Yuwono's monitor (Varanus yuwonoi)

Short answers

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

200×100×150 cm (with a large water basin).

Yuwono's monitor: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C, basking spot 40–50 °C, at night 23–25 °C.

Yuwono's monitor: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5).

Yuwono's monitor: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years (in captivity, uncertain).

Yuwono's monitor: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C

Night temperature

23–25 °C

Basking spot

40–50 °C

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 2–3, UV index 3–5)

Enclosure

Minimum size

200×100×150 cm (with a large water basin)

Substrate

Damp soil or leaf litter, climbing branches, a large water basin

Feeding

Food

Insects, mice or rats, fish, eggs

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles more often

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 120–140 cm including the tail (the final size is not firmly documented)

Life expectancy

15–20 years (in captivity, uncertain)

Origin

Halmahera, the Moluccas (Indonesia) – endemic and very rare

Protection status

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

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Single housing – territorial and aggressive over food; 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 three-coloured monitor (the indicus group), very rare and little studied; the husbandry data come mainly by analogy from the indicus group – and are therefore uncertain. Often nervous and shy during initial acclimatisation.

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 Yuwono's monitor (Varanus yuwonoi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (200×100×150 cm (with a large water basin)), substrate (Damp soil or leaf litter, climbing branches, 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.