Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a new savannah monitor about 4 days ago. he or she (it) is about 6 inches long. im keeping it in a 30 breeder.

i dont know what to use for substrate. i have desert sand at the hot side, and bark at the cool side. ive read many care sheets, some say keep the substrate wet others say keep it as dry as possible. what should i use for substrate and if i should keep the cage humid, how should i do this?

I also handle my savy regulary, its ususally a lil squirmy, how should i go about taming it? was i not supose to handle it for a while and let it acclimate to its new home?

it hides all day at the hot end, why? is something wrong? is it just shy?

for heat i use a 75 watt tight beam basking bulb, this bulb is in a Porcelain Clamp Lamp by EXOTERRA, should i use a different hood or bulb? would anyone here have something to say about tight beam compared to regular beam, like why i shouldnt use one or the other? at night the temp is about 75, do i need undertankheaters?

if its about six inches now, how long before my savy reaches a foot?

All things you SHOULD have found out before buying the animal. Also all things that are fairly easy to find and figure out without needing to ask. Forums are for questions after you learn a little something... not when you get an animal you know extremely little about obviously and feel inadequate to the task because you didn't prepare properly. Just like every other savannah monitor owner I've seen pretty much save a few on here who've been around for a long time. I had mine for 6 years and she was already around 2 years old when I got her.. small for 2 but around that age anyway... I did a crapload of research before even ordering her. Try looking up some information and then come back and ask specific, not general questions.

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Lucien

1.1 Columbian Redtail Boas (BCI)(Sutekh and Isis)
7.11.7.Leopard geckos (2.1 Blizzards (Caine, Phoenix, and Mirage), 0.2 Tangerine Albinos (Tequila Sunrise ...Tiki for short, and Casper), 1.0 Tremper Albino (Mycah), 1.1 Triple. het blizzard x tang albino x patternless (Malice, Malfeas), 1.0 Full Stripe Chocolate Tremper Albino (Discord), 0.1 pastel (Raven) and 1.5 Normals) 0.0.3 het albinos, 0.0.2 patternless blizzard/albinos, 0.0.2 - 50%possible triple hets (blizzard x albino x patternless)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Kiros) (R.I.P. November 18, 2005)
13 rats (plus pups)
2 Dogs (Loki and Storm)
2 cats (Ashe and Hercules)

ok. let me just say. i researched. and all the questions i have asked are questions about conflicting care ive read. so if anyone here would like to answer some of my questions that would be great.

for substrate use dirt, topsoil from the store, mix it with some play sand, about 30% sand, go to proexotics.com and read their caresheet i think the one for the iode or ionde is the same as savannahs

Definately go to the proexotics caresheet and read up on them.

Its hard to say if your type of bulb is good without knowing the exact temps. make sure they are getting at least 130 degrees under the basking bulb. I found that halogens are the easiest to achieve that with. if its not getting hot enough, time for a new bulb. make sure you are using a probe thermometer or a temp gun to measure basking temps. The little stick on pet store ones are worthless.

and yes, your baby sav will hide a lot at first. he is probably terrified of you right now. you only had him for 4 days, give him a little more time to adjust before you do too much handling of him.

as for how long it will take him to reach a foot. I got my baby sav when he was about 5-6 inches as well, and he got little over 2 feet long before he turned a year old. plan on upgrading that 30 gallon very quickly.
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~Melissa~
1.6.3 Leopard geckos
1.1 Bearded dragons
1.0 Hog Island Boa
0.1 Western hognose
0.1 Coastal carpet python
1.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.0.1 Sulcata tortoise
1.0 Eastern Collared Lizard
1.1 Ferrets
0.1 Chinchilla
2.0 kitty cats
0.0.1 Firebelly newt that lives with a betta

thank you for the tips. im def gunna invest in a probe thermometer.

how exactly should i handle my new savy? i usually just hold him til he calms down then just let him sit in my hand.

there ya go, just dont let him get away from you or he will disappear

haha. on my fake-wood floor hes slower than my blue tongue skink.