Black-headed Monitor photos

[daniel1983]

This little one slept like this on and off for a week...now it does not do it at all. It seems like they get their 'favorite' spots sometimes, then decide to move on to somewhere else.


Here is a growth comparison photo. The scale on the two pictures might be a little off, but I tried..ha ha. They seem to grow pretty quick.
The picture on the left was taken when these guys arrived her at about 20 days old or so. The second is from today. They have been here since August 15th.

[Holbeird]

Aw! So cute! Love that first picture!

[Shelby]

Very cute! I haven't heard of that species before.. are they a dwarf species? They kind of look like ackies and kimberly rocks..

[daniel1983]

They are known as Black-headed Monitors or Mournful Goannas (varanus tristis tristis). They should get darker heads as they grow and get that 'mournful' look

They are a dwarf species just like ackies and the care is about the same. Adult size is about the same too. However, their habits are a bit different. These are more aboreal monitors so they are slender and quick. They don't tolerate handling as much as ackies, but they are very outgoing when food is involved...ha ha. Great little monitors and quickly becoming one of my favorites.

They still do not compare in size to my Storr's monitors...ha ha...I love the really small monitors.

Here is an adult female storri in my hand....Full grown adult The tristis will be about twice this size. Too be honest....the baby tristis and adult storri are about the same total length (12" or so), yet the difference in the body build of the two is very noticable.....and Blackheaded monitors are all tail

[Jonny2184]

Sweet shots ya got there...
They beauty reptiles...
at least they dont get too big so that their bites don't hurt as much!

Thanks for sharing them pics!

[jknudson]

They look great!


BTW how are the storri eggs doing Daniel?

-Jason

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Very cute. Great job on raising them up. Those may be a canidate for my dwarf varanus fix

[Stewart_Reptiles]

So cute