I'm not 'wrong across the board'. You should at least attempt to be polite when giving advice, it wouldn't kill you any.



Wrong diet? Not wrong diet. Salmon, beef heart, oysters, seafood, rats, hard boiled egg as TREAT 1x every couple weeks, vitamin d3 calcium supplements 1x every 2 weeks, liver/kidney/hearts/gizzard mix 1x every 2 weeks. Diet is varied, I can't get insects bigger than crickets/super worms which he won't accept. Diet is not OFF diet is great.



Skin condition? NOT. He burnt himself on a tight beam light four or so months ago that I tried, the burn marks are just showing up now, minimal scarring, it's shedding out.



Wrong substrate? Check. I can't fill up my room with soil, but what I /can/ do is provide him a large soil box, with 2ft of soil. He never used any substrate to dig in provided. Of EVERY kind I tried, but I'm willing to keep trying.



Enclosure? This is open for debate.



If I wanted to have a /suitable/ enclosure built for my Sav, I would be looking at 8ft x 4ft because that's about where he's going to need in a year or so. I can't even FIT That in my room. Not even through the door. Hell, that's about the size of some room's, maybe a little smaller. So, I'm keeping him in the room. I have talked to three specialists in monitors and other large lizards, and been to a herpetologist vet. Many keepers give a lizard a room, because they grow too big to have a custom tank. Many have to find out what works to best imitate the lizard's home environment. In my case, I need to purchase 2 humidifiers, and guess what?



Basking spot? PERFECT. The temp is at 120 degrees, and besides four months ago when I listened to some pet shop person who had a monitor and then took it down after a month, my basking spot of lower temp flood lights is great. Plus, during summer I have an open window that is open during the time the sunlight comes in, so not through glass, and he loves it.



Weight issues? He's 6 1/2 pounds, and slightly overweight. Not 'horribly' and not due to his diet, but due to feeding him every other day. I have to cut back 10% of the food, and liver/kidney only 1x a month since a lot of fat is processed through it.



What else are you going to be rude about? I read that entire thing, and besides 'not free roaming' everything was perfect bang on, great. He has a huge tub to soak in, the humidity is a bit too low but his basking spots and room temp (up to 75-80 degrees with the addition of a space heater) is great. I've done everything I can to make a happy, healthy monitor and I've read what you asked and found minimal issues. Diet, skin, etc. are good. Temps are good. Next time you advise someone, try politeness.



PS. I'm not a man, I'm a woman. And go tell 3 specialists and a vet they're wrong. I'm sure they'll agree.



To everyone who politely responded, thanks! Because of you I'm making some changes and soon he'll have the proper humidity and burrowing place...if he won't use I'm open to suggestions?

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