Varanus gilleni

[Yann]

Hi!!

tomorrow I am getting a young group of my 1st ever Monitor!!

Several species are attracting me, and I was offered the chance to purchase a young group of Varanus gilleni from a fellow swiss breeder.

So before adding any pictures of them, here are one of the terrarium I designed for them, taking into consideration what I read and the advice given by other gilleni owners/breeders.

So here is the tank today.



Cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

HI!!

here are my little ones
A few pictures I took with my phone, better will come later!!

At their arrival

In the terrarium

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

Hello!!


So here are better pictures

They had been at home for 16 days now!
Really love them
They are isssu from a non related pair, they were born early August

cheers
Yann

 

[Aimless]

Oh they're lovely! Nice pickup!

 

[Yann]

Hi!!

So out of my group there is likely at least a pair
2 seems to be males and one is uncertain or unclear yet

Otherwise They really have interesting behaviour, when resting they would spend their time in rather tight space.

When active, they are very active, would spend some time in the hot spot, orientating their body to the UV light and flattening their body too.

When stopping somewhere, they ll "flag" their tail a bit. Very curious. They look and watch what is going on around them.

Interaction are good too, no fight or problem but sometimes, they can blow their throat to impress each other. It is also very funny how they hunt and they are very active. They always try to catch their prey from above and the side and then use the furniture to put it in the correct direction to swallow it.

Here is a pictures of their tank how it is set up currently

Cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

A few more pictures from my 3 gillenis

still a lot of fun to watch, they are getting more and more efficiant at cricket hunting!!
They even come to beg in the front glass if they were not fed yet!
I was even able to feed them directly from my fingers

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

Hello!!

These are eating a lot!!

A whole set of pictures showing all the preparation for swallowing a cricket

cheers
Yann

 

[Marauderhex]

I didn't realize these monitors were so small. Having the cricket in there for a size comparison really illustrates how tiny they are right now.

 

[NicKtheGreeK1997]

Is their size far from the final one? If they stay relatively small, they are a good alternative for ackie monitors! Perfect species for someone who doesn't have much space to house them!

 

[Yann]

Hello!!

They reach the size of 40cm making them one of the smallest monitor species

They are 4 months old now!!
Growing well and eating a lot
it seems I have 2 males and eventually a female

I ll sell one of the extra male soon
Cheers
Yann

 

[Unique68]

Absolutely fantastic species!!!!Such great personalities.Best of luck with them and keep the updates coming!!!

 

[Yann]

My little ones getting bigger

Cheers
Yann

 

[Unique68]

They're looking great!!! Love the pics.

 

[Pirarucu]

Seen you post these on another forum, they are looking good.

 

[Yann]

Hello!!

I had to isolate the biggest from the 2 others to let them grow correctly.
Beside that everyone is doing great

Always very active, they know exactly when it is feeding time and they ll come pick up the crickets from my fingers very gently...

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

 

[Yann]

Hello!!

After a cooling periode from November to mid March, I could observe some mating during 3-4 days
24 days later, the female laid 4 beautiful eggs

Long wait till the eclosion is now starting

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

Hello!!

Young finally hatched, I have now 4 of these at home

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

Hello

I sadly lost the young that was refusing to eat, depsite offering him divers prey etc...
On the other hand the remaining 3 are doing good and eating well.

cheers
Yann

 

[Yann]

The adults

Love this young, lots of pattern

cheers
Yann