Cape monitor lizard food. The Cape monitor lizard is an inhabitant of the rocky regions and forests of Africa. General description of the species

It is already difficult to surprise anyone with an exotic monitor lizard in the house - these giant lizards are increasingly settling among people. In captivity, they require a lot of attention, but they do not differ in special loyalty. There are frequent cases when the sudden aggression of a reptile pet ended for the owner with severe inflammation at the site of the bite or sepsis. How to protect yourself from a domesticated reptile and at the same time create comfortable living conditions for it, you will learn from the article, and also get acquainted with one of the most common varieties among breeders - the Cape monitor lizard.

Description and natural habitat

According to experts, this type of reptile is the most suitable for home keeping, as it is characterized by peacefulness and ease of adaptation.

However, one should take into account the individual characteristics of the temperament of the ward and never forget about precautions.

Important! High dampness in the terrarium and insufficient ventilation can provoke the development of fungal and pulmonary diseases in the reptile. Therefore, air humidity and ventilation must be controlled, while avoiding drafts.

Appearance and dimensions

In the world of monitor lizards, Cape or, as they are also called, steppe monitors, are of medium size. In most cases, the body length of adults does not exceed 1 m with a weight of 36–40 kg, but sometimes there are large specimens up to 130 cm. We are talking about males, which always prevail over females in size. It is characteristic that in captivity they reach a much larger size than in the wild. Experts explain this fact by the absence of forced starvation and the balance of the pet's diet.
Some herpetologists, based on the natural ranges of Cape monitor lizards, distinguish 5 of their subspecies, which differ from each other outward signs. Most taxonomists recognize such a classification as inaccurate, leaning towards the integrity of the species. The researchers claim that for all steppe lizards, common features are:

• wide head;
• long forked tongue;
• dense physique;
• small scaly cover on the whole body;
• short tail and neck;
• toothed comb at the end of the tail;
• short muzzle;
• resembling narrow slits, obliquely set nostrils, located very close to the eyes.

Important! When keeping monitor lizards in captivity, it will not work to breed them - these reptiles simply will not want to breed.

Depending on the variety of the steppe lizard, the number of scales on its belly can vary from 60 to 160 pieces; the color is also different. The most common individuals are gray-brown in color with yellow round spots arranged in a row on the back; usually they are edged with dark tones of the main color. And on the tail of the Cape monitor lizard there are yellow-brown rings. From below, his body, like the internal parts of all limbs, is highlighted in a light color.
A feature of monitor lizards are excessively long claws on short fingers and powerful jaws; all representatives of this family have very developed jaw muscles. Experts draw the attention of breeders to the fact that in adults, the teeth are characterized by extended crowns and dullness, while in young ones, on the contrary, they are pointed and conical.

Because of the beautiful skin, Cape monitor lizards have always aroused great interest among people. The peak of trade in this raw material was recorded in the 70-80s of the twentieth century. Therefore, in some areas of their range, reptiles were included in the list of animals that are threatened by local extinction.

Spreading

The homeland of steppe lizards is the central part of the African continent. The belt of their distribution, capturing the south of the Sahara, extends from Senegal to Ethiopia and Somalia. At the same time, the Cape variety can be seen near the Congo, Cameroon, Guinea, Chad, Uganda, Kenya, Burkina Faso.
In the wild, this living creature prefers to settle in shrouds, forests, as well as open rocky areas, avoiding deserts and tropical jungles. Often the African population encounters steppe reptiles on lands that are agriculturally cultivated.

Studying the habitat of Cape monitor lizards, scientists came to the conclusion that their name was erroneous. The fact is that in the Cape Mountains, which are located in the extreme south of Africa, there is no such fauna.

Important! Monitor lizards dehydrate very quickly, so there should always be enough drinking water in the terrarium.

Image and life expectancy

With proper maintenance, domesticated monitor lizards live for about 10 years. There is information about a domesticated centenarian of this species, who died at the age of 13 years. On the lifespan of such reptiles in natural environment it is difficult to judge, since they are characterized by secretive behavior and prefer to catch the eye of anyone as little as possible.

Most often, wild lizards hide in dense bushes or burrows. At the same time, they never build their own housing on their own, although they like to spend a lot of time exploring the dungeon and searching for ground mining.
Newborns and young individuals are very attached to the dwellings of giant crickets, which are located on plantations sown with corn, pineapple or cassava. From the first days of life, steppe reptiles lead a lifestyle of predatory invaders. Despite the fact that up to a month old lizards are not able to kill and swallow a large insect, they aggressively capture other people's holes, expanding them along the length of their body.

When the appropriated abode becomes cramped, the beast is looking for a new one, making way for the future generation. Adults prefer to settle in abandoned termite mounds and shelters of other animals.

Did you know? Steppe lizards defend themselves from enemies by firing at them with their feces.

It is very rare to see Cape monitor lizards in their native African steppes and grasslands, since they, regardless of age, prefer to hide from the scorching sun in the shade of branches. To this end, reptiles climb tall trees in well-ventilated areas, where they manage to catch insects. And in case of fright, they jump to the ground from any height.

Hunting and food

The diet of wild steppe reptiles has long been a mystery to zoologists. For example, the famous researcher Daniel Bennett, who studied the way of life and nutrition of Cape monitor lizards, analyzed the contents of the stomachs of more than 200 animals and came to the conclusion that invertebrates are their main food. But at the same time, the gastronomic preferences of reptiles largely depend on their age.
The younger generation due physiological characteristics its jaw apparatus cannot cope with large prey and its shell, therefore it feeds mainly on small arthropods. And when the sharp teeth grind down, turning into a wide crushing tool, even the thick armor of its victim is already under the force of the lizard. That is why mollusks, beetles, snakes, frogs, amphibians, crabs, snails, praying mantises, scorpions, insect larvae, centipedes and eggs of all rushing animals can be priority food for adults.

However, even adult monitor lizards prefer to feed on juvenile food. This is due to the fact that at the beginning of the rainy season, many orthoptera and hymenoptera insects appear in the habitats of the steppe monitor lizards, which are the main object for hunting. Wild predators get their food mainly on trees, in the ground or in dunghills of ruminants.
Despite the agility and excellent ability to climb plant trunks, experts classify lizards as inactive animals. The fact is that they spend most of the year in their hole or under the same bush; often this can be observed in February and March, when the dry season ends. Then the reptiles eat practically nothing, living off the accumulated fats. Researchers note greater mobility in males, who are ready to travel a considerable distance in search of food. And females, unlike them, are very secretive and lazy.

Did you know? Lizards have been living on Earth for hundreds of millions of years. The oldest fossil lizard, named Lizzie, lived about 340 million years ago. It was discovered in Scotland in 1988.

Enemies in the wild

To survive in wild nature, monitor lizards use their sharp claws, strong teeth, powerful tail and extreme briskness. It is only at first glance that a large lizard seems clumsy - in fact, if necessary, it can quickly run, swim and climb vertical surfaces with lightning speed.

Thanks to this set of qualities, the predator is afraid of few people in its range, although it spends most of its life in a hole. These are solitary animals that are not even friendly with their fellows, because they consider them as competitors in the extraction of food. At the meeting of reptiles, a fight is sure to occur, accompanied by hissing, whipping of tails and swelling of the stomachs. In this case, the victory will go to the strongest. It is possible that the victim will be immediately eaten.
In relation to other representatives of the fauna, these reptiles are most vulnerable to crocodiles, as they hunt their eggs. Large birds of prey and snakes can also attack monitor lizards. But they are more interested in young lizards.

Forced to fight, Cape monitor lizards fight back with their tails and bite. Their bite is deadly because of the many bacteria that develop on food leftovers in the owner's mouth; while the resulting pathogenic microflora does not threaten his health at all. And for humans and other animals, such a wound can result in blood poisoning and death. It is believed that reptiles later find their prey by smell.

Did you know? When meeting with a strong opponent who does not retreat with a threatening hiss and waving of the tail, the Cape monitor lizard can pretend to be dead.

reproduction

Puberty in steppe lizards occurs closer to the age of three. mating season they begin every year during the rainy season, when vital activity increases. The male tries in every possible way to attract the attention of the female he likes - for this purpose he constantly pursues her, and also bites her tail, scratches her neck and legs.
After mating, the female digs a shallow nest and lays from 20 to 60 eggs, up to 10 cm in size. Their incubation lasts for six months, and with the onset of spring, a brood appears in the hole. It is characteristic that newborn lizards are distinguished by complete independence, as well as intensive growth, which lasts the first 2 months after hatching. At the same time, parents do not care about their offspring at all.

IN Lately steppe monitor lizards have become very popular as pets. The fashion for such living creatures came from the West - before that, predatory lizards were considered exclusively as a source of meat, eggs and valuable skin. Strong monitor lizard skin with a beautiful pattern and pleasant texture is suitable for making exclusive bags, wallets, shoes, and accessories.
Now interest in such raw materials has faded a little, but young lizards for home breeding have increasingly begun to appear on sale. Half-year-old juveniles are especially popular with hunters, because they are easier to catch and cheaper to transport across borders. In addition, such a reptile is much easier to sell compared to an adult.

Regular capture affected the population size of the species, but conservation status he doesn't have it yet.

Did you know? For studying environment the steppe monitor uses its tongue, sticking it out 20 to 40 times every 2 minutes.

Researchers call the Cape variety of monitor lizards the safest for humans, but they note lethal cases of attack. Frail teenagers turned out to be victims, so scientists came to the conclusion that the giant lizard perceives short children as easy prey. In addition, in captivity, she can behave very aggressively. Therefore, owners must take care of their safety.

In captivity, steppe reptiles are threatened by obesity and a number of diseases associated with improper conditions. In order to please the pet and not provoke its aggression, you need to take into account the requirements for the terrarium, food, as well as regular care procedures.

Choosing and arranging a terrarium

Before you bring an African exotic into your home, you should take care of a cozy and spacious home for your pet. For these purposes, a horizontal type terrarium or a special room with a pool, wooden climbing bars and a cool area is suitable, because the reptile must move a lot. In the allotted room, it is important to consider the following factors:

• the dimensions of the terrarium for an adult lizard should correspond to 1.5–2 pet lengths (length and width within 2.6 m, and height - 80 cm);
• the optimum air temperature is within 22–23 ° С;
• in the heating zone, the lamp can heat the air up to 40°C;
• humidity at the level of 65–70%;
• lighting is preferably carried out using sunlight or special UV lamps designed to heat reptiles (the best option is Repti Glo 10 UVB);
• in the terrarium, it is desirable to place a thermal mat or a hot stone (an ordinary flagstone will do);
• in a cool corner, you can place several shelters in the form of wood logs with an empty core, or old clay pots (keep in mind that such decorative elements complicate the socialization of a pet);
• there should always be clean water in the pool (you should prepare for the fact that the monitor lizard will defecate there when swimming);
• be sure to observe what suits your ward more - a warm bath or shower;
• sphagnum or specially treated sand can be used as bedding for the terrarium (artificial mats are only suitable for temporary keeping);
• croton, amapalo, ferns, cacti, rucuses, ficuses, special moss, anthuriums will help to decorate the home of a domestic lizard.

Video: choosing and arranging a terrarium

What to feed

In captivity, the diet of the Cape monitor lizard should not differ significantly from the usual. But very often such pets are forced to switch to small birds, rodents, meat products and poultry eggs. As a result, very soon begin to suffer from obesity, kidney failure and liver disease.
Based on this, experts advise introducing reptiles of frogs, snails, bronzes, beetles, mussels, shrimp, small fish and insects that are familiar to her, as well as monitor the amount of food eaten and the mobility of the animal. Its tendency to deposition of fat reserves is associated with active seasons, when a monitor lizard can swallow about 13 kg of food per day. But after that, in natural conditions, he lives from hand to mouth for months.

Keep in mind that a healthy reptile has an excellent appetite, but it is limited in space to search for food. Regular feeding is not relevant for such a pet, because it is very phlegmatic and can lie under the lamp for days on end, waiting for the next portion.

Important! Domesticated steppe lizards should be given invertebrates, sprinkled with vitamin and mineral supplements.

How often should you clean

Since steppe reptiles love water and can stay in it for hours, special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the pool. In addition, these pets overwhelmingly prefer to relieve themselves during the morning bath. Of course, this habit makes it unnecessary to change the substrate daily and wash the terrarium. But at the same time, it is necessary to monitor the quality and freshness of the water, replacing it as necessary.
Once a month, it is imperative to carry out a general cleaning in the monitor lizard's monastery. To this end, all decorations and vegetation are removed from the inside, after which a thorough washing of all surfaces is carried out. Fresh bedding is poured into a clean container.

The feeder and drinker of the ward require daily cleaning, because putrefactive water or food debris can cause serious diseases.

Precautionary measures

Cape monitor lizards, in comparison with other species, get along well with people and lend themselves to rapid socialization. However, at the slightest fright, they begin to hiss, swell and raise their tail to strike. If a person is at a close enough distance, he will not be able to avoid a bite.
Even when playing, the lizard may not purposely hook the owner with its teeth, which threatens with an infected wound. Therefore, before bringing such an animal into the house, you should think carefully. And those who have already ventured into such an act should remember the following precautions in dealing with the ward:

1. It is desirable to choose young lizards as a pet, which quickly adapt to the human neighborhood.
2. In order for the reptile to get used to you, you need to pet it as often as possible from an early age, take it in your arms for communication.
3. You can not drive the monitor lizard into a corner and scare.
4. It is also undesirable to contact him while eating.
5. You should always keep antibacterial agents near the terrarium, with which, in case of bites, wounds should be treated immediately.

Although the appearance of the Cape monitor lizard inspires confidence, creating the illusion of the absolute calmness of the reptile, it is still a wild predator. And so he will remain until the end of his days. This should not be forgotten for a minute. Keep in mind that the lizard requires certain hygiene and appropriate conditions for keeping, besides, adults take root in captivity much harder than juveniles. Weigh all the pros and cons, and only then make a decision about the appropriateness of such a household.

cape monitor lizard- one of the representatives of reptiles, which is great for home keeping. Unlike other monitor lizards, representatives of this species are more peaceful, easily tamed, and also get along well with children. Monitor lizards have seasonal reproduction, the birth of babies into the world occurs in the spring. Therefore, to buy a Cape monitor lizard best time It will be mid-summer or autumn.

Need to buy a pet young the younger he is, the easier it is to adapt to life next to a person.

When choosing a pet, you need to pay attention to it. appearance as well as behavior. The active and curious behavior of the monitor lizard will be a plus. While in the terrarium, he should show interest in feeding, if you pick him up, he will make an attempt to get out and even show slight aggression.

At the time of purchase, you must inspect eyes, mouth and nostrils. The mouth should be completely healthy, clean with a light bluish tint. By pressing in the area of ​​​​the ears, the monitor lizard will open its mouth, healthy representatives should not have any diseases or injuries.

The reptile can emit a hiss. This is a normal reaction of distrust. Healthy monitor lizards should not have any mucous discharge from the mouth and nose.

When buying, you must also inspect the tail, fingers and claws. Unlike the iguana, the color of the Cape monitor lizard depends on the habitat and does not change with age. Has reddish-brown, golden and dark gray color.

The period of adaptation of a pet to a person usually proceeds quickly. However, he should not be afraid to take food. If the monitor lizard refuses to feed for 2-3 days, you should contact the specialists.

It is advisable to take analyzes with a newly acquired pet. Since for monitor lizards there is a high risk of disease of various kinds of protozoa and worms. But it is impossible to carry out the prevention of worms without tests and confirmation of infection, since drugs of this kind are very toxic for monitor lizards.

The Cape monitor lizard belongs to the family of reptiles that lead a terrestrial lifestyle. A horizontal terrarium would be suitable for him. The best option there will be a small terrarium for keeping the baby, which will have to be changed as the monitor lizard grows.

For an adult, the size of the terrarium should ideally be two, three length monitor lizard. The height of the terrarium must be at least 80 centimeters. This is necessary so that, standing on its hind legs, the pet could not reach the ceiling, lamps or wiring even with its tongue.

But too high terrariums do not need to be designed, since the light source will not have the necessary effect at a great distance.

It is important to note that if the animal was well tamed, all free time monitor lizard, spends walking around the apartment, leads active lifestyle and gets daily walks on the street, you can get by with a small terrarium designed for sleeping a pet, as well as places where you can warm up and get a portion of ultraviolet radiation.

The terrarium must be equipped with an ultraviolet lamp, for example, the ReptiGlo 10 UVB model.

But even in such a situation, it is clear that the lamp is not able to provide the pet with ultraviolet light in the way it does natural solar lighting. You should walk your pet during the seasons when the weather permits.

A pet should be supervised by the owners even in their own home, especially in situations where there are children.

At night, the temperature in the housing where the monitor lizard lives should not fall below 24 degrees, for adults it is permissible lowering temperatures up to 20 degrees.

The daytime temperature should have heat sources where the pet can warm up his body to 38-40 degrees. And also cool in shady or cool places.

For an aviary, it is advisable to purchase a heated mat or a thermal cord. You can use stones that can quickly heat up, in nature such stones are called limestone. They have the ability to heat from the lamp and keep warm for a long time.

In the terrarium, you need to install water. Instincts dictate to the monitor lizard about the need to empty into the water, you can accustom them to a latrine with water almost immediately after purchase.

Many representatives of this species like to spend time lying in the water. An adult monitor lizard is easily accustomed to bathing in a shallow bath with warm water. Bathing the monitor lizard in the morning for 10-15 minutes will save the owners from constant cleaning in the terrarium and will greatly facilitate the maintenance of the pet.

If we consider the soil for arranging a monitor lizard, then a rug with green grass, river pebbles, a coconut fiber rug would be a suitable option. one positive feature from iguanas, which monitor lizards have, is that they do not taste on the tongue various items like other reptiles. Owners do not have to worry about the fact that the pet will eat any small object, or a pebble.

For decoration, you can use the bark of trees. Stick mounting foam on the walls so that the pet can climb. When decorating the terrarium, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the objects are not too large, and with their help the animal could not reach the lamp or wiring.

Monitor lizards are very fond of various shelters in their environment. They willingly climb into various narrow places and cracks. But the presence of such entertaining shelters will greatly complicate the process of taming the animal. Free shelter that can be built is a tree trunk without a core, large pots and various kinds of arches.

Feeding the Cape Monitor

Monitor lizards are predators by it's nature. And they spend most of their time looking for food. The pet must be active and slender. But laziness and constant access to food leads to rapid obesity. It is worth paying great attention to the diet, since the process of weight gain for these animals is almost irreversible.

Even if you put him on a diet, he will not be able to lose weight like mammals.

All internal organs of the animal covered fat. The heart of monitor lizards is quite small compared to their entire body. Burdening your movement with weight, there is a big load on the pet's heart. Circulatory system unable to withstand such loads, which leads to rupture of blood vessels. The blood forms a rhombus and is able to get anywhere in the body of the animal, including the lungs. The outcome of such an incident is always fatal.

Do not overfeed the Cape monitor lizard, as its colon is very thin. And sometimes in a situation where the pet is obese, in addition to receiving a large portion of food, intestinal rupture can occur.

Choice of diet

IN diet animal must include:

The pet menu may also include mice, rats, shrimp, eggs, as well as pieces of boiled chicken meat without fat. They also eat rabbit meat, beef and offal.

Do not give fatty foods such as pork or lard. Also, eggs should not be given often, as for the Cape monitor lizard they put a heavy burden on the liver, and eggs also contain cholesterol.

Cubs up to 3-4 months old can be allowed to feeding one or two times a day. Light food up to 9-10 months of age is given every other day. You can alternate feeding insects with meat.

Animals older than 1 year are fed once a week.

It is advisable to protect the pet from feeding food caught on the street. Frogs, toads and snails very often have helminths in their intestines, eating such food, the monitor lizard can get serious poisoning, as well as infection with worms.

Do not forget about feeding the beast with vitamins. These reptiles need calcium for good development.

Taming

The representative of these reptiles has a fairly high developed intelligence. It allows the id to quickly establish a social connection with people. But their behavior is very predictable, and the owners will always be able to control it.

Upbringing lizard consists of:

Owners must be able to handle the monitor lizard correctly. Cubs can be taken with a palm under the stomach, fingers resting on the chest between the paws. An adult animal is taken with both hands, under the front and hind legs.

If he shows aggression and tries to bite the owner, you need to lift him by the back at the base of the tail, and with the other hand take hold of the chest in the neck. Taken in this way, it will not be able to bite a person.

At first the cub will incredulous, on an attempt to feed, it can get into a fighting position, hiss and even try to bite.

To educate an animal, you can not let him dominate the owner. If he bites the owner, you cannot humiliate him, beat him and scream, but you need to show with a weak click on the nose that this is unacceptable.

It is important to note that hungry monitor lizards are very aggressive and if in a fit of anger he bites, you can not pull out a finger. The teeth of the monitor lizard are curved inward, and pulling out the fingers will aggravate the injury.

You can start walking the cub from 15 minutes a day, then increase the time for a walk. For walking, you can use a leash for kittens.

Cape monitors can be found in field areas throughout west to east central Africa, in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Bereg Ivory, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, and Uganda. White-throated monitors have been found on far east and south, in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, South Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), South Ethiopia, South Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Size

Adult individuals reach a total length of 90 cm to 1.5 m, according to some reports up to 2 meters. In captivity, Capes can be larger than their wild counterparts due to the greater availability and regularity of food: there are no forced starvations due to long periods of drought, which can last from 3 to 6 months depending on the habitat. Toddlers have a total length of about 13 cm.

Lifespan

In captivity for 10 or more years with the right content.

Temperament

They can be quite aggressive. Not tame or frightened monitor lizard turns sideways to the "aggressor", swells, bends the tail to the opposite side of the body, bringing it to strike. When the aggressor approaches, enough close quarters there is a high probability of a bite (which does not pose a serious danger to a person, except for the possible infection). This type of monitor lizard is quite well tamed, but by themselves they are not very sociable.

Brief information on captivity

A spacious terrarium or room is essential, as monitor lizards love to roam and climb.

The temperature in the heating zone is up to 35 °C, under the lamp it can reach up to 40 °C, in cold places up to 22-24 °C. Night 22-24 °С. UV irradiation required (special lamps for desert reptiles or sunlight if possible)

You also need to put a shelter in a cool area.

Cape monitor lizards live in arid areas, but love to swim, so a pool of clean water is needed in which they will bathe and defecate there. On this occasion, you can put two pools, if there is space.

As a substrate, specially treated sand or synthetic mats are suitable.

Feeding: crickets, locusts, mice, hamsters, rats, fish, chickens, eggs. You can give meat. Fatty foods are very harmful. Whole food always. Pieces of meat, entrails, etc. - occasionally. Give rodents under supervision and no larger than the head of a monitor lizard (especially rats and hamsters). A healthy monitor lizard will eat as much as it likes. You also need to add mineral and vitamin supplements for reptiles.

Links

• Website about the Cape monitor lizard, forum (Russian)
• Savannah Monitors

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

• Cape Daman
• cape chamomile

See what the "Cape monitor lizard" is in other dictionaries:

Bosca monitor lizard

steppe monitor lizard- ? Steppe monitor lizard Scientific classification Kingdom: Animals Type: Chordates Class ... Wikipedia

Nowadays, we would not be surprised to see pets such as dogs, cats and even raccoons on leashes. But definitely we will not remain indifferent to large lizards - monitor lizards. Today's article will tell about these exotic pets at home.

Monitor lizard: description and photo of the lizard

Monitor lizards are large lizards with a long body, a short, flattened snout, a thick, long tail, and hooked feet. When walking, these animals are very leisurely and calm. When hunting, this lizard can reach speeds of up to 20 km / h. The body of reptiles is covered with a dense layer of scales, which reliably protects them from environmental influences. A reptile is considered medium in size, which reaches one meter in length and weighs up to 5 kg.

Did you know? The largest monitor lizard - Komodo - can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh under 130 kg.

The color of these lizards varies depending on the breed, but differs in its discreetness.

Features of life in nature

Living in nature, these large reptiles have a measured way of life and often do not disdain cannibalism, eating their young and other small lizards. Since these animals are predators, they prefer to eat meat, often a large individual with just one bite can kill a bull. He is capable of this thanks to the poison that depletes the victim. In addition, in nature, monitor lizards are helped to survive by their dirty mouth - a mouth teeming with bacteria does not allow wounds from bites to heal normally, which also weakens the bitten animal. In the wild, these reptiles behave moderately aggressively, sometimes they can create monogamous pairs with females.

Did you know? Female monitor lizards can reproduce on their own, but in such cases, the hatched individuals will be exclusively male.

Types for home content

In general, it is not difficult to tame a small monitor lizard. This is justified by the fact that, as children, these animals get used to a person, become attached to him and behave not aggressively. But due to their genetic diversity, these lizards can grow to very large sizes, and it will be simply impossible to keep from the house. Let's talk about those subspecies of this reptile that can be taken as pets.

An ordinary tegu is considered an average monitor lizard, it grows from 0.9 to 1.2 m, weight can reach 5 kg. You can recognize it by a specific color - black-brown with a blue tint. For this color feature, this reptile is also called the blue tegu. It also has about ten stripes on its back, which consist of yellow spots, the same spots can be found on the back and tail. These lizards prefer small rodents, birds, eggs, amphibians and insects. By their nature, they are very cowardly, in the presence of danger they will prefer to run away.

steppe

One of the most popular monitors that lives in a terrarium is also known as the Cape monitor, but the name steppe is more commonly used. This type of lizard has a beautiful sandy coloration and can grow up to 1.1 m, if you count with a tail length of up to 2 m. In the diet, it prefers small rodents, reptiles, insects, chicken eggs, meat and fish. When feeding, it is quite voracious and can become obese if you feed it uncontrollably. The Cape monitor lizard is distinguished by its non-aggressiveness at home, it is easily tamed, especially if you took it as a cub. After getting used to the owner, he easily distinguishes his smell from other people and loves to sit in his arms.

Important! With proper care, such pets can live up to 10 years.

Conditions for home maintenance

Since the monitor lizard is a large reptile, you should prepare a home for it to live at home. In fact, this process is quite complex and requires special attention, because temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation and many other microclimate factors that affect their life are important for these cold-blooded animals. For the comfortable existence of this lizard, you will need to build a special terrarium.

Terrarium dimensions

The content of both the Cape and the common monitor lizard requires special living conditions. Since lizards live in special terrariums, we will talk about them. The minimum terrarium for an exotic pet should reach the size of 120 × 60 × 50 cm. This is justified by the fact that they simply cannot exist normally in smaller terrariums, even cold and warm zones are important for them to keep their thermoregulation system in an adequate state. The terrarium should be of the horizontal type if your monitor lizard is on the ground, as it is very important for the lizard to run on it.

Climatic conditions

The duration of daylight hours and the use of intensive work of heating elements should not last longer than 12 hours. It is also important to irradiate the pangolin with ultraviolet lamps with an intensity of 7-8%. average temperature during the day in the terrarium should be within + 25–29 ° С, and at night + 18–20 ° С. In a warm corner of the terrarium, the temperature should remain within + 30–32 ° C during the day and + 23–25 ° C at night. Since monitor lizards are lizards from tropical zones, then the humidity of the air should be at the level of 60-75%.

How to feed a monitor lizard at home

It is desirable to feed a domestic monitor lizard with its natural food. This concept includes large and small insects, small mammals, meat and fish. For feeding reptiles, there are special large fodder cockroaches, small rodents. It is better to give rodents dead, because monitor lizards are formidable predators and ruthlessly eat their prey. Don't try to overfeed your pet, as they tend to be overweight in captivity.

Important! Carefully monitor the cleanliness of the drinker and the quality of the water. It is necessary to change it daily, and wash the drinker thoroughly under running water.

About the features of care

The monitor lizard needs careful home care.

• You need to clean the terrarium every day, monitor the readings of climate devices too.
• During molting, reptiles should try not to create for the animal stressful situations because his body is undergoing changes.
• For better socialization of a pet from childhood, go for a walk with him and let's get used to other people so that he does not treat others aggressively.
• Take your pet for a walk only on a leash, because, despite the external slowness, the lizard can easily run away from the owner at the sight of danger, and it will be quite difficult to find it.
• In the cold season, heating the terrarium with incandescent lamps, as in our climatic conditions the monitor lizard needs additional warmth.

Possible diseases

One of the most common diseases in monitor lizards is stomatitis. It arises not so much from bacteria in the lizard's mouth, but from an improper diet and ambient temperature. The first sign of the disease is a purulent smell from the mouth and the appearance of areas of atrophy in the mouth. On initial stages development of the disease, it is possible to stabilize the situation with the help of an established diet and correction of errors in the temperature background. If the disease turned out to be neglected, then only surgical intervention can help in this case.

Is reproduction possible?

In captivity, the reproduction of these reptiles is impossible. Animals completely refuse to continue the race, it is obvious that it is for this reason that monitor lizards come to us from wild females, whose eggs ripened in incubators. When trying to plant two lizards in captivity, frequent conflicts and even cannibalism can be observed. We hope that our article helped you find out what a monitor lizard is and how to care for it. If you still decide to have a monitor lizard at home, then carefully consider the material components of the terrarium and the conditions of keeping in general, since this exotic lizard requires a lot of attention and effort.

The Cape monitor lizard is the most suitable species for keeping at home. He is the most sociable, easier to tame than other monitor lizards. Very few terrarium keepers know the important aspects of caring for pet dinosaurs.

The range of the Cape monitor lizard is West Africa (Sudan and the Republic of the Congo). It is a tropical and semi-tropical region with a variable climate. It can be both dry and wet, especially when it becomes very rainy in their habitats. The level of activity of Cape monitor lizards directly depends on the season. So, for example, at high humidity monitor lizards are especially active, while in the dry season there is no food and they practically do not consume it. The conditions that must be created in the terrarium directly depend on these climate features.

The Cape monitor lizard is a terrestrial reptile, so a horizontal terrarium is suitable for it.

The length of the terrarium should ideally be one and a half to two monitor lizard lengths; On average, an adult individual reaches 120-130 cm. Please note that the monitor lizard, standing on hind legs should not reach the lamps, as they can rip them off. The terrarium must have a 10.0 UV lamp, as well as a heating lamp. There should be a place where the monitor lizard will get the opportunity to warm up the body to 40C (!!!) and a shaded cooler corner. Heat Heating is very important for monitor lizards to prevent the development of gout. The night temperature should not fall below 24C.

Priming

Many sources recommend keeping the monitor lizard on a thick layer of earth. Ideally, if the monitor lizard can dig a hole for himself there according to his size. The presence of shelter will allow him to feel relatively safe. Monitor lizards can also be kept on the processed and flat bark of trees with the addition of sphagnum, which will maintain the desired level of humidity.

Daily spraying of sphagnum in a terrarium is desirable. Be sure to have a bathing suit of such a size that the monitor lizard fits completely into it. Almost all monitor lizards relieve themselves in a pond, so it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water every day. you can bathe capiccha in a bath with water at room temperature.

Required humidity

About. we figured out what needs to be maintained to maintain a certain humidity in the terrarium. Now an equally important question is how to feed your monitor lizard in a variety of ways?
Due to the fact that many owners do not warm up their monitor lizards, and also give them monotonous food - most often only rodents, we have a sad picture - obese and dehydrated Cape monitor lizards, as a rule, very lethargic, and, unfortunately, short-lived.

Feeding Cape monitor lizards

In nature, the Cape monitor lizard hunts mainly for invertebrates, and therefore its diet consists almost exclusively of large insects and snails found during the day while it hunts.

The food base of monitor lizards is very diverse: different kinds cockroaches, locusts, all kinds of crickets, clams, squids, octopuses, mussels, snails, mice, rats.

Babies are fed every other day, adolescents three times a week, adults once a week or one and a half. Much depends on the type and size of the food object. Adult monitor lizards can be given large cockroaches, locusts, large snails plus seafood. The number of rodents must be kept to a minimum, as this is a very heavy food and the monitor lizard will not live on it for a long time. You can offer monitor lizards chicken hearts - they are practically fat-free. At the same time, those monitor lizards that are on an insectivorous diet should also receive calcium without fail.

Subject to all conditions, competent socialization and quality care, you will receive a healthy, contact, active and interested in life pet as a pet.