Guess the Varanid...

[Gregg M]

Those in the know, keep quiet... LOL

We imported a 2.2 this week...
These are the only ones in the US... There are also none of these in all of Europe... It is one of the rarest of all monitors in captivity...

Keep in mind that these are fresh imports and they are wild looking, ugly and dirty lol, but they are all eating great... I will update photos as they progress... Under the dirt, they are spectacular looking...

With Johns skill in keeping and breeding varanids, these will certainly acclimate and breed well for us...

Very excited...

 

[latshki]

AMAZING v.spinulosus
you make me more jealous every time you post but this has sent it to the extreme
good luck with them and are your mertens breeding yet? I heard alex is selling his

 

[Brhaco]

They look great, Gregg. I like the addition of the lattice to the cage wall, this will allow them a lot of climbing opportunity. Now feed em and breed em!:main_thumbsup:

 

[slayer]

WOW!!! Varanus spinulosus. Now thats one hell of a score!! good luck with them.
Are these guys from PNG or the Solomon Islands?

 

[dprince]

Oh my gosh, those are AWESOME! :main_lipsrsealed: <- Keeping my lips sealed

 

[Khrysty]

They are amazing! It looks so much sleeker than other monitors I've seen.

 

[paulnj]

Those ROCK in person!!!!

 

[Gregg M]

For those who knew they were V. spinulosus, good job!!!

These are from the Solomon Islands... This is a really cool and unique species and they are taking off... They are eating TONS of mice and they are not affraid of humans as long as you are not trying to grab them... LOL... These will certainly be breeding (dont worry Brad LOL)very soon... It will be a huge deal as there has never been a captive reproduction of this species anywhere in the world... I would imagine that captive born V. spinulosus will make exellent captives because the wild caught adults are proving to be awesome...

Brad, the lattice thing is Johns idea... Apparently John knows how to raise some happy monitors... LOL... It is really a great idea and the lizards take full advantage of it...

 

[KelliH]

I think they are cool!

 

[paulnj]

let's set aside how rare they are in captivity and all that. The body stucture and head shape is so awesome. Those solomon islands have some very unique looking animals!

I can't wait to see hatchlings on the ground! You know I will be over taking them out like every other animal John has

 

[dudders]

From reading these post if your V. spinulosus I take it that they are illegal in the US? =]

They sure are amazing though I won't tell

 

[Johnantny]

Illegal? No. Hard to acquire due to logistics and availability? Yes! They are settling in nicely, eating mice, sm rats and finding the super worms I tossed in the substrate. Funny how they pop up periscope their heads and neck from the leaves and dive back under if spooked.

Cheers

 

[Gregg M]

From reading these post if your V. spinulosus I take it that they are illegal in the US? =]

They sure are amazing though I won't tell

If they were illegal, do you think I would post them in a public forum??? LOL

 

[eric]

Congrats guys! F:main_thumbsup:reakin' awesome!

 

[dudders]

I have seen people show smuggled animals on different forums such as a parsonii chameleon

 

[Imperial Geckos]

I have seen people show smuggled animals on different forums such as a parsonii chameleon

thats not very smart to post smuggled animals on a public forum...lol but i did not read anywhere in this thread that they were smuggled...

 

[dudders]

Regardless they are amazing animals! =] keep us updated!:main_thumbsup:

 

[OneFootedAce]

Those guys are sweet! Can't wait to see some little ones poppin out!

 

[spykerherps]

You have any more pictures of their enclosures Gregg? from what I have read they are more of an aquatic species. especially judging by their native islands. nice big basin to soak and spim and perhaps some yabbies to feast on.

 

[Gregg M]

You have any more pictures of their enclosures Gregg? from what I have read they are more of an aquatic species. especially judging by their native islands. nice big basin to soak and spim and perhaps some yabbies to feast on.

There is actually very little known about them in the wild or captivity... Our observations so are is that they really like to burrow and climb... They avoid the large water basin... They do not drink from it... Instead they usually crap in it from the branches above... They prefer to drink from small shallow puddles in the cage...

One look at their tail structure can tell you they are not an aquatic species... They are also not at all intersted in fish, crabs, crayfish or any type of aquatic prey item... They are a very odd species and very interesting to observe... John is doing some detailed documentation on them and collecting some interesting data...