New Water monitor (south Africa)

HI
I got a nile water monitor this morning.
Caught it actually, as I live in south africa.
So I was just wondering what type of setup you guys usually use for yours.
It's still a small guy, less than a foot.
I saw some caresheets, but they weren't explicit enough.
If I feed the little guy on mice and small lizzards, how often do I feed it?
Do you use under tank heating as well as lights?

Like I said on your last post. I don't know allot about Monitors but If this is a wild caught monitor I would recommend that you check for parasites, if you haven't already.

Thanks, I've checked for mites and ticks already.
It seems clean and in good condition.
It's got really brite colours.

Here's a pic.
It bites like crazy.
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/p...039646_553.jpg

From what I know they grow like a weed, I mean they can seriously grow quickly. I believe they get around 5-8ft and can inflict serious injuries to a person with an in-experienced handler (not saying you are) just need to be careful. From what i've read before you feed it once to twice a week on a ranged diet of mice, crickets, mealworms and possible goldfish.

Cool, thanks for the input.
I've caught a larger one before...
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/p...torlizzard.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/p...torlizzard.jpg
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/p...orlizzard2.jpg
So I have a pretty good idea of what they get like. But I let the big one go, the same day.
Sorry about the picture quality, was taken a long time ago, on an old crappy phone camera.
Ya, I just caught the little guy today and thought I'd try keeping him.
Thanks for the advice though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snakemanjayd

Here's a pic.
It bites like crazy.
http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/p...039646_553.jpg

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what a cute picture!:D:8:

Thanks

get him vet checked, make sure he is good, then set him in a decent sized tank...maybe 30-40 gal for now with some top soil in it.

feed him some insects and pinkies every other day if not everyday. he will grow like a weed. and will be pretty flightly but he looks awesome.

Nile water monitor? That's one I've never heard of.

I'm pretty sure it's just a Nile monitor as Niles are native to Africa and Waters native to Asia.

Here's a page on them
http://www.sandsexoticanimals.com/ca...lemonitor.html

It's a Nile monitor. Varanus niloticus
We have two types of monitors here the other is the rock monitor Varanus albigularis. We often refer to the nile as the water monitor as it lives in and around water, and the other the rock monitor, as it lives in dryer areas.
That's the local names for them.

We don't really have vets here that check out lizzards.
But the cage ideea is cool.
Thanks alot for the advice.

Here's some simple info.
Get the cageing right, homemade cages are best I only keep hatchlings and juviniles under 24 inches in tanks, then homemade cages are better. Substrate a 75% dirt 25% mix of sand and a little mulch. It will work a lot better then any other substrate. Another thing that is important is the basking spot. Its best to use flood lights instead of high wattage bulbs the high wattage bulbs turn the cage into an oven. You want your basking spot to be around 125 - 150 F
And a warm side around 85 F and a cool side where the water should be. Some other things are the water you have to provide I would give it like a small shallow tub or a big water bowl. As for food I feed babys 6 days a week on a 4 day insect 2 day rodent diet or you can also work around a 3 day insect 3 day rodent 6 day a week scedual. Once it gets around a year old you can feed it every other day just bigger prey. Instead of all rodents I use a lot more bird prey items so the monitors don't get fat . But since yours is still a baby feed him crickets, meal worms, super worms and pinkies.
Dust you insects a few times a week.
The nile looks great and its awsome that you live right their and caught it.
Gool luck with him
Ps I wouldent mess around with him so much so you don't stress him out too much stress and he could stop eating. Plus monitors don't really enjoy being handled that often especially niles with their bad temper

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RKO

Nile water monitor? That's one I've never heard of.

I'm pretty sure it's just a Nile monitor as Niles are native to Africa and Waters native to Asia.

Here's a page on them
http://www.sandsexoticanimals.com/ca...lemonitor.html

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It's just like with the Rock Pythons, AJ. You have your Asiatics, and your Africans. :) The Niles frequent water just as much, and have a more paddle-like tail (Raised ridge on the top of their tail, very prominent as adults).

That actually looks like a Varanus ornatus, not a Varanus niloticus. What colour is his tongue?