Toref/Torefet: Varanus Tristis Orientalis/Freckled Tree Monitor

[dakski]

My final reptile should be home here tomorrow.

His/her name is Toref/Torefet (masculine/feminine). Too young to sex, so we will make it permanent when we know for sure.

It's Hebrew for predator/devourer.

Well, he/she is a monitor. However, a rare monitor, especially in the states.

Toref is a 3 month old Varanus Tristis Orientalis, or Freckled Tree Monitor.

"He" will max out at about 2 feet long with half of that being tail. They are similar in size and temperament to Ackie Monitors, but have a thinner build, are faster, and are great climbers, as opposed to diggers.

His permanent home will be a 4X2X1.5' boaphile tank that Jeff will be building for me. It will complete the 4X2' tower I have and the reptile area will be full, complete, and awesome, as is the collection.

I am done. Katie and I agreed that Toref is the last reptile, unless someone passes, and/or we get a bigger house, for the foreseeable future. I am at peace with that.

The one caveat is that I've never had a monitor. They are a bit of work and are intelligent and shy and you need to earn their trust and keep it. If, for some reason, this is not a good fit, a) the breeder is happy to find another home (they are in high demand) at any point in time, and b) I will pick someone else for the tank Toref is going in.

I am not too concerned. This species seems unbelievably cool. However, I won't know much about his personality for a bit. At 3 months, his body is the size of my middle finger (length wise) and he's too small to really handle and is a little flighty.

They grow fast though, and in a few months, after I've got him (literally) eating out of my hand, we can work on gentle handling.

Pictures below.

Toref - sideways on some bark



Toref Chillng with a Sibling:



​Some stock photos of Freckled Monitors: