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Asian Water Monitor — Fact Sheet

Varanus salvator · Asian Water Monitor · Asian Water Monitor

📋 At a glance

Adult size150-300 cm
Lifespan15-25 years
SubspeciesNo captive-care subspecies split
OriginVaranus 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.
ActivityDiurnal
DifficultyExpert
LegalCITES: 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

  • Warm zone: 29-33 °C

  • Cool zone: 24-28 °C

  • Night: 22-26 °C

  • Clear gradient required; the animal must be able to move between warm, cool, and hidden zones

  • Measure basking surfaces with an infrared thermometer and ambient zones with digital probes

  • Avoid heat rocks and unguarded heat sources

💧 Humidity & water

  • Dry surface with access to a more humid burrow or retreat for arid species
  • Fresh water always available; larger species may need a soaking tub
  • Ventilation must remove stale damp air
  • Avoid bone-dry deep substrate and swampy floors

🪳 Diet

Feed regularly:

  • Appropriately sized crickets, roaches, locusts, and other feeder insects

In moderation:

  • Waxworms, mealworms, superworms, and fatty larvae

Avoid:

  • Wild-caught insects, oversized prey, spoiled feeders

Supplements:

  • Calcium as needed; vitamins in a controlled schedule; UVB does not get replaced by powders

🩺 Health — warning signs

  • Lethargy or poor appetite → basking heat too low, stress, or disease
  • Soft jaw or weak limbs → UVB/calcium issue
  • Obesity → overfeeding or insufficient space
  • Nose rub or damaged toes → enclosure stress or unsafe surfaces
  • Retained shed on tail/toes → humidity or abrasion problem

Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for severe weakness, injury, breathing signs, swelling, or prolonged refusal to eat.