They aren't bred in abundance for a few reasons, one of them being that many keepers have some of the same misconceptions you do. Additionally, they are cheap and abundant at pet stores, and thus usually purchased and kept by people with little experience and understanding.



Savs are not as different from ackies as you think. Nor are waters, or niles, or anything else.



1) They require lots of food. I don't think they type of food is important as long as it supports growth. I don't see anything wrong with feeding snails or crabs or whatever... but why do that when rodents are proven to work?



2) They require a wide range of temps. Typically this means from 70-130 . There may be exceptions to that rule of thumb, but the most important thing is to let the animals tell you and not the other way around. If your savs are always at the hot spot and never in the cool spots, then allow them to go hotter. 150 however, seems extreme to me... but the animals are the experts. Not me.



If you provide 1 and 2, then a healthy female will lay eggs. If you have a female that isn't laying eggs, then there is a problem somewhere with 1 or 2. Which brings us to...



3) Nesting. It seems that varanids are very specific about their nesting and if they don't have an adequate place to nest they will hold their eggs and either absorb them or hold them to long and die. This is probably the #1 killer for female monitors. I've lost a few to this very problem.



It has been shown over and over and over again that monitors do not require specialized diets (or breeding ackies would be different than breeding argus which would be different than breeding albigs which would be different than breeding kimmies, etc.)



The biggest hurdle keepers have is recognizing how important 1 and 2 are.



Screwing around with diet is pointless if temperature ranges are insufficient. Low temps and too enough food = fat monitors. High temps with not enough food = dead monitors. (cont.)

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