Monitor Lizard - in Captivity

In Captivity

Monitor lizards have become a staple in the reptile pet trade. The most commonly kept monitors are the savannah monitor and Ackies monitor, due to their relatively small size, low cost, and relatively calm dispositions with regular handling. Black throated monitors, white throated monitors, water monitors, nile monitors, mangrove monitors, emerald tree monitors, black tree monitors, acanthurus monitors, quince monitors, crocodile monitors and komodo dragons have been kept in captivity. Like all reptiles kept as pets, monitors need an appropriately sized enclosure, hiding places, and an appropriate substrate. Some water monitors also need a large water dish in which they can soak their entire bodies. In the wild, monitors will eat anything they can overpower, but crickets, superworms, feeder fish, and the occasional rodent (for calcium) make up most of the smaller captive monitors' diet. Boiled eggs, silkworms and earthworms can also be fed to them. Larger species, such as Nile monitors, Asian Water monitors, Crocodile monitors, Perenties, and Komodo dragons will eventually require larger prey. Paleontologist and Biology Professor at Temple University, Michael Balsai has observed V. prasinus eating fruit in captivity as has herpetologist and author, Robert G. Sprackland.