{"product_id":"sand-monitor","title":"Sand Monitor | Varanus gouldii flavirufus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Sand Monitor is a large, powerful Australian goanna for the experienced keeper - intelligent, active and genuinely impressive. This is the desert form, warm-toned and built for open, arid country, and it needs a big, secure enclosure and plenty of enrichment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGould's Sand Monitor ranges widely across mainland Australia, with the flavirufus form belonging to the arid sandy interior, where it digs extensive burrows, patrols large territories and basks in the open. Natural origin for this listing is the arid interior of Australia. The enclosure should recreate that hot, open, sandy habitat with a very deep diggable substrate, a large basking site, sturdy hides and enough floor space for a big, active lizard to move.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA healthy specimen is powerful and well-muscled with bright eyes, a clean vent and a strong tail base. The desert form is warm sandy-red to yellow-brown with paler spotting and a distinct pale-tipped tail. Adult size is generally 100–140 cm total length, occasionally larger, so the animal should never be purchased only for its current size.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is best described as intelligent, bold and active, and while individuals can become accustomed to their keeper, this is a large, strong monitor that demands respect and care around feeding. It is best housed one to an enclosure; monitors do not need company, and cohabiting risks stress, food competition and injury, so animals are only brought together deliberately for supervised breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeed as a carnivore; a varied diet of whole prey such as rodents and quail, gut-loaded insects, and occasional lean meats and eggs. Feed juveniles frequently and adults a couple of times a week, dusting insect meals with calcium and vitamins for growing animals, and avoid over-reliance on fatty rodents as these monitors gain weight readily in captivity. Fresh water should be available at all times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a big-space animal: an adult needs a minimum floor of around 240 x 120 cm, with larger or a secure outdoor enclosure recommended, and a very deep substrate for burrowing. Provide a basking surface of 50–60°C over a broad basking site, a cooler end around 25–30°C, and a night drop to roughly 20–24°C, all thermostatically controlled. Good UVB is important for this diurnal species. Keep humidity low to moderate, around 30–50%. Use a deep, firm sand-soil substrate, offer robust hides and a large water container, and clean regularly with periodic full cleans.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSand Monitors are egg-layers, cycled with a cooler, drier winter and a reduction in day length. Females lay clutches of around 6–17 eggs in a deep burrow or nest box, incubated at about 29–31°C for roughly 150–180 days. Breeding is demanding and best left to advanced keepers with the space, deep-nesting provision and incubation experience required.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVaranus gouldii flavirufus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSand Monitor (Gould's Goanna, desert form)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eArid sandy interior of mainland Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100–140 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntelligent, bold and active; demands respect at feeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Enclosure Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAbout 240 x 120 cm floor with very deep substrate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Enclosure Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger than 240 x 120 cm, or a secure outdoor enclosure\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore - whole prey, insects and occasional lean meats\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBasking Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50–60°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAmbient Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25–30°C cool end, dropping to around 20–24°C at night\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUVB Required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes — UV Index 4.0–6.0 at basking + 12–14% UVB (T5 HO fluorescent) — high - large arid-zone heliotherm, strong basking driver\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHumidity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow to moderate, around 30–50%\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced keepers with substantial space for a large goanna\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLicence Required\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes - reptile keeper's licence in most Australian states\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNone. Sand Monitors are best kept alone and only paired briefly under supervision for breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDo not house with other monitors, other reptiles, or any smaller animal, all of which would be treated as competition or prey.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSize options reflect the sizes we stock; any shown as sold out will return as we restock. Australian livestock for in-store collection or local delivery, with our live arrival guarantee. A reptile keeper's licence is required to buy and keep native reptiles and amphibians in most Australian states - please ensure you hold the appropriate licence for your state before purchasing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55234113405219,"sku":"AA3834","price":995.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/sand-monitor-43078856180003.webp?v=1790305593","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/sand-monitor","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}