asian water monitor

matrix1829 · 09-13-03, 12:16 PM

I've just bought a n asian water monitor. man is she a beaut, she is so friendly. she has not even tried to bite me. does anyone have any ideas on what kind of an enclosure I should build and what size should it be. pics would be greatly appreciated.

Steeve B · 09-13-03, 03:06 PM

Hello Matrix first congratulation on your new varanids, I hope you know these guys can get to 7+ feet and will need a very large enclosure, A 50 gallon tank will house a baby for only a few months, I can guaranty you under good husbandry a male salvator will reach 6 feet in its first year of life, on the bad end of husbandry it will take 6 years to reach 6 feet. witch is better is questionable, Horn Varius take 4-5 years to mature, all my animals mature in there first year, both my animals and Horn's are in perfect condition.
Varanids growth is directly related to a combination of food heat and humidity, if you can balance the above in the right mixture, you can achieve spectacular growth! If you lack one of the above your monitor will slowly die. Any salvator owner must visit www.Cybersalvator.com
A site devoted to this specie. As for caging look at asphyxia post his cage is excellent for forest varanids.
Rgds

matrix1829 · 09-13-03, 04:41 PM

thanks alot steeve, cybersalvator is a great site!!!!!!

markb · 09-13-03, 07:35 PM

Hi Matrix,

If you complain, rant, raive, act hysterical to webmaster of cybersalvator, maybe he will finish that never-ending saga: a water monitor book he and I have been working on for nearly 10 years now!!!! Im tired of asking, and don't even know where it is around here - I might have thrown it in the fireplace out of anger some years ago....I would begin again if he was serious....I always am about it. I have incredible pics of a Bangladesh boy going fishing with his 7 foot salvator, another of cluster of salvators eating a beached shark....and alot of other amazing pics of this species...

cheers,
markb

matrix1829 · 09-13-03, 08:28 PM

If you don't mind markb I would really love to see those pics.

chow,
MATRIX

Scales Zoo · 09-14-03, 01:50 AM

Our water monitor is currently 5 feet long. When we got him, he was a little over 4'.

We had babies that we grew well in 1 year, but never got any over 4' in that time.

All the while, I heard they should get 6' long in their first year.

I think, that the kind most regularily imported that is made available to us westerners, doesn't normally get 5' long as adults. I've seen 7' and 8' waters, but they do seem different from most of the ones I've seen.

Like some other reptiles, they grow fast in the wild for survival.
To think that they wouldn't also do the same in captivity might border on the foolish side.

As SteeveB said, heat and humidity is a large part of their health and growith. Give them this, and good food, and watch them grow!

Ryan

matrix1829 · 09-14-03, 06:20 PM

what size enclosure should I build for my water monitor???????

BAZ · 09-14-03, 09:32 PM

For a full grown one you will need to give it its own room. The more space the better. Mine will have a 12ft by 7ft room with a pond and branches (logs) to climb on and dirt to dig in. I wish I could give it even more room but this is the maximum I can provide for a fully grown water monitor and in my opinion this is a minimum requirement.

Steeve B · 09-15-03, 11:21 AM

You also need to consider a good draining system as he will defecate in water, I ad a 12-12in drain box fitted at the bottom of any water pond, the droppings accumulate there by gravity allowing partial water changes. Just a small tip! that will same you big time.
Rgds

BAZ · 09-15-03, 11:35 AM

Thanks Steeve. I was thinking of buying one of those pumps from a hardware store so i could pump the pond right into the toilet.

But if you have a link or more info about making a good drainage system for the pond then that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gregg M · 09-15-03, 01:01 PM

Hey Mark, You should talk...... What about that book on African varanids you have been writting since what, before I knew you and that has to be well over 10 years now....... I must admit that John is draggin his but with this thing....... There is just so much frickin info........ I think you to guys know too much and want to put it all down......... Like I should talk...... How long have I been working on my Bitis paper now???? LOL

matrix1829 · 09-15-03, 04:41 PM

can I give him a smaller enclosure if I let him roam free at night?

ReptiZone · 09-20-03, 04:48 AM

dude I can't belive you just asked that!!!!!!!!!!

You wanted a water monitor. Right! then you should get ready for all cost Vet, Food AND CAGING.ARE you trying to get large reptiles bande from Montreal as well as the rest of the province or did you just not think this whole thing through properly.

I saw the size of your Monitor and B4 the end of next month it will need a 4 X 4 X 8 Cage with a small pond as a water dish at cheapest we are talking about a 300$ cage.

At best 600$ that would be building in a large sink to act as a pond with a huge bucket under it to fasilatate draning. then you would have to place 1-2 water filtters in the Sink or Pond that just lets you change the water every 3 days insted of everyday.

water monitors when they are adults they need a 12 foot square enclosure and 35% of that cage is WATER with a POOL Filter and then you will be leterly cuting down some trees for it to have branches to climb on.

You realy need to sit back and ask your self if you have
$2 000 - $3 000 to put in this animal B4 the end of next year and stop impuls buying I saw that animal for like 3 hours B4 it sold. I dont know if you orderd it or if you just saw it and had to have it.

What ever you plan on doing DO IT B4 you get your self or this hobby hurt or worst F.U.B.A.R!

Steeve B · 09-20-03, 12:09 PM

Hello Baz Iv use these little pumps you attach a hose too, they work good especially if you have a depression at your deepest part of the water section, however they clogs often and are time consuming.
What works the best is a 2 inches valve like pictured ( 1/2in valve on photo for babies tanks) plugged on 2 in pvc piping with a shower drain, just make sure to go the extra mile and make the bottom tank extender, as a flat tank like on photo is a pain to clean, ply wood covered with epoxy resin works fine, attaching the sub tank to the main tank is easy with resin and flat copper screws, then as mentioned before gravity brings all debris to the lowest part of the tank, making water change a snap, just open the valve a few seconds and the first thing to go out, is the only thing you whant out.
Rgds

matrix1829 · 09-20-03, 02:04 PM

chondro python what do you mean you saw it before I bought it! and just to let you know money is no problem!