The constant convection of heat and humidity out the top of the cage is inefficient and dehydrates the young lizards.

The neonates of many large monitor lizards are adorable little clones of their adult counterparts, often exhibiting the same rugged character and charisma.

Monitors, in particular, present themselves as intelligent animals that seem to be thinking and solving things as they stare back at you.

Many will hold their ground and show their spirit when you attempt to hold them.

It has an intense personality, is not particularly shy, and is just large enough to be considered a behemoth pet lizard for show, but not so large that it cannot be housed and cared for by an intermediate to advanced keeper with the proper resources and dedication.

For this reason, the Argus monitor has become quite a popular pet monitor lizard in recent years.

It is often found in savannah grasslands, riparian habitats, woodlands, coastal regions and floodplains.

It will sometimes climb and may use tree hollows to some degree, but adult Argus monitors are clumsy climbers compared to other monitor species more adapted to arboreal lifestyles.

It is a decent swimmer and will often hunt in shallow floodplains, ponds and waterways.

Capable of running at high speeds, an Argus will often lift its front legs off the ground while fleeing danger, using the tail as a balance much like a gigantic basilisk or frilled lizard.

Another impressive trait is its ability to stand erect to tripod up on its hind legs and tail allowing it to survey the landscape from a higher vantage point.

They exhibit an off-white, yellow or yellow-green background coloration with a dark brown to black dorsum and yellow ocelli forming transverse bands.

The tail is always ringed with dark brown transverse bands that extend to its tip.

Some of the Australian V.

V. p. rubidus localities will have a pure yellow tail tip on the distal third while others do not, but all specimens of V.

I have observed always have banding to the tip of the tail.

Males have greatly enlarged Popeye front legs compared to the females.

Its theorized that the males develop so much larger as an adaptation of ritualized combat during the breeding season.

Males will congregate in areas of receptive females and engage in standing pushing matches of strength.

Winners stay to mate with the nearby female, and the loser is driven away.

Therefore, larger males are selected for over time as they are passing on their genetic material more often.

The same upright combat is well-known and described in several other monitor lizard species, including the Komodo (V.

Start baby Argus monitors off in an enclosure that is at least 36 inches long, 30 inches tall and 18 inches wide.

I like to use Exo-Terra glass terrariums as raise-up cages for baby Argus monitors.

There is room for several inches of substrate, glass doors on the front that open out, and space for lighting on top.

I place plexiglass over some of the screen panels on the top to retain heat and humidity.

Argus Monitor