Varanus mertensi
Characteristics
 Medium to large, aquatic/terrestrial monitor from Kimberley Ranges area.
 Adult total length 60 cm to 150 cm
 Like to hiss but rarely bite, settle down if handled
 Do not hibernate in winter, but food intake can be reduced along with cage temperatures.
Caging, heating and lighting
 Love to swim, so provide set up similar to that of turtles/tortoises but with land and branches for climbing.
 Enclosures should have adequate ventilation and change water frequently if not filtered) as they tend to defecate in the water
 Provide hide spaces, branches and walls to climb
 Like it hot, but must have temperature gradient. Ambient air temperature of 30 o C to 35 o C with maximum directly below light of up to 45 o C. Winter temperatures can be slightly lower. Do not heat the water.
 Provide UVB globes suitable for desert animals
 Normal good reptile husbandry
Feeding
 Juveniles feed on cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts and other insects, small fresh water fish, cut up pinky mice, turkey mince (with added vitamins and calcium), finely diced raw chicken necks (including the neck bones for calcium – but crush sharp bone pieces). Dust insects with calcium powder every 2 nd feed. Feed two to four times per week.
 Adults feed on whole fresh water fish, whole (weaner) rats or adult mice, raw chicken necks, occasional diced offal. Feed once to twice per week.
References strongly recommended:
 “Keeping and Breeding Australian Lizards” – Edited by Mike Swan. A fantastic book that provides detailed husbandry and breeding information for most Australian lizards.