Bornean Earless Monitor — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Bornean Earless Monitor — origin: Endemic to Borneo: Sarawak (Malaysia), Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Brunei. Lives in lowland tropical rainforests, near clear watercourses, streams and marshy areas. The only living species of the family Lanthanotidae..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side23–25 °C

Warm side25–27 °C

A cool-climate species that does NOT bask: no hot spot or basking spot should be provided. Maintain a cool, stable ambient temperature of 24-26°C, never exceeding 28°C (high temperatures are rapidly harmful, even fatal). The water must remain cool (approx. 24-26°C). A slight nighttime drop is beneficial.

Enclosure (adult)

120 × 60 × 50 cm

Semi-aquatic paludarium / aqua-terrarium, sealed and well ventilated

A mixed layout is essential: a large aquatic section (clean, cool, filtered water, deep enough for full immersion) and a land section of loose, damp substrate allowing burrowing. Provide numerous hiding places, roots, leaf litter and easy access between water and land. Floor space takes priority over height. A very secure lid: a secretive species able to escape through the slightest gap.

Humidity

80–100 %

Very high and constant humidity. The quality and coolness of the water, along with an always-damp substrate, are essential. Ensure good ventilation despite the high humidity to prevent the development of mould and bacteria.

Substrate

Damp coconut fibreFertilizer-free potting soil/peatLive or dead sphagnum mossLeaf litterFine sand or smooth substrate for the aquatic area

A deep, loose and constantly damp terrestrial substrate to allow burrowing, combined with a layer of leaf litter and moss. Avoid any abrasive or dusty material. The aquatic area must remain impeccably clean.

UVB

Optional

Not essential: a nocturnal, burrowing species that does not expose itself to the sun. Very low UVB (index 1-2) may optionally be offered on a gentle day/night cycle, but dim lighting is sufficient; avoid any bright light that stresses the animal.

Water source

Always available

The centrepiece of husbandry: a large area of clean, cool, filtered and dechlorinated water, deep enough for full immersion. The animal feeds and takes refuge there. Gentle filtration and regular water changes are essential; soiled water rapidly leads to skin infections. Keep the water at around 24-26°C.

Origin

Lanthanotidae

Endemic to Borneo: Sarawak (Malaysia), Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Brunei. Lives in lowland tropical rainforests, near clear watercourses, streams and marshy areas. The only living species of the family Lanthanotidae.

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore — Earthworms (staple food), pieces of fish, squid, crustaceans, small aquatic invertebrates

Feeds mainly underwater or in its burrow. Earthworms form the basis of the diet. Offer varied food in suitably sized pieces. Nocturnal feeding, often by leaving prey in the aquatic area. Feed infrequently (the species has a slow metabolism); avoid overfeeding. Supplement moderately with calcium.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 2–6 eggs/young. A clutch of 2 to 6 eggs, generally buried in a damp substrate. Captive breeding is rarely achieved and still poorly documented; long incubation (several months) at a cool temperature. The cycle is probably linked to seasonal variations in humidity and photoperiod.

Health watch points

Chronic stress and refusal to feed (an extremely shy species, sensitive to disturbance and light)
Skin infections and dermatitis linked to soiled water or insufficient hygiene
Respiratory infections in the event of overly high temperatures or poor ventilation
Heavy internal and external parasitism in wild-caught specimens, often dehydrated and weakened
Heatstroke and rapid death if the temperature durably exceeds the species' cool tolerances

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Bornean Earless Monitor.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the bornean earless monitor.

How big does an adult Bornean earless monitor get?▾

Between 40 and 50 cm in total length, but the body itself (snout-to-vent) is only about 20 cm: the rest is taken up by a long, semi-prehensile tail, giving it a silhouette close to a stocky salamander, with six rows of keeled scales along the back.

What kind of enclosure does it need?▾

A semi-aquatic paludarium or aqua-terrarium, sealed and well ventilated, of at least 120 x 60 x 50 cm, combining a large water area deep enough for full immersion with a land section of loose, damp substrate where it can burrow. Floor space matters more than height, and the lid must be perfectly secure: this is a secretive animal capable of escaping through the smallest gap.

Does it need a basking hot spot?▾

No, definitely not: this is a cool-climate species that never basks. Maintain a stable ambient temperature of 24 to 26°C (23-25°C on the cool side, 25-27°C on the warm side), never exceeding 28°C — higher temperatures can quickly become harmful, even fatal.

What humidity and water quality should be maintained?▾

Humidity must stay very high, between 80 and 100%, with an always-damp substrate and clean, cool, filtered water at around 24-26°C. Good ventilation remains essential despite this high humidity, to prevent mould growth; soiled water, meanwhile, quickly leads to skin infections.

What does the Bornean earless monitor eat?▾

Earthworms form the basis of its diet, supplemented with pieces of fish, squid, crustaceans or small aquatic invertebrates. It feeds mainly underwater or in its burrow, often at night, and its slow metabolism calls for infrequent feeding to avoid overfeeding.

Does it need UVB?▾

No, it is not essential for this nocturnal, burrowing species that never exposes itself to the sun. Very low UVB can optionally be offered, but dim lighting is largely sufficient; above all, avoid any bright light, which is a source of stress.

Is it suited to handling?▾

Very little: it is a sedentary, extremely secretive and shy animal that flees bright light and bites firmly if grasped or restrained. It belongs to the Toxicofera clade, related to monitor lizards, and may possess mild oral secretions, but no significant envenomation has been reported in humans — the bite nonetheless remains painful. In any case it is not suited to taming and should above all be observed rather than handled.

Can it be acquired legally?▾

Caution is essential: it is a protected species, listed on CITES Appendix I, whose international trade is virtually banned, and most specimens in circulation are unfortunately sourced from illegal wild capture. Always check the origin and legal traceability before any acquisition.

Is this a species suited to beginners?▾

No, it is rated expert level: demanding semi-aquatic husbandry, a very narrow thermal tolerance, extreme sensitivity to stress and a tightly regulated legal status make it a species reserved for experienced, well-informed keepers.

What is its lifespan?▾

Its true lifespan remains poorly known for lack of reliable data, but specimens have exceeded 10 years in captivity, and a potential of 20 years or more is considered likely.

Does it breed in captivity?▾

Very rarely, and still poorly documented: the female lays 2 to 6 eggs buried in damp substrate, with a long incubation of several months at a cool temperature, probably linked to seasonal variations in humidity.

What health problems should be watched for?▾

Chronic stress and food refusal in an animal highly sensitive to disturbance, skin infections linked to soiled water, respiratory infections if the temperature is too high or ventilation poor, and heavy parasite loads in wild-caught specimens.

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