Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (Varanus baritji)

Short answers

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor: How big does the enclosure need to be?

120×60×70 cm.

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 30–36 °C, basking spot 48 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %).

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

30–36 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

48 °C

Humidity

40–55 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 10.0–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×70 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam they can dig in, stone slabs, pieces of bark

Feeding

Food

Insects, roaches, mealworm larvae

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

40–55 cm total length

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

The Northern Territory, Australia

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited

Brumation

A cooler dry spell of 6–8 weeks

Cohabitation

Pairs work, but keep males strictly separate. The reason: several males fight over territory and basking spot until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner. Females usually tolerate each other but need separate heat and hiding spots each; feed separately if sizes differ.

Notes

A ground-dwelling dwarf monitor with a strikingly pale throat. It likes to dig – offer deeper substrate and flat hides. Very alert and quick.

Do you keep this species?

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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-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (Varanus baritji) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×70 cm), substrate (Sand-loam they can dig in, stone slabs, pieces of bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.