Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Quick question do savannahs need a big are of water to soak in or should they just have a decsent size water bowl? If need water to soak in how deep should it be?

Tom

I got mine a bigger water bowl, and he loves it. Deep enough to submerge his whole body, but able to easly lift his head out the water. My water bowl is 12in long, 6.5 in wide, and 3.5in deep. My savy is now close to 15in long. He uses the bathroom 2 times a day, so I use a platic rubbermaid box without the lid, because it's really easy to clean.

Se7en,

My savy likes to soak in his/her water bowl...and crap thusly. At least it keeps the rest of the cage clean, I spose.

Tom,
If the humidity is kept at the right level a soak-size bowl isn't needed because savs aren't water lizards. They dont spend most of their time in or near rivers, streams, etc... like niles and water monitors.

Keep cage conditions right and a simple bowl aproximately table size or larger, that can't be turned over easily, is plenty big enough. Nearly every one will defecate in a water bowl large enough for them to get into. They'll defecate beside one they can't get into.

Do savs need to soak? Only if their cage's humidity is too low or if they're impacted. Both are usually caused by poor husbandry.

Take care!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

What HappyHillBilly said is true. The only time I see my savy in his water bowl, is when he is using the bathroom. When my savy out grew his water bowl, he started pooping right next to it. That's why I upgraded to a larger one. I rather flush down the mess and refill the bowl, than scoop out the mess with a small shovel.

Se7en,

It has also been said that they poop in their water BECAUSE they are dehydrated. It's what they do to help themselves poop.

When I upped the humidity in my blackthroat's cage, and blocked off the venting, she never pooped in her water again.

I know it is easy and convenient but it screams TOO DRY!!!

Hey newstorm!

I know what you're saying and I've thought quite a bit on it, even an experiment or two. I'm still on the fence, can go either way.

I kept humidity at 80% for a week or so, even to the point of having puddles of water here & there, on dirt for substrate. My sav would still do his duty in the water bowl and get out.

Your personal experience that you mentioned is plausible, and I believe it. Sometimes setup/cage differences, although they seem minor, can make big differences. But I'm considering ours to be close enough to not cause the different pooping actions.

So, what is the difference? Ha! Got me. I find it interesting, though. One thing that keeps coming to mind is how a woman's birthing process is easier & less painful when done in water. Is it something about the all-around pressure of the water on the body and internal organs, body needing more moisture, or something totally different?

Catch ya later!
Mikie
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

My savy has been pooping in his water bowl, ever since I got him. If I take out his bowl, will he not poop on the dirt? Or will he be TOO DEHYDRATED to even do that? There's times I mixed in too much water into the dirt, and moisture levels were way up there, and he still used the water bowl. My savy, PREFERS to poop in water, not because he has to. The advantage of water is, it makes it easier for him to release, is it bad to use your advantages? Savs RARELY eat rodents in the wild, but they love them. Savs aren't water monitors, but that doesn't mean they don't like water if theres a big bowl of it, right infront of them. If my savy was SOAKING in his tub, I would be concerned of dehydration, but a not when he poops in his bowl. Am I wrong?

Se7en,

My Sav has never pooped in his water bowl. I've varied his humidity from dry to way over 80% and it doesn't change his pooping habits.

I think where a savy poops will be different for everyone depending on enclosure and a number of other variables.