Varanus acanthurus (Spiny-tailed monitor lizard)

Origin: Australia
Length: 50 to 70 centimeters
Weight:
Age: up to 15 years
Spiny-tailed monitor lizards are medium-small, slender, but muscularly built lizards. They have a spiny tail that generally makes up 50% to 60% of their total length. Their other body has the typical monitor lizard construction. The Spiny-tailed monitor generally has a red base color with yellow / black ocellus (dots that look like eyes). They generally have a yellow to red / brown under color with yellow / brown ocellus.

Grooming
Experience: Average / experienced lizard keeper
Food: Insects, arthropods and baby mice (pinkies) and sometimes eggs
Feed adult: Every 2 to 3 days.
Feed young: Feed present at all times
Water bowl: Yes
Change water: daily

Nutrition
The Spiny-tailed Monitor has a fairly fast digestion if kept under the right conditions, especially in young animals. They are also very active hunters. They recognize tweezers and a box with food animals from a great distance. Their diet consists of all kinds of insects and arthropods. In nature, this species will also feed on smaller lizards such as geckos and skinks.
It is recommended to sometimes also powder the food animals with vitamin D, these extra calcium and vitamin supplements can be found in most pet stores and reptile specialty stores.

Water
Despite the fact that the Spiny-tailed monitor lives in dry areas, it must have access to water on a daily basis. You can offer this in a small water bowl, but change the water daily to prevent bacterial accumulation in the water.

Cleaning
Like the hungry eaters that they are, they also relieve. For this reason, it is wise to remove the faeces from the accommodation every day, and to remove the dirty bedding once a week. In addition, it is wise to thoroughly clean the entire stay a few times a year, this will prevent the accumulation of germs and bacteria.

Handling
Spiny-tailed monitor lizards can be handled. They can be tame, but this can take quite some time, especially with young animals. When handling the Spiny-tailed Monitor, pick it up by gently sliding your hands under its body. Support the lower body and lift it off the ground. When handling, keep one thumb on his back so that it cannot run away easily. While handling it is recommended to hold it over your lap or over a table. This prevents the monitor from falling from too great a height. Finally, it is advisable to wash your hands before and after handling. Here you prevent the monitor lizard and yourself from getting sick.

Housing
Minimum enclosure size for this animal: 120 * 80 * 60
Surface: 1m2
Day temperature: 29-35C (sun place max 40-50C)
Night temperature: minimum 20C
Hours of light: 10 to 12 hours
Humidity: 50% or less
Ground cover: Sand or bark / beech chips

Design
The Spiny-tailed monitor needs a so-called desert / steppe terrarium. This is a bare terrarium with here and there a piece of wood and stone. The pieces of wood and / or stone serve as hiding places for the animal and / or as an opportunity to sunbathe. Make sure that the stones and other objects are placed in such a way that it is possible for the monitor to hide and to sunbathe. In addition, the accommodation must be divided into a warm and cool side.

The Spiny-tailed monitor is a lizard that really likes sunbathing and high temperatures, they need a lot of radiant heat and have a high UVB requirement. For a sun spot, use mercury vapor or metal halide lamps with a high UVB content. This sun spot can be 40-50C and they even sunbathe at higher temperatures. The ambient temperature on the warm side should be between 29C to 35C, the cool zone around 27C. At lower temperatures, the digestion of this species works less well and they absorb less nutrients, resulting in a lower activity and resistance. which in turn results in reduced growth and development.

Behaviour
Diet: Carnivore
Lifestyle: Testrial & day active

Character
It is not without reason that the spiny dragon is one of the most popular dwarf monitor lizard. They have the behavior and character of a large monitor lizard packed into a medium-sized lizard. They learn to eat straight from tweezers quite easily and are very active.
Points of attention
High temperatures are very important for the Spiny-tailed Monitor to ensure proper digestion.

Cost and Purchase
Legislation: CITES II, to own this monitor lizard you need CITES or transfer papers. You should get this with the purchase.
One-off costs: This includes the costs for the accommodation, lighting, heating, water bowl and decoration. All together this can cost a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.
Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the costs for the feed, this is a few tens of euros per year.
Unexpected costs: Costs have been incurred when your monitor lizard accidentally falls ill or your equipment breaks down.