First time owner of Timor monitor

[JGB24]

Just got my first Timor monitor today. I've done my research but I wanted to get opinions and help from owners or past owners.
He's in a standard 60g with two sliding screen panels on top. I have him on a cypress mulch and forest floor mix substrate. He has a big half log to hide on the cold end. I have a uv heat bulb at one end over a nice basking branch that offered different levels of basking. And a water bowl. That all for now. Tomorrow I'm getting some fake leaves and vines cause I know they lik to hide.

Do I leav the basking light always on or should I turn it off at night?
What am I missing?
Any help would be awesome

[Skiploder]

Just got my first Timor monitor today. I've done my research but I wanted to get opinions and help from owners or past owners.
He's in a standard 60g with two sliding screen panels on top. I have him on a cypress mulch and forest floor mix substrate. He has a big half log to hide on the cold end. I have a uv heat bulb at one end over a nice basking branch that offered different levels of basking. And a water bowl. That all for now. Tomorrow I'm getting some fake leaves and vines cause I know they lik to hide.

Do I leav the basking light always on or should I turn it off at night?
What am I missing?
Any help would be awesome

Screen tops? 60 gallon tank?

Just out of morbid curiosity, where did you do your research?

[jbean7916]

How are you heating? And how in the world will you keep humidity up? What about burrowing? Does the substrate you have hold its shape?

I know timors are smaller but a 60gal tank sounds too small. Plus I wouldn't do a glass tank for any monitor species...



Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[JGB24]

Screen tops? 60 gallon tank?

Just out of morbid curiosity, where did you do your research?

is 60 too small? Ive seen tons of people with Timors in smaller enclosures. Id like to think mine is pretty big.
I looked at multiple of care sheets online and also was told things from someone who has raised them.

To answer JBean7916:
The heat is coming from the UV heat combo bulb.
Humidity stays close to 50% which Is what I was informed to keep it at.
The substrate holds humidity well.
And why wouldn't you do glass?

[jbean7916]

is 60 too small? Ive seen tons of people with Timors in smaller enclosures. Id like to think mine is pretty big.
I looked at multiple of care sheets online and also was told things from someone who has raised them.

To answer JBean7916:
The heat is coming from the UV heat combo bulb.
Humidity stays close to 50% which Is what I was informed to keep it at.
The substrate holds humidity well.
And why wouldn't you do glass?

I think humidity should be closer to 60 for these guys also I wasn't asking how well the substrate held humidity, I was asking does it hold its shape for a burrow.

Monitors dig... Alot. With a glass tank you can't give them deep enough substrate to do so. Also, basking temps need to be high and trying to provide a temp gradient in a tank is not easy. You basically create an oven.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

[JGB24]

Im not entirely sure if the substrate will hold its shape. Its seems like it should but I wont know till he starts burrowing.
Also the temps are ok. The cool end is 70s and the basking spot is 100+ Ill attach a picture here of the enclosure in a second.

[Skiploder]

100 degrees plus for a timor monitor..................?

Again, who gave you this info?

[JGB24]

100 degrees plus for a timor monitor..................?

Again, who gave you this info?

How is this helping me? Im honestly asking people for help. If your such a pro then how about some tips and assistance instead of just rude comments.

[Skiploder]

How is this helping me? Im honestly asking people for help. If your such a pro then how about some tips and assistance instead of just rude comments.

I am under no obligation to help you. the only obligation I feel is to the well being of the animal which is now YOUR responsibility.

You came on here stating that you had done all your homework.

You haven't. A screen top is a no no with a varanid. If you had done a modicum of research you would already know that.

A 100 degree basking spot is insufficient. There a myriad of other issues with your setup.

There is not simple set of guidelines to properly housing a varanid. A very exacting set of husbandry standards must be met. If you did not do your homework, you better do it now.

Start with a proper heat gradient with the top basking spot no less than 130 degrees. Start with an adequately sized cage that both fits the size of the animal yet allows you to meet the heat and humidity requirements.

Your substrate needs to be able to hold moisture and allow for burrowing if the animal so desires. It also needs to be deep enough to allow for this behavior. Leaf litter over soil works well for timorensis.

Since timors are arboreal, using cork tubes layered under the basking spot can simulate a retes stack and provide the proper heat gradient.

Now, if you find my replies rude, so be it. Personally, I find it beyond rude to purchase and animal with absolutely no idea on how to properly care for it. The word I would use for that is "inhumane".

If you would like to continue to be ticked off at me, be all means do so. However, while you are fuming, do that poor animal a favor and get it's needs provided for ASAP.

[jbean7916]

I knew uncle skippy would help!

Monitors are NOT for beginners. We adopted a Nile and we were NOT ready for him at all. We spent well over $1500 to build his enclosure (and I'm still not satisfied with it).

Remember, that much soil is very very very heavy. That hot of a basking spot is best achieved with a bank of low wattage lights versus 1 high wattage one. humidity is important. Fresh water is important and they will poo in it daily (if not more).

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2