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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject: roughneck monitor info
im thinking of getting a black roughneck monitor (varanus rudicollis) in the future but i cant find much info on them has anyone had any experiences with these monitors?
Any particular reason for black roughneck? If it is going to be your first monitor, I'd suggest a species that is commonly captive bred rather than supporting the trade in wild caught monitors.
I keep Varanus rudicollis. Those in the pet trade are almost always wild caught, as crocdoc mentioned. Although they are not rare in the pet trade, they are rare in the wild; so far, I know of only 6 pictures ever taken of them in the wild.
They are a very shy species that are prone to stress, should have spacious enclosures that are high with a hollow for them to hide in. When they feel they are not being observed, they enjoy foraging. They also require high humidity.
There are many species that are easier to take care of and that are captive bred. I keep them because I am studying native species and also plan on returning any progeny back to the wild.
my rep shop has some captive bred roughnecks i know this because the person that works there is a freind of mine that wouldnt lie
the person he gets them from breeds all different types of monitors
plus i handled these babies and if they were wild they would of ran , hissed or whiped its tail, instead he let me pick him up with no fuss and was quite content to just sit in my hands
this isnt my first monitor as ive kept a bosc quite a while ago but i had to get rid of my reps due to a change in my work , ive had my tegu for about 5 months and now i have more time on my hands im wanting to get a couple of monitors im going to get a bosc again and i allso want a monitor a bit different ,after seeing these roughnecks i cant stop thinking about getting one i have the room so i cant see a problem
That must be very nice to have captive bred Varanus rudicollis available; over a 25 year period ending two years ago, there were only about 21 captive clutches reported world wide. That is less than one captive breeding in the world per year. You might want to check if they are telling you the truth; many dealers do not tell the truth or in turn are lied to by suppliers in order to demand a higher price. I know of many of the monitor breeders and do not know of one that breeds a number of species that is also breeding Varanus rudicollis in addition to others. Such a breeding usually generates news around the 'monitor community'. The only one in the world that has much success with them only works with Varanus rudicollis. A true captive bred Varanus rudicollis is sure to demand a very high price; if you are willing to pay such a price, that is very noble of you.
If you are set on them, as I mentioned earlier, you want a spacious enclosure for a Varanus rudicollis. The starter enclosure for my hatchling was 120cm X 60cm X 60 cm. Substrate consists of coconut chunks/moss mixture for maximum retention of water and moisture. The enclosure is live planted, which also adds to the humidity levels. I have been to areas they are known to occur and they consist of peat swamps and mist forests, which generally are wet most of the year. There is a large water container, which is used for bathing and defecation. There are plenty of climbing branches, including a platform for basking and a hollow log for hiding. My hatchling was pretty much right out of the egg and took 2 to 3 months before he would not dive into the hollow log for cover. He is now calm to the point of allowing a scratch on the head.
Keep in mind their requirements for humidity, space, climbing and privacy when designing their enclosure. There is very little known about the natural history of this species. I have learned a lot since coming to Thailand, so if you have any questions, let me know. This is a rare species, even though a number make it into the pet trade (unfortunately).
thanx m8 that was just the info i was after ,maybe my friend been lied to by his suppleyer itwould be nice to own one though
the only thing that swings it for me about them being captive bred is the babies are so good to handle
the only thing that swings it for me about them being captive bred is the babies are so good to handle
If you have the impression that captive bred ones are somehow hatched 'tame' you're mistaken. Temperament is no indication of captive bred or wild caught
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