Ionides' white-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis ionidesi)

Short answers

Ionides' white-throated monitor: How big does the enclosure need to be?

300×150×150 cm (at least 8×4×4 ft) for one adult animal.

Ionides' white-throated monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–35 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 22–25 °C.

Ionides' white-throated monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5; a savannah species).

Ionides' white-throated monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to 20–25 years.

Ionides' white-throated monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–35 °C

Night temperature

22–25 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5; a savannah species)

Enclosure

Minimum size

300×150×150 cm (at least 8×4×4 ft) for one adult animal

Substrate

A deep, diggable sand-loam mix (compactable for caves), a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Rodents (mice or rats), chicks, large insects or roaches, snails, eggs

Feeding interval

adults 1–2×/week (risk of obesity!), juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 1.2–1.8 m (up to ~2 m) including the tail, very bulky

Life expectancy

up to 20–25 years

Origin

Tanzania (East Africa); the black-throated monitor form from dry savannah and bushland

Protection status

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

Brumation

Not essential (reduced activity or aestivation is possible in the dry season)

Cohabitation

Single housing – 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 black-throated monitor, one of the heaviest monitors. Very powerful and potentially dangerous. The commonest mistake: overfeeding and obesity, and an enclosure that is too small and unstructured. It needs deep, diggable substrate.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Ionides' white-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis ionidesi) in the marketplace →

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 Ionides' white-throated monitor (Varanus albigularis ionidesi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (300×150×150 cm (at least 8×4×4 ft) for one adult animal), substrate (A deep, diggable sand-loam mix (compactable for caves), a large water basin), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.