Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii)

Short answers

Dumeril's monitor: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Approx. 240×120×180 cm (8×4×6 ft), semi-arboreal.

Dumeril's monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C (cooler zone 27–29 °C), basking spot 43–49 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Dumeril's monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–4).

Dumeril's monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 20+ years.

Dumeril's monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C (cooler zone 27–29 °C)

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

43–49 °C

Humidity

approx. 80 %

UVB

UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 2, UV index 2–4)

Enclosure

Minimum size

approx. 240×120×180 cm (8×4×6 ft), semi-arboreal

Substrate

Deep damp coco soil or soil (diggable), a large deep water basin, climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Crabs and crayfish, snails, fish, rodents, large insects, eggs

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week, juveniles daily to every other day

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1–1.3 m including the tail

Life expectancy

20+ years

Origin

South-East Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Borneo, Indonesia)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Annex B – proof of origin required

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing explicitly recommended – territorial; never males together. The reason is territory: two animals will not voluntarily share a basking spot or a hiding place. They fight until one is seriously injured or permanently confined to a corner — and that second animal then eats worse, without showing any visible wound.

Notes

The roughneck monitor, specialised among other things on crayfish and crabs. It needs high humidity, deep water and climbing opportunities. The young are strikingly orange. Shy.

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 Dumeril's monitor (Varanus dumerilii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (approx. 240×120×180 cm (8×4×6 ft), semi-arboreal), substrate (Deep damp coco soil or soil (diggable), a large deep water basin, climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.