Common name: Storr’s monitor, Storr’s Goanna
Scientific name: Varanus storri
Described: Mertens 1966
Size: average size 30-40cm
Varanus storri is a bold little monitor lizard, and often act like they are bigger then they really are.
They are normally not a shy species, and will often calm down to the point where they show no fear and easily will take food directly from the caretakers hands. As for the setup. I keep Varanus storri in pairs, in cages that measures 120x60x60cm, that is set up with cork pieces and tubes, small tree stumps and old branches. All in all maxing out the usable surface area. As substrate I use a sandy soil. It can be covered in old leaves to make enrichment for the monitors.
The light and heat is made up by led, halogen and UV. The leds are 6400k standard led, combined with a 3500k plant led. UV light is a T5 from Arcadia, and the basking area is created by using a 35w halogen bulb.
The feeding of Varanus storri is the same as for other smaller Odatria species. I personally use the following: dubia roaches, shelfordella, crickets, grasshoppers, super worms and wax worms. I do not feed any kinds of meat. Feeders are given a homemade chow ever other day. The monitors are are offered food every 2-3 days in summer and 1-2 times a week in winter.
Breeding. Varanus storri will bred from spring and throughout summer, I’ve had clutches up to 7 eggs. I have been experimenting with different types of substrate, and I have ended up with a sand/ Coco Choir mix at a ratio of roughly 70/30. As for incubation, I use a Perlite water mix, it’s 1/0.9 by weight. The incubation temperature is 28-30c The incubation period is notmally 100-120 days.The babies. Varanus storri babies can be very aggressive towards each other, and is best raised alone or in pairs, even from a rather young age. The cage and food for the Varanus storri babies is similar to the adults just on a smaller scale.
