Lace monitor (Varanus varius)

Short answers

Lace monitor: How big does the enclosure need to be?

300 x 300 x 180+ cm (arboreal); juveniles 120 x 60 x 60 cm.

Lace monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 27–30 °C (gradient), basking spot 45–55 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Lace monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (10–12 %).

Lace monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20+ years.

Lace monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

27–30 °C (gradient)

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

45–55 °C

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

Essential (10–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

300 x 300 x 180+ cm (arboreal); juveniles 120 x 60 x 60 cm

Substrate

A diggable soil and sand mix plus plenty of stable climbing branches and trunks

Feeding

Food

Insects, rodents, chicks, eggs, fish, carrion

Feeding interval

Adults 1–2×/week (avoid obesity)

Key facts

Adult size

150–210 cm

Life expectancy

15–20+ years

Origin

Eastern Australia

Protection status

CITES Appendix II; export from Australia is prohibited (only EU captive-bred animals), EU Annex B, registration required

Brumation

A cooler winter spell (a slight rest) is possible

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Monitors and tegus are territorial; grown animals defend their territory and injure each other with serious bites in the process. Even small size differences mean one animal claims the warm spot and the food for itself while the other falls behind — which is often only noticed once the weaker animal has already lost weight. For breeding, put them together only under supervision.

Notes

A very large, arboreal monitor with an enormous space and height requirement. Suitable only for experienced experts with a room-sized or outdoor terrarium.

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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
• Timor monitor (Varanus timorensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Lace monitor (Varanus varius) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (300 x 300 x 180+ cm (arboreal); juveniles 120 x 60 x 60 cm), substrate (A diggable soil and sand mix plus plenty of stable climbing branches and trunks), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.