The Cold Blooded News

Tidbits of Information - Peach-throat Monitor

Reprinted from the Toledo Herpetological Society Newsletter, Vol.12, No.4, April 2001.

Lifespan:: No accurate data available, generally considered at least 15+ years.

Temperament:: Peach-throat monitors are extremely intelligent, and excellent opportunistic escape artists. They tend to be shy in captivity, and will threaten with tail whips and open mouth strikes, but will rarely ever actually bite. With regular gentle handling, they will settle down and make great pets. They are social and have been successfully housed together in both pairs and groups. Peach-throats have been bred in captivity. Peach-throat monitors are closely related to the mangrove monitor (Varanus indicus) and the Blue-tailed monitor (Varanus doreanus).

Captive Care:: 29 gallon long size tank for hatchlings, large more open tall cages for adults. They like to dig, climb and soak. Should provide limbs etc. for climbing and large water containers that they can soak in. Use substrate that helps to maintain a high humidity like Cypress mulch in deep layers. A hide box can be used, but should be placed on the cooler side of the cage. Peach-throats tend to be shy in captivity. Mist cage regularly to maintain humidity.

Temperature:: Basking area of 100°F, ambient 82-90°F with a heat gradient across the cage.

Lighting:: Lighting to maintain a daily-diurnal light cycle is necessary (12 hours on and 12 hours off is preferred). UV generating lights are not required if the peach-throats are fed a live or supplemented diet.

Foods:: Hatchlings: a varied diet consisting of crickets, superworms, waxworms, roaches, fish, frogs, appropriately sized mice and/or Zupreem Tegu and Monitor diet. The use of a dietary supplement such as Miner-all or Reptocal is recommended.
Juveniles and Adults: appropriately sized frozen/thawed mice (offer rodents no larger than half the size of the monitor's head), insects, fish, frogs and Zupreem Tegu and Monitor diet. The use of a dietary supplement such as Miner-all or Reptocal is recommended.