quick question for all you guru's

[myounguf]

Just a quick question for all of you monitor guru's out there. I do not have a lot of experience with monitors and was just curious about what would be the smallest species of monitor lizards out there and the sizes they grow to. Pictures would also be awesome of all different species you may have and there mature sizes!

Thanks in advance for your answers, i am not thinking about getting one, I am just curious. Thanks!

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[John_E_Dove]

I believe that the dwarf monitor species Varanus Acanthuras Brochyuras (Yellow Ackies) are about the smallest at a max size of around 2 feet but I will not be suprised to hear of something smaller from the real monitor experts like Raze.

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[myounguf]

O trust me, I am waiting for the almighty, knowledgeable RAZE to comment. He is truly an endless pit of knowledge and experience. Thanks for the input

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[DRZRider]

I am no guru or Raze but here goes what I know:
Varanus Brevicauda are tiny monitors with a length of 7 or 8 inches. They are almost unheard of in the US pet trade.
Varanus acanthurus ( red and yellow ackies) are common in the pet trade and make great captives. Big ones can get a little over 2 feet.

Varanus timorensis are also common and fairly cheap in the US. They do not usually make good captives.

Varanus Kingorum, Varanus Storii and others in the Subgenus Odatria are considered dwarf monitors, but most are not found in the US pet trade. If they are found then they cost a lot of money. One day I hope to work with Varanus tristis tristis which are called black head monitors.
Ed

[myounguf]

what size enclosure do red and yellow ackies need? From what little I know, it seems as though they need more room than snakes in relation to their body size. Is is true or am I just making stuff up again?

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[mrcota]

Since your not planning on getting one, the smallest monitor is Varanus brevicauda. Maximum size is 23cm. They are not available outside Australia. Crocdoc hatched some last year or the year before.
.
Cheers,
Michael

[John_E_Dove]

Originally Posted by myounguf

what size enclosure do red and yellow ackies need? From what little I know, it seems as though they need more room than snakes in relation to their body size. Is is true or am I just making stuff up again?

No your not making anything up there. Lizards do tend to need more room inrelation to their body size than most snakes.
I like to use the following formula for determining the absolute minimum enclosure size.
2-3 times the length of the lizard (nose to tail tip) = the width.
The length of the lizard = the depth front to back
The type lizard & size determines the height.
If it is terrestrial then the enclosure heigth is 1 1/2 times the length of the lizard, if it is arboreal I go with 2 x the length.
So saying a Yellow Ackie (Varanus acanthurus brachyurus) gets 2 feet long and is primarily a terrestrial lizard the absolute minimum enclosure needed for one adult would be 4 feet wide X 2 feet front to back and 30 inches high. (Taller if you are using an earth substrate of any depth)
Just my opinion!!

[Ophiophilia]

I smell something fishy about this...
I'd agree with everyone else about the Varanus Acanthurus though. Good Luck.

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[myounguf]

Originally Posted by Ophiophilia

I smell something fishy about this...
I'd agree with everyone else about the Varanus Acanthurus though. Good Luck.

What smells fishy?

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[Ophiophilia]

Sorry, I was mistaken by something. Please ignore that.

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[razeraze]

I am no guru either, I believe there is 1 keeper currently keeping Varanus caudolineatus in the united states, but honestly ackies are probably the smallest and easiest to obtain in the states.

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[jtmoney]

I am looking at getting an ackie or a pair and am making a enclosure that measures 4X4X4. Big thanks to DRZ for the answered questions in PM's. But I actually have one more for all you monitor people. I know there is no good care sheets but what is a good feeding schedule for a ackie young and old. Thanks in advance.

[razeraze]

I am not sure on small insectivores but I feed young monitors every day. Monitors have a very fast metabolism and with proper basking spots they burn up food very quickly. I would feed appropriately sized invertebrates a daily with an occasional pinky, egg, crab, shrimp, fish etc.. to give a good variety. Be sure not to feed goldfish because they are full of parasites.

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[allergenic]

Originally Posted by John_E_Dove

I believe that the dwarf monitor species Varanus Acanthuras Brochyuras (Yellow Ackies) are about the smallest at a max size of around 2 feet but I will not be suprised to hear of something smaller from the real monitor experts like Raze.

There are a bunch of Odatria from Australia that are dwarf species like red and yellow ackies, kimberly rock monitors, black headed monitors, and all get between 2 and 2.5 feet.

Other dwarf species from areas such as Indonesia include the Timor and they also get the same size. Timors are generally 2.5 feet but have been known to occasionally get up to almost 3 on rare occastions.

This is a pic of my Timor, as Ed said they don't make good pets if you are hoping for a high level of interaction with your monitor:

[jtmoney]

Originally Posted by razeraze

I am not sure on small insectivores but I feed young monitors every day. Monitors have a very fast metabolism and with proper basking spots they burn up food very quickly. I would feed appropriately sized invertebrates a daily with an occasional pinky, egg, crab, shrimp, fish etc.. to give a good variety. Be sure not to feed goldfish because they are full of parasites.

So roaches/crickets everyday would be good? Then like twice a week do egg/pinky/treat? Dubia's are full of protein and the good stuff compaired to many other feeders and they come in all sizes. What will be nice is to feed off all the dang males!

[telefrag]

why has nobody mentioned V.glauerti?

they are somewhat available in the US, although kinds $$$ last time I checked.

[allergenic]

Originally Posted by telefrag

why has nobody mentioned V.glauerti?

they are somewhat available in the US, although kinds $$$ last time I checked.

I did, above.

[telefrag]

oh, hahaha

guess I should read better

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[telefrag]

Oh, I see why I didn't catch it
I didn't know the common name for them.

on that note, if the OP is interested in the species I do have a friend working with them.

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[allergenic]

Originally Posted by telefrag

I didn't know the common name for them.

Now that's gangster