Monitor Lizards on Herpeton Academy

Ackie Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus acanthurus · Ackie Monitor · Ackie monitor · Spiny-tailed monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	50-70 cm
Lifespan	15-20 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus acanthurus is native to northern, western and central Australia, including some offshore islands.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C

Argus Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus panoptes · Argus Monitor · Argus monitor · Yellow-spotted monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	100-150 cm
Lifespan	12-20 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus panoptes occurs across northern Australia and southern New Guinea, with named forms including the New Guinea/Torres Strait *V.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 55-65 °C

Asian Water Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus salvator · Asian Water Monitor · Asian Water Monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	150-300 cm
Lifespan	15-25 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus salvator is native to South and South-east Asia, from Sri Lanka and eastern India through mainland South-east Asia to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and nearby islands.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 45-55 °C

Black Tree Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus beccarii · Black Tree Monitor · Black Tree Monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	90-120 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus beccarii is native to the Aru Islands of Indonesia and nearby New Guinea-region trade context.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 38-45 °C

Blue Tree Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus macraei · Blue Tree Monitor · Blue Tree Monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	90-110 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus macraei is native to Batanta Island in Indonesia, making it a narrow-range island species.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 38-45 °C

Emerald Tree Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus prasinus · Emerald Tree Monitor · Emerald Tree Monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	75-100 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus prasinus is native to New Guinea and nearby islands, including Indonesian Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 38-45 °C

King’s Rock Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus kingorum · King’s Rock Monitor · King’s rock monitor · Kingorum monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	35-45 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus kingorum is a small rock monitor from northwestern Australia, especially the eastern Kimberley of Western Australia and adjacent northwestern Northern Territory.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 48-58 °C

Mangrove Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus indicus · Mangrove Monitor · Mangrove monitor · Pacific monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	100-130 cm
Lifespan	12-20 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus indicus belongs to a complicated western Pacific monitor group.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 45-55 °C

Nile Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus niloticus · Nile Monitor · Nile monitor · Nilwaran

📋 At a glance


Adult size	150-220 cm
Lifespan	15-20 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus niloticus is widespread through much of sub-Saharan Africa and reaches the Nile system, but it is absent from the driest desert regions.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C

Savannah Monitor — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus exanthematicus · Savannah Monitor · Savannah monitor · Bosc’s monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	90-120 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus exanthematicus occurs across the savanna belt of West and Central Africa.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C

Varanus glauerti — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus glauerti · Varanus glauerti · Kimberley rock monitor · Glauert’s monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	70-100 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus glauerti is endemic to the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia and nearby parts of the Northern Territory, including rocky escarpments, gorges and sandstone outcrops.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C

Varanus kordensis — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus kordensis · Varanus kordensis · Biak tree monitor · Kordo tree monitor

📋 At a glance


Adult size	80-100 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus kordensis is an island tree monitor from Biak and nearby islands off northwestern New Guinea, Indonesia.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 38-45 °C

Varanus ornatus — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus ornatus · Varanus ornatus · Ornate monitor · Bindenwaran

📋 At a glance


Adult size	140-200 cm
Lifespan	15-20 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus ornatus is associated with humid forests, swamp forest, river systems and wetland margins in West and Central Africa.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Expert
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C

Varanus pilbarensis — Fact Sheet

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Varanus pilbarensis · Varanus pilbarensis · Pilbara rock monitor · Pilbara-Felsenwaran

📋 At a glance


Adult size	40-50 cm
Lifespan	10-15 years
Subspecies	No captive-care subspecies split
Origin	Varanus pilbarensis is restricted to the Pilbara region of Western Australia, especially rocky ranges, boulder fields, gorges and eroded plateaus.
Activity	Diurnal
Difficulty	Advanced
Legal	CITES: Appendix II; EU: Annex B; local rules still apply

🏠 Enclosure

Large secure vivarium; monitors need space, heat, and strong construction
Adult enclosure should prioritize floor area, deep substrate, climbing, and basking access
Substrate: deep packed soil/sand/clay mix that supports digging
Avoid small tanks, weak lids, loose unstable rock piles, and underpowered heat

🪨 Enclosure furniture

Large basking platform, deep diggable substrate, secure hides, climbing branches or rock ledges
Humid retreat below the dry surface
Heavy decor must be supported from the floor, not resting on loose substrate

💡 Lighting

Strong UVB and intense visible light are essential
Best: linear high-output UVB plus bright LED/halide-style visible lighting and separate basking lamps
Measure basking UVI and replace lamps on schedule
Photoperiod: 10-12 h; no visible light at night

🌡️ Temperature

Basking spot: 50-60 °C