Available and Temperament?

[LeilaNami]

Jason (P. jasonius) and I are looking to get a large species of monitor but we have questions on whether certain ones are available in the hobby as well as their temperament. The species in question are V. mabitang, V. salvator cumingi, V. salvatore komaini, V. albigularis albigularis

The other one we're thinking of is V. a. ionidesi but we've already found info on that species.

 

[Jmugleston]

Jason (P. jasonius) and I are looking to get a large species of monitor but we have questions on whether certain ones are available in the hobby as well as their temperament. The species in question are V. mabitang, V. salvator cumingi, V. salvatore komaini, V. albigularis albigularis

The other one we're thinking of is V. a. ionidesi but we've already found info on that species.

V. a. ionidesi isn't recognized by most as a subspecies anymore. The Varanus albigularis group is just one species with multiple color forms. You'll see the white throats, black throats, cape bandeds, and "microstictus" for sale at times. (Though most microstictus in the states are not really that color form, but really a pretty ionidesi). As for the others, the komaini are available and typically listed as black dragons. Not many are in the states, but they are supposed to be similar to most water monitors. Same with cumingi though cumingi won't get as large as some of the others. With cumingi, be careful of pretty water monitors being sold for more money and trying to be passed as cumingi. You won't find V. mabitang. Plus it is a frugivorous monitor and you can't get the fruit in the states. Some times the closely related grey's monitor lizard V. olivaceus is available, but they aren't supposed to be shipped over state lines due to their C.I.T.E.S. status if I remember correctly. If you are set on a large monitor and you have room for one (my V. yuwonoi are in 8X4X8 enclosures for each animal and they are smaller than all that you mentioned above) might I suggest the V. albigularis or V. panoptes. Both are large monitors, but more forgiving and much more readily available than the others. Water monitors are nice, but they get too large for most people to house properly.

In summary:
V. mabitang is not available.
V. salvator cumingi is sometimes available, but it will be expensive. Also, watch for shady dealers trying to pass off a "sumatran" water monitor as a V. s. cumingi. They are similar in behavior to the other V. salvator ssp.
V. a. albigularis is the same and the ionides. The adult size may differ a bit between the different "types", but they are all seen as the same species for now.
V.s. komaini is the same as the other water monitors afrom what I hear, but I have not kept this species as of yet.

 

[LeilaNami]

Thanks so much! That helps a lot. We're looking to get something around 6-7 feet and possibly larger. We'll be donating part of the house as the enclosure

 

[Jmugleston]

Thanks so much! That helps a lot. We're looking to get something around 6-7 feet and possibly larger. We'll be donating part of the house as the enclosure

Good luck. I've kept number of monitors so if you have any questions especially about the cage design feel free to contact me.

 

[LeilaNami]

Thank you so much