-Feeding schedule : 5 to 6 times a week , can be on a daily basis depending on the activity level of the monitors. Overweight should not be a concern when a large (room sized) enclosure with a proper range of temperatures is provided , Monitors are active lizards and will use the given space optimaly. My Blackthroats ( Varanus Albigularis Microsticus) and my Asian Water Monitors ( Varanus Salvator Bivitatus) are housed indoors in a large heated but partially insulated room (the attic)…during our northern hemisphere wintertime a slight drop in ambient temperature can occurs, at that time Varanus Albigularis will reduce his level of activity and during this period of semi-dormancy food intake can decrease considerabily , duration of the fasting period can vary , the longest that i recorded was a full 4 weeks without feeding.
My Asian Water monitors will not be affected by temperature drop and will keep on feeding on a daily basis.

-Food Items : Mainly full grown mice , day old chicks , parakeets, rats , fish , snails from our garden(fresh & free of pesticide),the occasionnal boiled egg and a daily bulk of crickets (for the hatchlings) . All Monitors are fed during the morning hours and all food items are dusted twice a week with a vitamine/minerals supplement.

-Fresh drinking water is provided on a daily basis.

-A water container for soaking ( large and deep enough to accommodate my adults Varanus Salvator) is permanently available , container is cleaned once a week (when not contaminated by feces) and as soon the monitors defecate in the water.

-Lightning : lites (six 150 watt reflector bulbs and four full spectrum bulbs) are provided 12 hours per day , allowing the monitors to bask from 6 AM ’till 18.00PM.

-Temperature : Daily room temperature range between 24-26 °C and nightime temperature between 18-21 °C , with basking temps between 35-40 °C .

-Cleaning : The Monitors feces and any kind of waste are removed daily.

-Room furnishing : Large logs and branches to allow climbing ( Albigs loves to climb !!!) , rocks and a mixture of sand & dirt as substrate , digging area has been added recently ( they loves to dig too !!!) . Shelters , hide spots & nesting boxes are provided in differents parts of the room.

And of course the benificial daily interaction (handling and socialization) with the Monitors…remember they are intelligent reptiles !!!