Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone here help me out? I am thinking about getting a Savannah Monitor and I am new to them. I need to know how big they get, their temperment, are they good for first time monitor owners, how big of a cage they need, ect. If anyone has pics of their enclosures as well I would really appreciate it. I would hate to get one and then realize I cannot keep it properly. Also do they not like cats? I have a bunch of other reptiles, and my cats tolerate them and are really good with them, but from what I hear about monitors, Im more afraid for my cat than vice versa.

Any help you guys can give me would be so much appreciated. Thanks!

I have a Bosc and they get pretty big around the 3 foot mark. But why do you want a sav? Have you looked at other monitors. While I love Anubis(my bosc) dearly and will do anything for him I think my next monitor will be an ackie or a BT. So look around don't make the mistake most newbies make by getting a sav or better yet a psycho nile. I'm convienced their are better choices.

Well I think Savannahs are pretty first of all. I really dont like the long neck and small head of some of the monitors so all of the pictures of the savannahs don't seem to have that quality. Is there something wrong with Savannahs? You said that some people make a mistake buying them, but im curious as to why???

Long neck monitors can always turn their heads and bite you if they want to(my Water's did that often).Sav's and Blackthroats don't have to be restrained by their necks when handled and calm down much better.No chance of being bitten when handled right and you don't have to stress them out by restaining by the neck to avoid possible bitesI love them all but Blackthroats and Savs are tops!

Yes, I have looked at BT too and I also like them too! They have the shorter neck and not the looong face either! Nice pic!

Why such a difference in your next monitor?A midget or a beast,can't decide if you want to have a room sized cage or n aquarium?

get a BLACK THROUGH TRUST us!!! bt's have great color normaly good temper and great personalitys. in my opinion you can't go wrong with a bt!

go to pro exotic's web site and read (savannah monitor FAQ) it will explain everything.

I'm getting a black throught monitor for my dad's birthday!!!

from Alex

I think the main reason most would recommend against a Savannah is their size, possibly their tremendous appetite. I don't think it would be temperament because from what I know of them most are big pussycats, and as long as you are prepared to build or buy a fairly large enclosure (don't forget cleaning it too), and will be able to feed it properly I say go for it

I had one many years ago as a 'new' herper, bought him as a tiny baby who just barely fit in my hand. He was always a sweetheart, even when he was just over 3' and heavier than my 2 cats combined, lol. He was a GREAT lizard, unfortunately he died fairly young due to some kind of cancer and I've missed him for years until a friend gave me a new one just a couple of weeks ago. This one is gorgeous and rather portly at 12", but seems to have a totally off the wall feeding response...he ALWAYS wants to eat, even when he's full, and it doesn't matter what it is...hand/glove...spray bottle...the blood python in the tank next to his, lol. I know they're voracious eaters, but this is ridiculous. He's not overly aggressive, just HUNGRY at all times.
Good luck to you
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(i)Klaatu...Verata...Nichtu!(/i)

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Ok, I want everyone's opinions. I am looking for a moniter to meet these requirements:

Good temperment
I am partial to the shorter neck
not bigger than 3-4 feet
Must be CB

Is there such a monitor and if so, can I get opinions on what is the best? I have lots of room at my place and building an enclosure is no problem, but again I want this to be a permament part of my life and if needs to be a good match.

I can think of a monitor that fits three of the four qualities you listed. That is the gold monitor V. flavescens(I think I spelled that right) but unfortunately they are not available. To bad they are one of my favorites. They are rare in the wild and are listed on CITES I am not sure if its I or II. So they are not imported. To bad....

If you would up your size to about 5 feet then I would suggest a black throat. I don't keep them but have a buddy who does and they are really nice. Never have bitten or attempted to bite him or me. They have the "look" that you like. They are available cb too. I cannot think of any more monitors that fit your "look". I think there are only three the Bosc, Black throat, and Gold monitors. (Correct me if I left out any.)

Hope that helped.
Mike

Great, so BT sounds like the one for me. I will need to do some research on them and how I need to keep it like a cage and stuff before I actually get one.

Thanks!

5-7 ft and upwards to 30 lbs. The length Ive seen on one was 7 ft, with a few other males being 6.6ft or close. The majority dont seem to exceed 5 ft or so. My 21 month old female is 5ft 8 inches and 18lbs, yet she seems large nowadays for whats out there. CBB is a must then Proexotics, or Tarpit reptiles are the only breeders that can seem to prove they have done anything with them, Ive heard about one other BT breeder but I cant seem to get any proof of it. If you want a large monitor then great the BT is a good choice. Medium Ive been told the Gouldi complex are great, as well as small Ackies are the best choice.

I think you just described a tegu! LOL! It's not a monitor, of course, but have you looked into tegus? The Black and White Argentines get between 3 and 4 feet long (4.5, if from the northern part of their range), usually have great temperaments (my little juvie doesn't have a bashful bone in his body), are easy to acquire CB, and if you love that short-necked look, well, these guys definitely have that. They also tend to be fairly active lizards.

Tegus are something I have thought about as well..... *sigh* I guess it is all about researching. I do like Tegus because they do tend to be smaller. I heard a lot of people who have B&W who really like them, but what about Blue Tegus? Do most Tegus ahve good temperment??

I'm new to them myself, having just gotten my first two this summer. I got my Black and White as a hatchling in June from Ron and Stella St. Pierre. He's a terrific little animal. From day one, literally right out of the packing box, he was very bold and tolerant of my touching him. He's not skittish at all unless I startle him (though he tends to come marching right back over to me to see what's going on). He hasn't tried to bite (so far!). When I'd had him only three days, he put his head on my hand and closed his eyes to snooze. My second tegu is a Red tegu rescue that I only just acquired. The poor little thing is a year old and hatchling sized, with severe MBD. He/she/? is more skittish, but will still come over to me. In other words, they both seem to have good temperaments so far. They tend to be quite active as juveniles, and I understand that continues into adulthood. They are both far more active than my Sav was at that age (or any age), though comparable to the activity level my ackie had when he was young. They also seem to have three times the appetite my Sav and Ackie had at that age! I don't know much about blues. I understand them to be a color morph of the Black and Whites, so I expect their behavior is similar. The do tend to be smaller, and I love their colors. There has been some talk on the tegu forum lately that an awful lot of them seem to have poor eyesight, but they get along fine.

savannahs are great pets. they are very docile and are fairly easy to keep. i let my larger sav run around the house, i have 7 cats. the cats follow at a close yet safe distance. he ignores them, when he turns around and looks at them they run. we currently have him in a 5'x3'x3' cage that we built last summer. wood all around except for a thick plexi-glass front. the door is one of the ends. 2 lights, one nite-glo, one day-glo. a large pan of water big enough to soak in. a plant and a hiding box. he eats 2 full sized mice a week. our baby sav is in a store bough plastic cage about 18"x10"x5" with a small hiding log, and a water bowl. he eats large crickets every day and one pinkie mouse a week.

Wow, what a big diffrence in size! I can understand why some people will buy one in a pet store and then give them up when they realize that it is NOT going to be a pet they can keeep in a 10 gallon tank.

Im glad your monitor and cats get along. I was kinda scared about that.