Many inexperienced owners make the most serious mistakes when drawing up the diet of their pet. This often leads to the death of the lizard. Those who cherish their monitor lizard (kapsk) should approach issues related to its diet with maximum responsibility. The basis of the diet of a tame reptile should be slugs, snails, cockroaches, earthworms, locusts and crickets. Occasionally you can pamper your pet with chicken, lean fish, mice or frogs.
In addition, to the main menu, it is desirable to add vitaminized feed, in which there is calcium. Growing reptiles need to be fed in small portions several times a day. Adults need to be fed two or three times a week. Otherwise, they may face obesity.
Taming
Varan Cape has a sufficiently high intelligence, therefore it is very easy and quickly socialized. The owner will not be difficult to control the predictable behavior of your pet. It is necessary, if possible, to be philosophical about aggressive stances and blows of the tail, not allowing the reptile to take a dominant position. The kid can at first with a hiss go around your hand with outstretched food. It is very important to show maximum patience and over time he will get used to taking food. If he managed to bite you, then you need not hurt, but perceptibly click on his nose. The kid will quickly remember this lesson and next time will think carefully whether it is necessary to show aggression.
A few words about walking
Some owners regularly walk their monitor lizards. To do this, you need to purchase a kitten harness that is correctly matched in size. Lizards skillfully know how to back up, so they can not be left on the street unattended. Walking with a reptile, preferably in warm weather.
In summer, the monitor lizard shows sunbathing. But to accustom the lizard, accustomed to the artificial ultraviolet, to this sun should be gradually, so as not to cause burns. At first, you can limit yourself to fifteen minute walks, gradually increasing the time spent in the fresh air.
How does it look
Body length - from 50 cm to 1.2 m, sometimes up to 2–3 m. It has an elastic muscular body, tapering towards the tail. The head is large, the legs are short, the limbs with flexible toes and sharp claws are ideally suited for burrowing and climbing. The body is covered with dense rigid grayish-brown scales with light spots. On the tail stripes are clearly visible.
Lifestyle
Leads a single life. He is aggressive, but in case of danger he flees or pretends to be dead, while he swallows the tip of the tail and rolls up into a ball - it becomes impossible to swallow it in this way. Durable thick skin - also quite reliable rescue from the teeth of predators. Calm, unhurried, more adapted to walking over land than swimming or climbing trees. The average life expectancy is 13–15 years.
The basis of the diet - carrion, small reptiles and amphibians, insects and their larvae. The natural enemy in nature is the crocodile.
Breeding
Sexual maturity occurs in 3-4 years, the mating season falls on the rainy season. At this time, the monitor lizard becomes especially aggressive - the males constantly pursue females and prevent them from leading a normal life. The female lays about 35 eggs, carefully digging them into the warm sand.
The incubation period lasts an average of 22 weeks.
