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The White-throated monitor lizard is native to Southern Africa. They are quite large, reaching up to 6 feet in length! They are not great pets for an inexperienced owner because they need plenty of space to move around and the right habitat to thrive in.
If you are up for the challenge and want to learn more about the White-throated monitor lizard, read on!
Quick Facts about the White-Throated Monitor Lizard
| Species Name: | Varanus albigularis albigularis |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Care Level: | Fairly high maintenance |
| Temperature: | 75° to 105° Fahrenheit |
| Temperament: | Playful, intelligent, can lash out |
| Color Form: | Dark brown with a lighter belly; white throat |
| Lifespan: | 12–20 years |
| Size: | 3–6 feet long |
| Diet: | Birds, insects, invertebrates, snails |
| Minimum Enclosure Size: | 6 feet x 4 feet enclosure is needed; may need a full room-sized enclosure |
| Enclosure Set-Up: | Hiding spots; space to move |
| Compatibility: | Can be aggressive towards others of the same sex |
White-Throated Monitor Lizard Overview
Monitor lizards are one of the most interesting families of lizards because of their large size and high level of intelligence. The White-throated monitor lizard is smaller than their cousin, the Black-throated monitor, but they still can grow to be an impressive 6 feet in length.
Many handlers claim that their white-throated monitor lizard can learn to recognize them after they have been working with them for a short time. There have also been experiments that indicate that White-throat monitors can remember the amount of food they receive. When given less food, the lizards showed signs of stress until the correct amount was restored.
As pets, White-throat monitor lizards need a lot of space and an experienced handler. Furthermore, they should never be taken from the wild and kept as pets. The number of wild monitor lizards has been steadily declining, partially due to capturing them for the pet trade. The pet trade is neither well-regulated nor good for the wild population.
Monitors cannot live in small cages. They require a large enclosure, highly regulated temperatures, and special care. Most often, a zoo is the best place for them to receive human care.
How Much Do White-Throated Monitor Lizards Cost?
Due to the lack of regulation in the White-throated monitor lizard pet trade, the purchase price can vary widely. A baby White-throated monitor can cost anywhere from $400 to $700 or more. The price heavily depends on where you purchase the lizard. It is important to note that there is little to no guarantee that you will receive a healthy lizard. Nor is there a guarantee that it has not been taken from the wild or bred from parents taken from the wild.
Typical Behavior & Temperament
Monitor lizards are playful and intelligent. They need to be handled regularly if they are kept under human care so they don’t become bored and aggressive. The White-throated monitor lizard burrows and hides under rocks, logs, and other materials.
They can also become stressed easily if not properly cared for. When the White-throated monitor is stressed, it may become aggressive toward its handlers. Monitor lizards need exercise, too. They can be taken on walks with a leash and harness; however, the temperature outside must be warm enough for them.
Male white-throat monitors are incredibly territorial and do not tolerate one another’s company.
Appearance & Varieties
The White-throated monitor lizard can reach 3 to 6 feet long. They can weigh anywhere from 10 to 18 pounds; the males are longer and heavier. They have a short, blunt nose and raised neck scales. The top of their necks, backs, and heads are dark brown or gray, and their throat is white.
They have a lighter, yellow stomach. They also have white or yellow spots of varying sizes on their backs, heads, and legs. Their tongues are forked like snakes, leading some to believe that they are the lizards most closely related to snakes. The monitor has long, strong claws used for digging and hunting.
How to Take Care of a White-Throated Monitor Lizard
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
White-throated monitor lizards need very specific enclosures, temperature control, and lighting to remain healthy and happy. The best place for them to get these things when under human care is usually in a zoo or other specialized wildlife refuge.
Enclosure
The minimum enclosure size for a young White-throated monitor is 6 feet x 4 feet. However, as they grow, they will need more space. It is usually necessary for them to have a room-sized enclosure with plenty of places for them to hide and climb. The enclosure must be strong and is usually made of wood and plexiglass. It also needs to have proper ventilation.
Bedding
The monitor needs at least 18 inches of a soft substrate like soil. They like to burrow and rub their prey in the soil, which is the best bedding for a monitor lizard.
Temperature
The White-throated monitor needs access to a range of temperatures between 75° Fahrenheit (F) for a cool area and as high as 105° F for a basking area. They should be able to move between the temperatures whenever they want to. The humidity should be between 20% and 50%.
Lighting
Monitor lizards need 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark daily. They also need UVB lighting to help them metabolize the calcium they get from their diet.
Other Materials
The monitor likes hiding places to make them feel safe. Their enclosure should include several hiding objects such as logs, plants, or rocks.
Do White-Throated Monitor Lizards Get Along with Other Pets?
If a White-throated monitor lizard is kept as a pet, it should not be around other pets. They are aggressive toward their species, especially males. They may see smaller animals as prey and try to hunt them. They can also become aggressive and lash out if they feel stressed or threatened.
What to Feed Your White-Throated Monitor Lizard
The White-throated monitor lizard in the wild will eat anything they can hunt. Under human care, they generally eat mice, rats, fish, crickets, worms, hard-boiled eggs, and shellfish. If you feed them eggs, they should be cooked to prevent salmonella.
They also need access to fresh water daily. The amount of food and water your lizard needs will depend on its size, life stage, and the time of the year. They have been known to gorge themselves when food is available and go for a long time without eating when it is scarce.
In general, they need to be fed a few times per week. You should monitor their weight to ensure they are not getting too much or too little food.
Keeping Your White-Throated Monitor Lizard Healthy
The White-throated monitor lizard requires specific care to remain healthy. The temperature and humidity levels in their enclosure need to be kept at the proper levels to prevent excess shedding or stress.
Monitor lizards need enough UVB light to metabolize the calcium in their diet properly. A lack of proper UVB lighting can lead to a lethargic lizard. Because much of their food is difficult to digest, monitor lizards are also prone to constipation.
If you notice anything unusual with the behavior or appearance of your lizard, you should immediately have them seen by an exotic animal veterinarian.
Breeding
Many White-throated monitor lizards in the pet trade today have been taken from the wild. The breeding and trade of the lizards are not well regulated. Thus, it is difficult to assess where a lizard comes from. Some zoos and other wildlife programs are working to protect the monitors in the wild and properly breed them under human care.
Are White-Throated Monitor Lizards Suitable for You?
While the White-throated monitor lizard is an interesting and intelligent animal, it is not a great choice as a pet for most people. They are wild animals that have specialized requirements for their care. They need large enclosures and a handler who knows what they are doing. However, many zoos have White-throated monitors you can observe if you cannot keep one as a pet.
Featured Image: Dirk M. de Boer, Shutterstock
