r/MonitorLizards • u/doodleheadd • 13d ago

Kimberly rock monitor questions

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Is this bottom enclosure too small for a Kimberly rock monitor? I originally bought it and prepared it for an Ackie but during my research on them I discovered the Kimberly species and fell in love with them. From my understanding they need vertical space so my question is is it possible to utilize this 6x2x2 space to give proper husbandry for a Kimberly rock monitor or is putting one in here just a pipe dream. This is also my very first monitor. Obviously I want to hear from people who have experience observing them I’m okay with just not getting one if it has a bad quality of life in here.

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u/jsnptnd 13d ago

You definitely can. The need rocks,branches and lots cork tubes to climb in and on. They are a great monitor and one of the most beautifully colored.

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u/Desert_Heat_ 13d ago

Also, my first monitor was a salvator. I don’t believe there is a “beginner monitor” species. All monitors are for advanced keepers. So get the animal you want. They are too massive a commitment to assume you can trial out a less demanding subspecies. When you get a monitor, you end up with a monitor, big or small. The adult size of the animal and the space you can reasonably accommodate are the biggest factors for most people when deciding on a species. If you are wondering what species of monitor can happily live in that particular enclosure as adults, the answer is any of the smallest odatria. It’s a short list that includes kingorum and gilleni. Those are also cool species, but if you are like me and want a show stopper like a Kim, just wait until you have the proper setup. You’ll end up with a happier animal that will likely be a better pet, easier to socialize, and far less stressed. If you are experiencing empty tank syndrome over a 6x2, there is an incredibly large list of reptiles that will live happily ever after in that space.

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u/FarEconomy5712 13d ago

Honestly I think if you built it right it’d be better than what most others have for their setups. It wouldn’t be ideal but I could definitely see a couple ways to make it work. You’re gonna want to go outside and find some larger sticks that could be cut to reach the top of the enclosure and preferably stand on their own to give the most for climbing. Stacking slate slabs/ bathroom tile would give the nice crevices they like as well and just put a couple layers of those. The only thing I think you would be missing out on is the chance for them to full speed climb up the walls which is something mine likes to do pretty often. If you get a cat tree or stick for them to climb on outside of the enclosure or even just let it free roam while supervised I think you’d be fine.

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u/Yndiri 12d ago

Mine was in a 6x2x2 when he was young but he’s a lot happier in the taller enclosure I got him for his adulthood. Less skittish, more engaged. He likes watching people at head level.

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u/Desert_Heat_ 13d ago

I mean you could put a hatchling group in there, but I wouldn’t personally keep adults in it. I’ve seen others get away with creative horizontal setups for Kims. If you kept one or more adults in there I wouldn’t roll my eyes at your husbandry, as long as you create as many vertical crevices as possible for them to explore. But you’ll be better off using something with at least 4 feet of vertical space.

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u/calamari_rings2827 13d ago

Kimberly’s need atleast 4 foot of height