Peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi)

Short answers

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

120×60×120 cm (semi-arboreal, with depth to dig).

Peacock monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 45–55 °C (spot-sized basking place), at night 21–24 °C.

Peacock monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 4–6; a sun-loving small monitor).

Peacock monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–15+ years.

Peacock monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

45–55 °C (spot-sized basking place)

Humidity

50–70 %

UVB

UVB needed (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 4–6; a sun-loving small monitor)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120×60×120 cm (semi-arboreal, with depth to dig)

Substrate

A deep sand and soil mix they can dig in (with leaf litter), cork tubes, climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Insects (house crickets, roaches, locusts, beetles), occasionally pinkie mice and eggs

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 60–70 cm including the tail (a pygmy monitor)

Life expectancy

12–15+ years

Origin

The island of Rote/Roti (south of Timor), Indonesia

Protection status

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

Brumation

None (at most a slightly cooler, drier rest period is possible)

Cohabitation

Single housing or a compatible pair (1.1) are both possible; the species is naturally calm but shy. Kept singly the animal has no competition for basking spot and food. A pair needs separate heat and retreat spots plus visual barriers and ongoing monitoring; several males do not tolerate each other.

Notes

A small, very agile Odatria monitor (the timorensis complex). It needs a high, focused basking spot and strong UVB. Common mistakes: basking that is too cold, and substrate that is too shallow.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Argus monitor (Varanus panoptes) – Expert
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• 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 Peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120×60×120 cm (semi-arboreal, with depth to dig)), substrate (A deep sand and soil mix they can dig in (with leaf litter), cork tubes, 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.