Black-headed monitor – black (Varanus tristis orientalis)

Short answers

Black-headed monitor – black: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 150×80×150 cm for one animal; for a pair from 170×80×150 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report).

Black-headed monitor – black: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–33 °C, basking spot 50–60 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Black-headed monitor – black: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5).

Black-headed monitor – black: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–15 years.

Black-headed monitor – black: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–33 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

50–60 °C

Humidity

40–60 % (a locally humid cave)

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 150×80×150 cm for one animal; for a pair from 170×80×150 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, rock structures, vertical cork and bark, leaf litter; a water dish

Feeding

Food

Insects (roaches, locusts), small reptiles, egg, occasionally a pinkie or rodent

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

~60–80 cm total length (the eastern form is often somewhat larger; SVL ~30 cm)

Life expectancy

12–15 years

Origin

Eastern Australia (arid to tropical zones; rocks and trees)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B; Australia allows no export of wild animals → captive-bred animals only

Brumation

A slight cool spell in winter is possible; no strict brumation

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the standard; solitary and territorial, and males are never kept together. A compatible breeding pair only temporarily, with plenty of space and supervision.

Notes

The subspecies V. t. orientalis. Note: in the specialist literature orientalis is usually the PALER, more heavily spotted eastern form (the "freckled monitor"), while the dark form is V. t. tristis – so the trade designation "black" may differ from the scientific assignment; check the taxonomy and colour form when acquiring one. Care as for V. tristis.

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Related species

• Argus monitor (Varanus panoptes) – Expert
• Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis) – Expert
• Blue tree monitor (Varanus macraei) – Expert
• Blue-tailed monitor (Varanus doreanus) – Intermediate to expert
• Finsch's monitor (Varanus doreanus finschi) – Expert
• Boatsi tree monitor (Varanus boatsi) – Expert
• Bogert's tree monitor (Varanus bogerti) – Expert
• Lace monitor (Varanus varius) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Black-headed monitor – black (Varanus tristis orientalis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 150×80×150 cm for one animal; for a pair from 170×80×150 cm (15 % more floor space per additional animal, as in the 1997 expert report)), substrate (A sand-loam mix, rock structures, vertical cork and bark, leaf litter; a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.