High Desert Herps

Yellow ackies are some of my favorites, check out how CHILL these babies are. And a cameo from zazoo at the end. #varanusacantharus #yellowackies #greenwingmacaw

Bit of a long video, but I just wanted to share my FIRST EVER monitor, Duke. He is an almost 10 year old whitethroat monitor, and as you can see from the video, he's my buddy. He demanded a little attention yesterday so I obliged. #petmonitor #varanusalbigularis #whitethroatmonitor

Just wanted to share one of my big gila boys. He just sired his first clutch of eggs this last week. He is big (biggest gila I've personally seen) and beautiful and a complete joy to work with! #gilamonster #heloderma #helodermasuspectum

Varanus gilleni, pygmy mulga monitors, might be the best pet monitor species! #varanusgilleni #pygmymulgamonitor

First clutch of ackies monitors for 2024. Start the socialization young! #varanusacanthurus #ackiemonitor

Good start to the 2024 monitor breeding season. Already have kingorum, primordius, gilleni, pilbara, red ackies, yellow ackies, Kimberly, tristis and prasinus eggs in the incubator. Wowza!!! I think I'm going to need a bigger incubator 🤣. #varanusbreeder #monitorsofinstagram #monitorbreeder #varanusacanthurus #vararanuskingorum #varanusprasinus #varanusgilleni #varanuspilbaransis #varanusprimordius #varanusglauerti #varanustristis

Just wanted to share this video of one of my female Spencers monitors, as I honestly can't get enough of them! Can't wait for another year or so when I can start pairing the male and females! #spencersmonitor #dreammonitor #varanusbreeder #australianmonitors #monitorsofinstagram

Wanted to share a video of the CB Varanus Auffenbergi produced here this summer. These are now **5 months old** (said 4 in the video) and are ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. This is 3 of the 6 still here. Cannot believe these guys are hanging around. One of the prettiest varanus species in my opinion.

Happy New Years everyone!!! Had to do some last minute cage maintenance for my big male Spencer's monitor (Chuck) and realized I don't share him enough. Him and I get along pretty well, although he likes to pretend he's REALLY grumpy every time I want to touch him. But if I'm trying to do some work in his cage he always comes and bothers me by crawling up on my lap. This guy is definitely one of my favorites!!! #spencersmonitor #varanusspenceri #varanusbreeder #monitorsofinstagram #dreammonitor #highdesertherps #hdh_reptiles

Another clutch of prasinus starting to hatch. These little guys are so much fun!

Another video of the prasinus showing their different personalities a little bit.

Prasinus babies just over two weeks old. Nice socialized babies will be looking for their permanent residence soon!

Another socialization video of a prasinus that hatched yesterday. This one was initially very timid right out of the egg. But 30 minutes of gentle socialization had his fear completely gone. Notice in the video the animal is never once restrained. This new technique of socialization IMMEDIATELY out of the egg is something I've only been doing the last couple clutches but seems to make a WORLD of difference. I used to believe in giving them a few days before attempting any socialisation, but I am definitely very happy with this new method.

I know it's a little lengthy, but here's a demonstration/explanation of how I socialize my prasinus IMMEDIATELY out of the egg. I feel this first interaction, although time consuming, is critical to socializing these guys. They still all have their own personalities with some much more reserved than others, but I do feel this goes a long way.

Zazoo bath time #2. Such a sweet girl!

Everyone meet Zazoo. She helps keep the reptiles in line.

Had one of my breeder female prasinus out today. She's so pretty!

A gaggle of 2 month old Kimberly rock monitors going crazy after a cage overhaul.....

Another video because this 12 hour old prasinus is just too cute!!!

Another clutch of prasinus hatching today. This curious little guy is the first one out!