Golden Spotted Tree Monitor (1.1 Pair Only) (Varanus boehmei)

Common Name: Böhm's Monitor (Golden Spotted Tree Monitor)
Scientific Name: Varanus boehmei
Source: CBID
Adult Size: Approximately 60–80cm total length
Native Range: Halmahera and surrounding islands, North Maluku, Indonesia

Enclosure: A minimum 120×60×120cm Viperia PVC vivarium — this species is highly arboreal (tree-dwelling) and needs significant vertical height. Furnish with sturdy horizontal and diagonal branches, cork bark tubes, and dense cover at height. A bioactive-style substrate of coconut fibre or a tropical mix will help maintain humidity, and secure hides should be offered both at ground level and elevated in the canopy zone.
Heating: Provide a focused basking spot of around 40–45°C, with a warm-side ambient temperature of 28–32°C and a cooler side around 24–26°C. Night-time temperatures can drop naturally to around 20–22°C, reflecting the tropical island conditions of their native range.
Humidity: 70–80%, rising after misting. Achieve this with daily or twice-daily misting of the enclosure, a humid substrate layer, and good but not excessive ventilation to prevent stagnant air. Live or artificial plants help retain moisture and provide visual cover.
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask within 20–30cm of the lamp at its chosen height. This species is active during the day (diurnal) in a tropical forest canopy environment and benefits strongly from good UV provision to support vitamin D3 synthesis and long-term health.
Diet: Offer a varied diet of appropriately sized insects (dubia roaches, locusts, crickets), the occasional pinky mouse for larger adults, and other invertebrates such as snails or waxworms as occasional treats. Juveniles should be fed daily; adults can be fed every two to three days. Dust prey items with a quality calcium and multivitamin supplement two to three times per week.

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Golden Spotted Tree Monitor is a strikingly beautiful small monitor native to the tropical island forests of Halmahera in Indonesia, where it spends much of its life navigating the canopy and branches of dense rainforest. Its vivid golden-yellow spots set against a dark background make it one of the most visually dramatic monitors available in the hobby, and it remains relatively compact compared to many of its relatives — a combination that has earned it a passionate following among dedicated reptile keepers.

This is a species best suited to experienced monitor keepers who can meet its specific environmental needs — high humidity, ample vertical space, and precise temperatures — and who are patient enough to allow it time to settle and build confidence. Given time and consistent, calm handling, individuals can become remarkably interactive, but this is not a beginner's first monitor; it rewards keepers who are already comfortable reading a lizard's body language and maintaining a stable tropical setup.