The Pygmy Dwarf Monitor (Varanus gilleni), also known as Gillen's Monitor, is one of Australia's smallest goannas. A semi-arboreal species from arid central and western Australia, it is typically found in mulga and desert oak country, sheltering in tree hollows and bark crevices. It is an engaging, active little monitor with a prehensile tail it uses to grip branches. Adults reach around 35 to 40 cm including tail.
A wildlife keeper's licence is required in Queensland. See our Queensland Reptile Licence Guide.
Enclosure
Unlike most dwarf monitors, the Pygmy Dwarf Monitor is semi-arboreal and needs both floor space and climbing height. An enclosure around 90 x 45 x 60 cm provides a reasonable starting point for a single adult. Include climbing branches, cork bark tubes and slabs at various heights, a ground-level burrowing substrate, and hides at multiple levels. A prehensile tail means branches of varying diameters allow more natural movement.
Browse our enclosures and reptile supplies.
Heating
- Basking surface temperature: 45 to 55°C at the hot zone
- Warm ambient: 28 to 32°C
- Cool end: 24 to 27°C
- Night: allow to drop to 20 to 22°C
Connect all heat sources to a thermostat and verify with an infrared temperature gun. Browse our heating and thermostat range.
UVB Lighting
Strong UVB is required. Use a T5 high-output UVB tube on a 10 to 12 hour cycle, replaced every 6 to 12 months. Browse our UVB lighting range.
Feeding
Primarily insectivorous. Offer a variety of gut-loaded live insects including crickets, woodies, and roaches. The occasional small prey item can be offered to adults.
- Juveniles: daily.
- Adults: every 2 to 3 days. Avoid overfeeding.
Dust insects with calcium at every feeding and use a reptile multivitamin periodically. Browse our live feeders.
Breeding
Pygmy Dwarf Monitors breed in captivity following a winter cooling period. Females lay small clutches of eggs in moist substrate, incubated at around 28 to 30°C. Provide a deep, slightly moist nesting area in the enclosure.
Quick Reference
| Parameter | Target |
|---|---|
| Adult size | 35 to 40 cm |
| Lifespan | 10 to 15+ years |
| Enclosure (adult) | 90 x 45 x 60 cm (floor + height) |
| Basking surface | 45 to 55°C |
| Warm ambient | 28 to 32°C |
| Cool end | 24 to 27°C |
| UVB | T5 high-output, 10 to 12 hrs/day |
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Disclaimer
This guide is provided for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Individual animals vary and outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Always consult a qualified reptile vet for health concerns. A Queensland wildlife keeper's licence is required to purchase and keep Pygmy Dwarf Monitors.
