(back cover) Information and advice to help you take good care of your large lizards Typical monitors and tegus: their origins, traits, temperament, and more Expert advice: feeding, breeding, health care, and more Understanding large lizards: their body language and its meaning, Step-by-step directions for everyday care Informative and attractive tables, and sidebars Filled with handsome full-color photos [picture caption] These very large lizards require special housing and expert handling.
Originally published in 1992, Giant Lizards is a bestselling reference held in high regard within every level of the herp hobby for its authoritative and thorough coverage of lizard biology. Now in a completely revised and expanded volume, Giant Lizards features all newly written information by an expert on monitors and other large lizards (defined as those reaching over 3 feet in length) and it covers over 90 species. Lizard profiles range from the relatively affordable to the extremely expensive, and from those commonly kept as pets to those critically endangered and unobtainable. Species include iguanas (including green iguanas), rock iguanas, Galapagos Island iguanas, tegus, sail-fin lizards, Gila monsters, beaded lizards, water dragons, monitors (including savannah, water, and Nile monitors plus Komodo dragons), and more. Giant Lizards provides complete coverage of essential care subjects like feeding, housing, breeding, and health care. For the more scientifically minded reader, it includes sections o
Monitor lizards are some of the most exciting captives that reptile enthusiasts can keep. They are always the center of attention at zoos and pet stores, where their dinosaur-like form captivates and entertains adults and children alike. While many species are inappropriate pets for all but the most experienced keepers, several of the smaller species make wonderful captives. Nevertheless, even the smallest species require relatively large cages and inordinate amounts of food, so keepers must consider the acquisition of a monitor lizard carefully. For those that choose to add a monitor lizard to their family, it is imperative to learn about the biology, natural history and habitats of these remarkable lizards. By doing so, you can gain a better understanding of their needs, allowing you to keep your pet happy and healthy for many years. Topics covered in this book: - Anatomy - Biology - Behavior - Taxonomy - Costs - Acquiring - Captive Habitat - Enclosures - Heating - Lighting - Temperature - Maintenance - Feeding - Hydration - Interaction - Health Problems - Breeding - Good pet species ----- and much more
Monitors are among the most popular lizards kept in captivity, and this colorful guide provides information on the two most commonly seen species, savannah monitors and grassland monitors. Due to the intelligence and relative easy care needs of these lizards, they are favored by beginning herpetoculturists, though great emphasis must be placed on responsible ownership of these beautiful, but delicate animals. Savannah & Grassland Monitors, written by lizard expert Robert George Sprackland, PhD, provides guidelines for keepers who wish to add a monitor to their vivarium. The chapter called "Taxonomy" gives an excellent summary of monitor species, including the African species, of which the savannah (or Bosc's) monitor and white-throat monitor are examples, and the Asian species,including the Komodo dragon and the Argus, Bengal, Indian, and gold monitors. This Advanced Vivarium Systems title includes information about selecting a healthy example of the selected species, quarantine and acclimation considerations, handling, housing needs, water and feeding, as well as solid advice about keeping monitors healthy and thriving. A separate chapter on diseases and disorders provides a complete primer on the health needs and veterinary care of these rewarding reptiles.
Monitor lizards (genus Varanus) have attracted a great deal of interest--these large and impressive lizards are often the centerpiece of reptile house exhibits. Monitors tend to be fairly wary and difficult to observe--therefore they are not particularly tractable research subjects, but they have nevertheless received an extraordinary amount of attention from devoted students.Varanoid Lizards of the World is a comprehensive account of virtually everything important that is known about monitor lizards, beginning with detailed species accounts and proceeding to various modern comparative analyses. Where possible, people who have had detailed field experience with a particular species have assembled species accounts. In the process of reporting what is known, we also identify what remains to be learned about these lizards. We hope to establish a prototype showing how such a diverse monophyletic group can be exploited both to identify and to understand the actual course of evolution. As such, this effort becomes a protocol for future workers to follow for other groups of closely-related species.
Savannah Monitors: A Comprehensive Guide Savannah monitors are sizable pet lizards and are among the more gentle members of the monitor lizard family. Originating from the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa, they are not particularly active and generally tolerate being handled. While Savannah monitors are popular pets in the United States, they may not always thrive in captivity. This lizard is not suitable for inexperienced reptile enthusiasts due to its specific care requirements necessary for maintaining its health. In this book, I will provide a comprehensive guide on caring for the Bosc Monitor, also known as the Savannah Monitor, in captivity. This guide will address various aspects such as housing, heating, lighting, water and humidity, and diet. Additionally, I will discuss the challenging issues associated with the sourcing of Bosc Monitors, highlighting why they are often animals that are rehomed.
The Monitor Lizard is large; adults can grow up to 7 feet in length. A vicious predator that will eat anything it can fit into its mouth. Native to Africa, the Monitor Lizard has successfully established a new home in Florida, disrupting an already delicate ecosystem.