Storr's monitor (Varanus storri)

Short answers

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

120 x 60 x 60 cm (a single animal), larger for a pair.

Storr's monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–33 °C, basking spot 45–50 °C, at night 20–24 °C.

Storr's monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (desert and steppe-grade UVB, 10–12 %).

Storr's monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Storr's monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–33 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

45–50 °C

Humidity

40–60 %

UVB

Essential (desert and steppe-grade UVB, 10–12 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

120 x 60 x 60 cm (a single animal), larger for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, ~10–15 cm, with stacked stones and bark

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, roaches, locusts), rarely pinkies

Feeding interval

Adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

30–40 cm total length

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Northern and eastern Australia (Queensland)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II, EU Annex B, registration required

Brumation

None (a cooler dry spell is possible)

Cohabitation

Single housing is the least stressful choice. Keeping a pair (1.1) also works in a sufficiently large enclosure with several basking and hiding spots, but only as long as the pair gets along. The species is known for intolerance among conspecifics, especially in confined spaces: groups and several males only succeed in very large setups, ranking fights cannot be ruled out, and a subordinate animal can be permanently displaced or injured — a way to separate them should therefore always be at hand. Several animals each need their own basking and hiding spots; feed separately if sizes differ.

Notes

It needs a very hot, focused basking spot and heavily structured, diggable ground. A small, robust monitor and a good way into keeping monitors.

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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 Storr's monitor (Varanus storri) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (120 x 60 x 60 cm (a single animal), larger for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, ~10–15 cm, with stacked stones and bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.