to the top of it ( the thiner part) and sleeps attached to the wall. I figure it simulates a hollow in a tree. I keep ambient temp at 85-90, hot spot 130-150 deg F, depending how close he gets to the light (there are few levels of branches he can choose from). Humidity 70-90%. I put moss bed over part of the enclosure which helps keep humidity, not counting the substrate. He is about 16 inches long and at the store they were feeding him crickets, catfood and repashy insect diet. When I suggested at least trying a pinky they said he is too small for it. But the first day I got him he devoured two hopper mice no problem.

Thanks for the info, only thing I may try differently, is keeping ambient on the hot side 85, and hot basking spot 120-130. I talked to krusty and he told me the indicus complex can receive burns easier than the other known species like ackies, argus, savannahs, etc. So I will try for between 125-130. Catfood....:-/

[Grendel]

I don't feed him catfood, and I don't think he ate it at the store, they would just mix it with repashy and put in his bowl.

[smy_749]

I don't feed him catfood, and I don't think he ate it at the store, they would just mix it with repashy and put in his bowl.

Sorry if you misunderstood, the frowny face was for the pet store, not for you. Does your peachthroat take shrimp, and whole fish without issues as well ?

[Pirarucu]

Yea I was just curious if anyone has actually seen them burrow, when provided with the substrate. Because I know from rudi owners that its not really common, an I don't know about the true tree monitors, if anyone has seem them burrow as well. Perhaps the tree species regulate humidity at different levels of the canopy in the wild, or inside hollow trees as a substitute for ground burrows. I know with other tree dwelling animals, ground activity is a rarity, was just wondering if true tree monitors were generally the same, and if indicus is one of them.They burrow.
Unlike more terrestrial species, their burrows are not usually very large or complex, and are more often than not just a little hole under a log. They should still be provided with dirt, all monitors should in my opinion. It won't hurt them if they don't use it...