Some of my Varanus pictures

[mrcota]

I do not recall ever posting here before today. Just thought that I would share some pictures of some of my monitors. I currently have 11 monitors of 6 species (Varanus bengalensis nebulosus, V. doreanus, V. dumerilii, V. prasinus, V. rudicollis and V. salvator salvator) of 3 subgenera (Empagusia, Euprepiosaurus and Soterosaurus). First there is a picture of Varanus prasinus, the nominate form; the Varanus prasinus Complex is among the most delicate complex of monitor lizards to care for and are most unforgiving of husbandry mistakes. Here is the male:

Female:

Here are my Varanus bengalensis nebulosus or Varanus nebulosus, depending on your taxonomic preference. I am currently raising them for release of their progeny into the wild in order to help with their ever declining numbers in the wild. This is a picture of the male:

This is the female.

Cheers,
Michael

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[Razaiel]

Beautiful critters I've only got one Sav so far - but now I want more ... a bit like snakes really - once you have one you just can't stop

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Very cool!!!

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[amercnwmn]

Those are great! I better not let my hubby see them, hes been wanting a monitor so bad..He loves the ones with the more sleek heads..LOL Personally I like them all, I just dont have room for an enclosure that large

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[mrcota]

Thank you for the nice comments. amercnwmn, if your husband wants a monitor, Varanus acanthurus are fairly easy to obtain in the US, captive bred (not burdening the wild population with more pressure), are not as nervous/shy as many other 'dwarf monitors' and do not require the large enclosures of medium or large monitors.
Here is a picture of my Varanus doreanus, member of the Varanus indicus complex. It was considered Varanus indicus for quite some time- from 1942 until 1994, when Böhme et al. reclassified it in a taxonomic review of the Varanus indicus complex. Very nice to look at, when he wants to be seen. Anyone who gets one of these will know what people are talking about when they mention "empty cage syndrome." They do not like being watched, touched or held. Mine has threatened, but has never bitten. Of the many species of monitors I have worked with, they have the sharpest claws- not tearing sharp, but puncture (needle) sharp. Care for them is similar to Varanus indicus.

Cheers,
Michael

[AJS]

Hi mrcota, I think we spoke on varanus.nl about bengalensis and I forgot to ask the origins of your nebulosus? What particular area of the species range are your specimens from. As always, truly beautiful animals.
Regards,
AJS

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Originally Posted by amercnwmn

Those are great! I better not let my hubby see them, hes been wanting a monitor so bad..He loves the ones with the more sleek heads..LOL Personally I like them all, I just dont have room for an enclosure that large

Or the food to feed one? lol

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[amercnwmn]

Actually feeding wouldnt be bad now that all my snakes are on small prey..Mystery has a new home in June..
The Ball Python will go to a new home as soon as I make sure he sheds right, and I get him on F/T (sometime in the next 12yrs LOL)
Pink is here to stay..The rat snake is apparently here to stay..
So unless the Amazon Gods drop an arboreal off at my door step, thats all the snakes I will have for a while..
Im looking at getting either another water dragon (temp insanity, I know) or a Beardie.
But since so far all the animals have been mine, I might get him an Ackie.
I looked for them, and someone had them for $600! EEeesh. If I had $600, I would get into a 3 BR so I have an extra bedroom and a backyard for a snakeroom.

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

	Arboreal Arboreal is a word meaning "related to or resembling trees". Its meaning comes from the Latin arbor, meaning tree.<br> In biology, an arboreal animal is one which inhabits or spends large amounts of time in trees or bushes.

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Well if you order bulk its not that bad at all. T gets another pack of mice today. Thawing them out as I type

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[amercnwmn]

Thought at first you meant ordering the Monitors in bulk! LMAO!! I thought, Pork are you trying to kill me??!?

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[cornyballpython]

hehe, nice minitors, verry colorfull

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Oh no, 1 is enough for any sane person, Notice I said SANE!!!

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[amercnwmn]

Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Oh no, 1 is enough for any sane person, Notice I said SANE!!!

So, that must mean you are getting another one?

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I am hoping to try my hand at breeding in a few more years. Baby savs aren't worth much but who knows what I will do yet

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[amercnwmn]

Well if PETCO can sell Savs (sick ones, or ones they DROP ) for $50-55
Im sure you can sell yours for the same price.

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[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Lol!!!!

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[mrcota]

AJS, the male V. bengalensis nebuslosus comes from Nakhon Si Thammarat, in southern Thailand, but I am not sure about the female.
I have been trying to stick to the native Varanus spp. here, but the V. doreanus was the first in the country and too beautiful a hatchling to pass up. Varanus prasinus was also too tempting and I had always been fascinated by them.
Cheers,
Michael

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[amercnwmn]

Very gorgeous monitors Michael! Do you currently have any ackies?
Id love to see more pics of all your monitors

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[brownsfan222]

awesome pictures, those are some nice looking monitors you got. jake how are the gecko eggs doing? i wanna get a sav when i get a job lol it takes two jobs to be able to feed one of them lil suckers. the only problem for me is the dang insects once they are on like mice its easy all you do is thaw them out. but you gotta take care of insects or go to the store and buy them which also sucks.

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[mrcota]

amercnwmn, I do not have any V. acanthurus. Australian monitors are very difficult to come by here and very, very expensive. I was told that if I wanted a V. varius, which is an Australian monitor that I would love to have, it would cost me about $3,500. It would also be illegal, although many Australian monitors have also come to the US by far from legitimate means.
Here is a picture of my newest acquisition, a hatchling Varanus rudicollis. The Thai V. rudicollis do not have the bolder markings or lighter coloration of those found in Indonesia, but my primary interest is in Thailand's herpetofauna.

Cheers,
Michael

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