Virgil
The Water monitor,is a large species of monitor lizard capable of growing over 8 ft in length, with the average size of most adults at 5 ft long. Maximum weight of water monitors can be over 75 lb, but most are half that size. Their body is muscular with a long, powerful, laterally compressed tail.
There geographical location range from Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India.
Temperature
Water monitors require higher temperatures ranging between 82 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with a warmer basking spot (up to about 95 or 97 degrees Fahrenheit). Nighttime temperatures can be lowered to around 70 or 75 degrees Fahrenheit. A thermal gradient is recommended.
Housing
Because of their size, water monitors require spacious, well-constructed enclosures. As their name implies, water monitors are semi-aquatic. Captive water monitors should be provided with a container of water large enough to permit soaking along with sturdy branches for climbing and basking.
Bedding
I use an all-purpose gravel/mulch/soil mix as the substrate and it has proven visually appealing as well as easy to clean. Hiding areas in the form of cinder blocks and multilevel wooden structures are provided on both the warm and cooler regions of the cage. A large plastic basin is used for the water supply. It should be noted that changing a large volume of water can be an arduous task but since these lizards generally defecate in their water complete cage cleaning becomes infrequently needed.
Food
Captive juvenile water monitors will do well on a diet that consists of fish, frogs and an occasional newborn rodent. As adults, water monitor diets can include more rodents and other small mammals, insects, mollusks and fish.
