Description
- Common Name: Black-headed Monitor
- Scientific Name: Varanus tristis tristis
- Locality/Morph: Wild type
- Sex: Unsexed
- Age: 2025
- Source: Captive Bred
- Native Range: Northern and eastern Australia
- Natural Habitat: Dry woodland, savanna, rocky areas and open forest
- Diet: Insectivorous and carnivorous – insects, spiders, small reptiles, frogs, eggs and other small prey
- Basking Temperature: 45–50 °C basking surface
- Ambient Temperature: 28–32 °C, with a cooler area around 24–27 °C and a night-time drop to approximately 20–24 °C
- Average Adult Size: 60–70 cm (including tail)
The Black-headed Monitor (Varanus tristis tristis) is a slender Australian monitor distinguished by its dark head, patterned body and long tail. It is widespread across northern and eastern Australia, inhabiting dry woodlands, savanna, rocky areas and open forests. It is an agile climber and often uses trees, rock crevices and hollow logs for shelter.
In captivity, V. tristis tristis requires a spacious enclosure with plenty of climbing opportunities, branches, cork bark and secure hiding places. A strong UVB source and bright lighting should be provided, together with a hot basking area of approximately 45–50 °C and a cooler area to allow effective thermoregulation. Good ventilation and access to fresh drinking water are also important.
Their diet should consist mainly of appropriately sized insects such as crickets, locusts and cockroaches, supplemented with occasional small lizards, frogs, eggs or other suitable prey. Calcium and vitamin supplementation should be provided as appropriate. Black-headed Monitors are active, alert and inquisitive animals that can become confident with patient handling and consistent husbandry. They are best suited to experienced keepers able to provide a suitably large, enriched enclosure and the high temperatures required by this active species.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
