Kimberley Rock Monitor (Varanus glauerti) Care Sheet
The Kimberley Rock Monitor (Varanus glauerti) is a slender, highly active Australian dwarf monitor native to the rocky ranges, gorges and escarpments of northern Western Australia and parts of the Northern Territory.
Unlike more terrestrial dwarf monitors, V. glauerti is strongly adapted to vertical environments. Its long limbs, curved claws, slender body and exceptionally long tail allow it to move rapidly across rock faces, cliffs, trees and complex three-dimensional terrain.
Wild animals shelter within deep rock fissures and narrow crevices, emerging during suitable conditions to bask and actively hunt. This association with tight rocky retreats is extremely important when designing captive accommodation.
Although considerably smaller than many monitors, the Kimberley Rock Monitor is an intelligent, extremely active reptile and should not be kept in a small enclosure simply because of its relatively light build.
Successful long-term husbandry requires generous horizontal and vertical space, extremely secure rock-like retreats, extensive climbing opportunities, very high basking surface temperatures, strong appropriate UVB, bright visible lighting, access to humid microclimates, a varied insect-led diet and regular behavioural enrichment.
Quick Facts
Scientific name: Varanus glauerti
Common name: Kimberley Rock Monitor, Glauert’s Monitor
Family: Varanidae
Subgenus: Odatria
Native range: Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory, Australia
Lifestyle: Saxicolous (rock-dwelling), climbing and partly arboreal
Activity: Diurnal
Adult length: Commonly around 70–80 cm total length; much of this is tail
Lifespan: 10–15+ years possible; potentially considerably longer with excellent care
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
Diet: Primarily insectivorous/carnivorous
Adult enclosure: At least approximately 120 × 90 × 120 cm (4 × 3 × 4 ft) for one adult; larger strongly preferred
Basking surface: Approximately 50–60°C, with a broad usable basking zone
Warm ambient: Approximately 28–32°C
Cool area: Approximately 24–27°C
Night temperature: Approximately 20–24°C
UVB: Essential
Target basking UVI: Approximately 3.0–4.0 routinely available, with a broader gradient and access to complete shade
Ferguson Zone: Zone 3 – open/partial sun basker
Humidity: Moderate ambient conditions with fluctuations and access to a humid retreat/crevice
Handling: Limited; voluntary interaction preferred
Social housing: Individual housing safest
Reproduction: Egg-laying
CITES: Appendix II
Natural Distribution
The Kimberley Rock Monitor is native to northern Australia.
Its principal distribution covers the rocky Kimberley region of Western Australia, extending into adjacent areas of the Northern Territory.
An isolated population also occurs around the Arnhem Land Escarpment.
Natural Habitat
This species is particularly associated with:
- Rocky escarpments
- Gorges
- Sandstone cliffs
- Boulder fields
- Rocky outcrops
- Monsoon-influenced woodland
- Trees adjoining rocky habitats
In the Kimberley, animals are particularly strongly associated with rock faces and escarpments.
Some populations, particularly in Arnhem Land, make substantial use of trees as well as vertical rock surfaces.
Rock-Dwelling Specialisation
Varanus glauerti is a highly accomplished climber.
Its anatomy is adapted for movement across steep and vertical surfaces.
Captive accommodation should therefore not resemble a simple terrestrial dwarf-monitor enclosure.
It should contain extensive:
- Vertical surfaces
- Ledges
- Crevices
- Branches
- Rock-like structures
- Elevated retreats
Crevices
Deep, narrow crevices are a fundamental part of the species’ natural ecology.
Wild monitors retreat into rock fissures where they gain:
- Security
- Protection from predators
- Stable temperatures
- Increased humidity
- Protection from environmental extremes
Captive animals should have several secure crevice-style retreats.
Appearance
Kimberley Rock Monitors are slender and elegant monitors.
Typical characteristics include:
- Long narrow body
- Long limbs
- Strong curved claws
- Long neck
- Narrow head
- Exceptionally long tail
- Patterned body
The body typically displays pale spots or ocelli against a darker background.
Tail
The tail makes up more than half of the animal’s total length.
It assists with:
- Balance
- Climbing
- Rapid movement across vertical surfaces
Never use the tail to lift or restrain the monitor.
Adult Size
Adults commonly reach approximately:
70–80 cm total length
although individual size varies.
The animal remains comparatively lightweight because of its slender build.
Behaviour
Kimberley Rock Monitors are highly active during daylight.
Normal behaviour includes:
- Basking
- Climbing
- Hunting
- Investigating crevices
- Moving between ledges
- Exploring
- Digging occasionally
- Observing activity outside the enclosure
Intelligence
Like other monitors, V. glauerti is intelligent and inquisitive.
An appropriate enclosure should provide opportunities to:
- Search for food
- Explore
- Climb
- Choose between different retreats
- Select different temperatures
- Investigate novel but safe objects
Temperament
Captive-bred animals can become remarkably confident around their keepers.
Many learn quickly to associate the keeper with food.
However, confidence should not be confused with a need for physical handling.
Handling
Routine forced handling should be limited.
Whenever possible, encourage voluntary interaction.
Animals can be trained to:
- Approach feeding tongs
- Follow a target
- Enter a transport container
- Move voluntarily between enclosure areas
This is preferable to routinely catching and restraining the animal.
Defensive Behaviour
A frightened Kimberley Rock Monitor may:
- Flee rapidly
- Hide deeply inside a crevice
- Hiss
- Inflate its body
- Scratch
- Bite
- Use its tail defensively
Their speed and agility should not be underestimated.
Enclosure Size
For a single adult, approximately:
120 × 90 × 120 cm (4 × 3 × 4 ft)
should be considered a practical minimum.
Larger accommodation is strongly preferred.
This is an active species that uses both horizontal and vertical space.
Why Height Matters
Unlike predominantly terrestrial dwarf monitors, Kimberley Rock Monitors naturally utilise vertical surfaces extensively.
The enclosure should therefore allow:
- Vertical climbing
- Diagonal climbing
- Horizontal movement
- Elevated basking
- Elevated retreats
Usable Space
An empty tall enclosure is not suitable.
Most of the enclosure volume should be made usable through:
- Rock-effect walls
- Secure ledges
- Branches
- Cork
- Platforms
- Crevices
Rockwork
Artificial or naturalistic rockwork can provide excellent environmental structure.
Suitable features include:
- Vertical rock-effect backgrounds
- Stacked stone-effect shelves
- Secure slate
- Artificial sandstone structures
- Cork slabs
All heavy structures must be completely secure.
Collapse Risk
Never create unstable piles of rocks.
Monitors are strong and capable of excavating beneath furnishings.
Heavy structures should be:
- Supported from the enclosure base
- Mechanically secured
- Permanently bonded where appropriate
A collapsing rock structure can cause fatal injury.
Crevice Hides
Provide multiple narrow retreats at different heights and temperatures.
Ideal retreats should allow the monitor to press its body between surfaces.
This can provide substantially greater security than an oversized open hide box.
Branches
Provide strong branches in:
- Horizontal positions
- Diagonal positions
- Vertical positions
Branches should connect different enclosure levels.
Basking Ledges
Flat elevated surfaces are excellent basking locations.
Suitable surfaces may include:
- Slate
- Stone
- Secure artificial rock
- Thick branches
The basking surface must be large enough to heat most of the monitor’s body simultaneously.
Substrate
Suitable substrates may include naturalistic mixtures containing:
- Organic topsoil
- Washed sand
- Clay
A well-drained sandy soil mixture works well.
Substrate Depth
Provide approximately:
10–20+ cm
where practical.
Deeper sections can be incorporated.
Breeding females require access to substantially deeper suitable laying substrate.
Humid Retreat
Despite inhabiting rocky and seasonally dry environments, V. glauerti should not be maintained without access to moisture.
Provide at least one humid crevice or hide.
This should offer increased humidity without making the entire enclosure permanently wet.
Temperature Gradient
Kimberley Rock Monitors require a substantial thermal gradient.
A genuinely hot basking surface is essential, but so is the ability to retreat into much cooler areas.
Basking Surface Temperature
Provide a broad basking surface of approximately:
50–60°C
Healthy adults may voluntarily utilise surfaces toward the upper end of this range.
Some experienced keepers provide basking surfaces approaching approximately 60–65°C, but this must be accompanied by excellent thermal choice and accurate temperature measurement.
The entire animal must never be forced to remain at these temperatures.
Why Such a Hot Basking Surface?
Surface temperature is not the same as ambient air temperature.
A monitor can briefly heat itself rapidly on a very warm sun-exposed rock before retreating to cooler conditions.
Captive basking provision should reproduce this opportunity.
Broad Basking Zone
Avoid creating a tiny concentrated hot spot.
The heated area should be large enough to warm a substantial proportion of the monitor’s body.
Multiple halogen lamps may be preferable to one extremely concentrated lamp.
Warm Ambient Temperature
Maintain the warmer portion of the enclosure around:
28–32°C
during the active daytime period.
Cool Area
Provide cooler areas around:
24–27°C
Night Temperature
Night temperatures can generally fall to approximately:
20–24°C
A nighttime temperature reduction supports a natural day/night cycle.
Heating
Overhead radiant heating is strongly preferred.
Suitable heating includes:
- Halogen flood lamps
- Appropriate incandescent basking lamps
- Other controlled overhead radiant heat sources
Heat Guards
All heating equipment must be inaccessible to the monitor.
These are exceptional climbers.
If the monitor can physically reach a lamp, the lamp must be securely guarded.
Thermostatic Control
Heating systems should be appropriately controlled and monitored.
Thermostats provide important protection against dangerous overheating but do not replace accurate temperature measurement.
Measuring Temperatures
Use:
Digital probe thermometers for ambient temperatures.
Use an:
Infrared thermometer for basking surface temperatures.
Do not estimate basking temperatures by hand.
UVB
UVB is essential for the Kimberley Rock Monitor.
This is a diurnal, actively basking monitor that naturally experiences significant sunlight exposure.
Varanus glauerti is generally placed within Ferguson Zone 3, representing an open or partial-sun basking reptile.
Target UVI
At the monitor’s primary accessible basking position, aim to provide approximately:
UVI 3.0–4.0
as a practical routine target.
The enclosure should then provide a gradient through progressively lower exposure.
Animals must also have access to:
UVI 0–1
and complete shade within retreats.
UV Gradient
Do not expose the entire enclosure to the same UV intensity.
Provide:
- Strongest UV around the primary basking zone
- Moderate UV on nearby elevated surfaces
- Lower UV through partially shaded areas
- UVI approaching zero inside secure retreats
This allows the monitor to regulate UV exposure behaviourally.
UVB Lamp Type
A high-quality linear T5 HO UVB system is normally the most practical option.
The appropriate lamp strength may vary.
Depending on:
- Enclosure height
- Distance
- Mesh
- Reflector
- Installation position
a suitable system might require a lamp marketed around the commonly available medium-to-high-output UVB ranges.
However, lamp percentage is not the target.
The UVI reaching the animal is what matters.
Why “12% UVB” Is Not Enough Information
Two identical lamps can deliver very different UV exposure depending on:
- Distance
- Reflector
- Mesh
- Mounting position
- Lamp age
Therefore, simply stating “use a 12% lamp” is incomplete husbandry advice.
Measuring UV
Where possible, use an appropriate UV Index meter to measure the actual UVI at:
- Main basking position
- Secondary branches
- Lower enclosure levels
- Retreat entrances
Adjust lamp distance or basking structures accordingly.
UV and Heat Alignment
UVB should overlap the primary basking area.
In nature:
bright light + heat + UV
generally occur together.
The enclosure should reproduce this relationship.
UVB Replacement
UVB output declines with lamp age.
Replace lamps according to current manufacturer recommendations and periodically recheck output where possible.
Visible Lighting
Provide strong visible daytime illumination.
A brightly illuminated enclosure supports:
- Normal circadian rhythm
- Basking behaviour
- Activity
- Environmental awareness
Additional high-quality LED daylight lighting can be useful alongside heat and UVB sources.
Photoperiod
Approximately:
11–13 hours of daylight
can be provided during the active season.
Some seasonal variation may be incorporated.
Night Lighting
The enclosure should be dark at night.
Do not leave:
- Red lamps
- Blue lamps
- Purple lamps
operating overnight.
If nighttime heat is genuinely required, use a non-light-emitting heat source appropriately controlled.
Humidity
Kimberley Rock Monitors should not be maintained as though they inhabit a completely moisture-free desert.
Ambient humidity can fluctuate substantially.
Rather than attempting to maintain one fixed percentage, provide:
- Relatively dry exposed basking surfaces
- Moderate ambient humidity
- Humid crevices
- A dedicated humid retreat
Misting
Periodic misting can be beneficial.
This can:
- Temporarily increase humidity
- Provide drinking opportunities
- Rehydrate humid retreats
- Reproduce seasonal moisture
Allow exposed surfaces to dry afterwards.
Ventilation
Good ventilation is essential.
Moisture should not result in stagnant, permanently saturated conditions.
Water
Provide constant access to fresh drinking water.
Use a stable bowl large enough for easy drinking but positioned so it does not create permanently saturated substrate.
Water should be replaced whenever contaminated.
Natural Diet
Wild Kimberley Rock Monitors are active predators.
Recorded prey includes:
- Grasshoppers
- Katydids
- Cockroaches
- Geckos
- Skinks
- Other small animals
Invertebrates should therefore form a major component of the captive diet.
Captive Diet
Suitable staple foods include:
- Locusts
- Crickets
- Dubia or other appropriate roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
- Appropriate beetle larvae
- Other nutritionally suitable captive-produced invertebrates
Vertebrate Prey
Occasional appropriately sized whole vertebrate prey can be offered.
Examples include:
- Small rodents
- Appropriately sized quail
- Other suitable whole prey
These should remain occasional rather than becoming the basis of the diet.
Eggs
Small amounts of:
- Quail egg
- Chicken egg
may occasionally be included as dietary variety.
These should not become staple foods.
Avoid Rodent-Heavy Diets
Kimberley Rock Monitors are slender, highly active predators.
Routine feeding of calorie-dense rodents can contribute to:
- Obesity
- Fat deposition
- Reduced activity
- Poor long-term body condition
Feeder Gut Loading
Live feeder insects should be properly gut-loaded before feeding.
Use:
- Appropriate leafy greens
- Vegetables
- High-quality commercial gut-loading diets
Calcium
Insect prey should be appropriately dusted with calcium.
Supplementation requirements depend on:
- Age
- UVB exposure
- Diet
- Reproductive status
Multivitamins
A suitable reptile multivitamin may be offered periodically.
Avoid excessive supplementation.
Feeding Frequency – Juveniles
Growing juveniles can generally be offered appropriately sized food:
Daily or almost daily
Growth and body condition should be monitored.
Feeding Frequency – Adults
Adults can generally be fed:
Approximately 3–5 times per week
depending on:
- Meal size
- Prey type
- Activity
- Body condition
- Reproductive status
Food-free days are appropriate for healthy adults.
Body Condition
A healthy Kimberley Rock Monitor should remain:
- Slender
- Muscular
- Active
A permanently rounded abdomen and excessive fat around the tail base may indicate overfeeding.
Feeding Enrichment
Food should not always simply appear in a bowl.
Suitable enrichment includes:
- Releasing suitable insects for hunting
- Hiding prey
- Feeding at different enclosure heights
- Using puzzle feeders
- Placing insects inside safe crevices
- Changing feeding locations
Tong Feeding
Tong feeding can be useful for:
- Monitoring food intake
- Building keeper confidence
- Target training
- Moving animals voluntarily
Use suitable feeding tongs.
Avoid teaching the monitor that bare fingers represent food.
Enrichment
Environmental enrichment is an important part of monitor husbandry.
Provide opportunities for:
- Climbing
- Digging
- Investigating
- Hunting
- Searching
- Exploring
- Choosing retreats
Environmental Changes
Occasional changes can include:
- New climbing routes
- Different feeding locations
- Safe novel scents
- New cork pieces
- Rearranged secondary branches
Do not continually remove every established retreat, as familiar secure areas remain important.
Social Housing
Individual housing is the safest general recommendation.
Kimberley Rock Monitors do not require a companion for psychological wellbeing.
Male/Male Housing
Adult males should not normally be housed together.
Competition and territorial aggression may cause serious injury.
Pair Housing
Experienced breeders sometimes maintain compatible pairs.
If attempting pair housing, provide a substantially larger enclosure containing:
- Multiple basking sites
- Multiple hides
- Multiple feeding locations
- Visual barriers
Separate accommodation must always be immediately available.
Sexing
Sexing can be difficult in juveniles.
Mature males may develop:
- Broader heads
- More robust proportions
- More obvious hemipenal structures at the tail base
Professional confirmation may be required where certainty is important.
Breeding
Kimberley Rock Monitors are oviparous.
Successful captive breeding requires:
- Healthy mature adults
- Excellent UVB
- Correct nutrition
- Seasonal environmental cues
- Appropriate nesting substrate
- Careful monitoring of females
Breeding Condition
Females must enter breeding condition with excellent:
- Calcium reserves
- Muscle condition
- Hydration
- Nutrition
Obesity should not be confused with good breeding condition.
Seasonal Cycling
Experienced breeding programmes may use seasonal changes in:
- Photoperiod
- Temperature
- Feeding frequency
- Moisture
to reproduce natural seasonal cues.
Changes should be gradual rather than abrupt.
Nesting
A breeding female requires access to deep, diggable nesting substrate.
Provide a laying area approximately:
30–40+ cm deep
where possible.
The substrate should be:
- Moist enough to hold a tunnel
- Not saturated
- Warm
- Private
Signs of Gravid Behaviour
A gravid female may display:
- Increased digging
- Restlessness
- Reduced appetite
- Increased exploration
- Investigation of nesting areas
Persistent digging without laying can indicate that the female has not accepted the available nesting conditions.
Egg Retention
Egg retention is a veterinary emergency.
Seek experienced reptile veterinary assistance if a gravid female becomes:
- Weak
- Persistently straining
- Abnormally lethargic
- Distended without laying
- Unable to use the hind limbs normally
Clutch Size
Clutches are relatively small.
Approximately:
2–6 eggs
may be produced, although clutch size varies between females.
Egg Incubation
Successful captive programmes commonly incubate eggs around:
28–30°C
A useful target is approximately:
28.5–29.5°C
with stable conditions.
Incubation Duration
Incubation commonly lasts approximately:
100–120 days
depending on:
- Temperature
- Genetics
- Incubation conditions
Successful captive records have reported hatching at roughly 104–110 days under temperatures around 28.5–29.5°C.
Egg Handling
Once orientation is established, eggs should not be unnecessarily rotated.
Marking the upper surface lightly can help maintain orientation during transfer.
Incubation Medium
Suitable incubation media may include:
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
- Other proven reptile incubation media
The medium should provide appropriate humidity without leaving eggs directly wet.
Hatchlings
Hatchlings are highly active miniature monitors.
They require secure, complex accommodation from the outset.
Provide:
- Multiple tight hides
- Vertical climbing surfaces
- Branches
- Appropriate substrate
- Hot basking opportunity
- Correct UVB
- Humid retreat
- Fresh drinking water
Hatchling UVB
Hatchlings should receive appropriate UVB from the beginning.
Provide a usable gradient rather than exposing the entire enclosure uniformly.
Hatchling Feeding
Suitable foods include:
- Small crickets
- Small roaches
- Small locusts
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Other appropriately sized insects
Growing monitors should receive excellent nutritional variety and calcium provision.
Quarantine
All newly acquired Kimberley Rock Monitors should undergo quarantine.
A minimum of approximately:
90 days
is a sensible starting point.
Monitor:
- Body weight
- Appetite
- Faeces
- Skin
- Shedding
- Respiration
- Activity
- Climbing ability
Parasite Screening
Veterinary faecal examination is particularly useful for animals whose previous history is uncertain.
Signs of Good Health
A healthy Kimberley Rock Monitor should generally display:
- Clear eyes
- Strong grip
- Coordinated climbing
- Alert daytime activity
- Regular basking
- Strong feeding response
- Muscular but slender body condition
- Healthy skin
- Normal faeces
Warning Signs
Seek veterinary advice for:
- Persistent refusal to eat
- Unexplained weight loss
- Weak grip
- Tremors
- Limb deformity
- Swollen joints
- Difficulty climbing
- Respiratory noise
- Open-mouth breathing away from basking
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Skin lesions
- Significant lethargy
- Abnormal abdominal swelling
- Persistent nesting behaviour without laying
Metabolic Bone Disease
Inadequate:
- UVB
- Calcium
- Dietary balance
can contribute to metabolic bone disease.
Signs may include:
- Tremors
- Weakness
- Soft jaw
- Limb deformity
- Poor climbing
- Fractures
Prevention through correct husbandry is far preferable to treatment.
Burns
Monitor lizards frequently seek intense heat.
They should never be able to physically contact:
- Heat lamps
- Ceramic heaters
- Unprotected heating elements
All dangerous equipment must be guarded.
Obesity
Overfeeding is a common captive monitor problem.
Prevent obesity through:
- Insect-led feeding
- Appropriate meal frequency
- Large active accommodation
- Foraging opportunities
- Limited calorie-dense vertebrate foods
Common Husbandry Mistakes
Enclosure Too Small
Small body mass does not mean low space requirements.
Insufficient Vertical Space
This species is highly adapted to vertical rock surfaces.
Empty Enclosure Height
Vertical space must contain usable climbing structure.
Too Few Tight Crevices
Secure narrow retreats are fundamental to natural behaviour.
Unstable Rockwork
Heavy structures must never be capable of collapsing.
Basking Temperature Too Low
Warm ambient air does not replace access to a genuinely hot basking surface.
Tiny Basking Spot
The basking area should heat a substantial portion of the animal’s body.
Entire Enclosure Too Hot
A 50–60°C basking surface does not mean the enclosure air should approach those temperatures.
No Measurable UV Target
Simply installing a UVB bulb does not confirm correct exposure.
Choosing UVB Only by Percentage
A “12%” lamp can produce too little or too much UV depending on installation.
Poor UV Gradient
Animals must be able to move into low UV and complete shade.
Completely Dry Housing
Humid crevices and access to moisture are important.
Constantly Wet Housing
Moisture must be combined with ventilation and drying periods.
Rodent-Heavy Diet
Invertebrates should form the bulk of routine feeding.
Overfeeding
A healthy V. glauerti should remain athletic.
Lack of Enrichment
Monitor intelligence requires meaningful opportunities to forage, climb and investigate.
Excessive Forced Handling
Voluntary interaction and training are preferable.
Captive-Bred Animals
Captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred.
Australia tightly controls wildlife export, meaning established overseas populations depend heavily on responsible captive breeding.
Maintaining accurate records of:
- Parentage
- Hatch dates
- Locality information where known
- Pairings
helps protect the genetic quality of captive populations.
Conservation and Trade
The Kimberley Rock Monitor is currently regarded as Least Concern internationally.
Like other monitor lizards, Varanus glauerti is listed under CITES Appendix II.
Keepers should retain appropriate documentation demonstrating lawful acquisition and comply with applicable national and international wildlife-trade regulations.
Responsible Ownership
Before acquiring a Kimberley Rock Monitor, ensure you can provide:
- A large permanent enclosure
- Extensive horizontal and vertical space
- Secure rock-like climbing structure
- Multiple tight crevice retreats
- A broad 50–60°C basking surface
- Correct ambient thermal gradients
- Measured appropriate UVB
- Bright visible daytime lighting
- Humid microclimates
- Good ventilation
- Constant clean drinking water
- A varied insect-led diet
- Correct supplementation
- Regular enrichment
- Long-term specialist veterinary care
Suitability
Advantages
- Beautiful patterning
- Manageable body mass compared with large monitors
- Extremely active
- Highly intelligent
- Fascinating rock-climbing behaviour
- Diurnal and highly visible
- Responds well to enrichment
- Can become confident around familiar keepers
- Captive breeding achievable
Considerations
- Requires considerably more space than its body size suggests
- Needs substantial vertical climbing structure
- Requires extremely secure rockwork
- Requires a very hot basking surface
- UVB must be correctly measured and provided
- Requires a varied live-insect diet
- Highly active and intelligent
- Can be extremely fast
- Not primarily a handling species
- Long-term commitment
- Specialist veterinary care may be required
Summary
The Kimberley Rock Monitor (Varanus glauerti) is a highly active Australian dwarf monitor specialised for life on rocky escarpments, cliffs and other vertical surfaces.
Successful husbandry centres on:
- At least approximately 120 × 90 × 120 cm accommodation for one adult
- Larger housing strongly preferred
- Extensive horizontal and vertical climbing opportunities
- Numerous narrow secure crevices
- Completely stable rockwork
- Approximately 10–20+ cm substrate, with deeper nesting provision for females
- A broad basking surface around 50–60°C
- Warm ambient temperatures around 28–32°C
- Cooler areas around 24–27°C
- Nighttime reduction to approximately 20–24°C
- Strong appropriate UVB
- Approximately UVI 3.0–4.0 at the primary basking position
- A gradient through lower UV levels to complete shade
- Bright visible daytime lighting
- Moderate fluctuating humidity
- A dedicated humid retreat
- Good ventilation
- Constant access to clean drinking water
- A varied diet based primarily around appropriately sized invertebrates
- Appropriate calcium and vitamin supplementation
- Regular behavioural enrichment
- Limited forced handling
- Individual housing as the safest default
- Captive-bred animals strongly preferred
When provided with substantial usable space, extremely hot but optional basking conditions, measurable UV exposure, secure rock-like retreats, varied nutrition and meaningful enrichment, the Kimberley Rock Monitor can be one of the most fascinating dwarf monitors maintained by experienced reptile keepers.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026