Horn's rock monitor (Varanus glauerti horni)

Short answers

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

From 180×80×120 cm; moulded cork back and side panels considerably increase the usable surface area.

Horn's rock monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 30–35 °C with a gradient, basking spot 45–50 °C at the basking spot (mercury vapour lamp), at night 20–25 °C.

Horn's rock monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 12.0).

Horn's rock monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 15–20 years.

Horn's rock monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

30–35 °C with a gradient

Night temperature

20–25 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C at the basking spot (mercury vapour lamp)

Humidity

40–60 %, plus a permanently humid hide (wet box); do not keep it constantly wet

UVB

Essential (UVB 12.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 180×80×120 cm; moulded cork back and side panels considerably increase the usable surface area

Substrate

A deep sand-loam mix they can dig in, with stone slabs and cork tubes

Feeding

Food

Insects of all kinds, occasionally nestlings and eggs; regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

60–80 cm Gesamtlänge (Schwanz etwa drei Viertel der Länge)

Life expectancy

approx. 15–20 years

Origin

North-western Australia

Protection status

Australia has not exported wildlife for decades — only European captive-bred animals; CITES II

Brumation

A cooler rest of 6–8 weeks at 18–22 °C

Cohabitation

Single housing. This is the least stressful and best documented for the species. A pair only works in a very large enclosure with several heat and hiding spots; whether two animals get on is individual. Never keep males together.

Notes

A very flat-bodied rock monitor that lives in narrow crevices. Note: "horni" is a subspecies name that is not generally recognised. This animal is kept and cared for like Varanus glauerti; the husbandry information here is therefore the same as in the main entry.

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 Horn's rock monitor (Varanus glauerti horni) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 180×80×120 cm; moulded cork back and side panels considerably increase the usable surface area), substrate (A deep sand-loam mix they can dig in, with stone slabs and cork tubes), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.