Black Rough-neck Monitor - Varanus rudicollis
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General Information

Distribution — Rough-neck monitors are native to Indonesia.

Habitat — This is a highly arboreal species that frequents rainforest habitats.

Size — Adults grow to a length of 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 feet) 2/3 of which is tail.

Temperament — Rough-neck monitors are shy but relatively easy to handle.  Unlike most other monitors found in the pet trade, they are very reluctant to bite or even whip their tails. 

Longevity — This species lives about 10-15 years in captivity.  However, the life expectancy may increase as husbandry improves and captive breeding becomes more common.

Captive Care

Rating: 2; Due to this animal’s good nature, feeding habits, and it receives an good rating; Providing adult animals with a suitably large enclosure is difficult for some.

Diet: These monitors are primarily insectivores but they will also feed on small lizards such as skinks and geckos in the wild.  In captivity, they thrive on crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and silkworms with the a weekly supplement of pink mice or rats depending upon the size of the lizard.

Temperature:  Although Rough-neck monitors are from teh tropics they spend most of their time in the rainforest under the canopy.  Temperatures in this lizards enclosure should be maintained between 25-32°C (78-90°F).

Required Space: Rough-neck monitors are are active climbing lizards that grow to a relatively large size.  Adults require an enclosure that is at least 150 x 60 x 60 cm (60x24x48 inches).

Breeding: Ridge tail monitors are one of the few species of monitors that is consistently bred in captivity.  A winter cooling period is necessary to induce breeding behaviour.  Temperatures should be dropped to 14-16°C (59-63°F) gradually and maintained for two to three months.  Gradual warming and vigorous feeding will induce ovulation and breeding.  Clutches vary in size from 2-11 eggs which should be incubated in vermiculite at 100% humidity.  Incubation temperatures of 26-32°C (80-91°F) result in hatching in approximately 90-166 days.

Special Requirements: This monitor must have a plenty of opportunity to climb and a few arboreal hiding places.  Their diet in the wild consists primarily of invertebrates and their captive diet should reflect this.  A diet consisting of primarily rodents is too rich for these lizards and it will result in a shorter lifespan and inactivity.

Sources (Suggested Reading):

Balsai, Michael. 1997. General Care and Maintenance of Popular Monitors and Tegus. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc. Santee, CA. Pp. 170

Bartlett, R.D. and P. Bartlett. 1996. Monitors, Tegus, and Related Lizards: A Complete Pet Owner's Manual. Barron’s Educational Series Inc., New York. Pp. 104.

Bennett, Daniel. 1998. Monitor Lizards: Natural History, Biology, and Husbandry. Warlich Druck, Meckenheim, Germany. Pp. 352.

De Lisle, Harold F. 1996. The Natural History of Monitor Lizards. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, FLA. Pp. 201.

King, Dennis and Brian Green. 1993. Goanna: The Biology of the Varanid Lizards. New South Wales University Press, Kensington, Australia. Pp. 102.

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