
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Varanus prasinus
A slender, brilliantly green arboreal monitor of 75-100 cm that grips slender branches with a prehensile tail and long claws. Unusually for a varanid, it is a social species that lives in small groups.
Varanus prasinus is an arboreal varanid of New Guinea and adjacent islands, the best known and most studied member of the tree monitor group, belonging to the Indo-Australian subgenus Euprepiosaurus. It measures 75 to 100 cm with a slender body that helps it support itself on narrow branches, and it grips them with a prehensile tail and long claws; enlarged scales on the soles of its feet are a further arboreal adaptation. Unlike most varanids, which lash with the tail in defence, this species protects its tail instead. When threatened it flees through vegetation and bites if cornered. It is one of the few social monitors, living in small groups made up of a dominant male, several females and a few other males and juveniles. In captivity it requires both high humidity and a hot basking site and dehydrates very easily. Clutches of two to six eggs are laid, hatching after 148 to 215 days when incubated at 28 to 31C.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Emerald Tree Monitor lives 15-20 years.
The Emerald Tree Monitor grows to 75-100cm.
Origin
New Guinea and adjacent islands, some islands of the Torres Strait, with records also reported from Queensland, Australia
Lifespan
15-20 years
Size
75-100cm
Sources: Reptiles Magazine: The Tree Monitors / Chameleon Academy: Blue Tree Monitors / Wikipedia (English) / Reptile Database
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Varanus prasinus (Schlegel, 1839)
Authority databases: GBIF · Reptile Database
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Varanidae spp. are listed in CITES Appendix II. Because of Appendix II listing, an international CITES registration certificate is not required, but an export permit issued by the exporting country is necessary for importation. In Japan, only 2 species of Varanidae are designated as Specified Animals; this species is not included. It does not fall under Designated Invasive Species under the Invasive Species Act.
Sources: CITES Appendices (Varanidae spp., Appendix II) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Humidity
70%
Crickets, dubia roaches and other insects, with rodents as a supplement
Figures published for the tree monitors call for a gradient reaching from a basking site of 49-54C down to cool areas of 27-28C. Supplemental heat is sometimes used at night to hold ambient temperatures at 27-28C. Humidity must not fall below 70 per cent; these lizards dehydrate easily and rehydrate only by drinking.
It is strongly arboreal, so climbing surface and height matter more than floor area. An enclosure of roughly 120 cm wide by 180 cm tall by 60 cm deep is cited for a pair, and larger is better. Use a deep leaf-litter layer and branches of varying thickness arranged both vertically and horizontally. Ventilation holes are considered unnecessary, since high humidity must be held. It is social, so small groups of one male with several females are sometimes kept where space allows.
In the wild it is an arboreal insectivore taking mainly arthropods, with small vertebrates as well. In captivity base the diet on crickets, dubia and other roaches with rodents as a supplement, dusting feeders with calcium.
It is one of the few social monitors, living in the wild in small groups centred on a dominant male. It is nonetheless fast and nervous, fleeing when threatened and biting if cornered, so it is not suited to handling.
Varanidae spp. are listed on CITES Appendix II, so import requires an export permit; no Japanese registration certificate is needed for Appendix II. Of the varanids, only the Komodo dragon and the crocodile monitor are specified animals under Japanese law, and this species is not among them. Juveniles dehydrate far more rapidly than adults, so watch humidity and water intake closely.
Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.
The average lifespan of Emerald Tree Monitor is 15-20 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Emerald Tree Monitor typically reaches 75-100cm as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Emerald Tree Monitor feeds on: Crickets, dubia roaches and other insects, with rodents as a supplement. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Emerald Tree Monitor varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 28, 2026