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Housing the Dumeril's Monitor
Dumeril's are moderatly large monitors and will require a suitably sized enclosure. As mentioned above, these monitors like to climb and this fact should be taken into consideration. An enclosure that offers some height would be the best choice. A suggested minimum for an enclosure would be 6 feet long X 3½ feet high X 2 feet deep. Of course the more space you provide them with the better off they will be.
Suspend thick branches for them to climb on by drilling holes through the sides of the cage and securly screwing the branches in. Make sure the braches are strong enough to properly support your monitor. If you place one of these under your basking light, a Dumeril's monitor will make good use of it.
As far as substrates go, there are many options out there for a keeper to choose from. Aspen shavings, mulches, and soil mixtures all would work well with this species. A good choice for monitors that require a high humidity is cypress mulch. This can be mixed with soil or sphagnum moss so when misted it will hold the moisture a little better. Misting is important to maintain humidity for this species and can be done every two or three days or as needed to maintain a relative humidity of 80% + or -. Providing a substrate that is deep enough for your monitor to bury itself in is also beneficial. Monitors can conserve moisture this way as well as feel secure in their surroundings.
Hide boxes are a neccessary part of husbandry. Make sure it is large enough for your monitor to fit its entire body in but not so large that it will feel lost in it. Keep in mind: Monitors like to wedge themselves into tight places and will appreciate this type of hide box. It has been noted that juvenile Dumeril's monitors will use hide boxes that are elevated (bird nesting boxes) but prefer the terrestrial ones as they become larger. Experiment with different types of hide boxes at the same time and see which ones your monitors prefer.
A large water bowl with fresh water should be available at all times for drinking and soaking. Dumeril's monitors will most likely choose to defecate in their water bowls so cleaning and disinfecting on a regular basis will be neccessary.