Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have really want to start breeding sav monitors. I currently only have one, but am definitely up for the task. I have a youtube account, my username is jdg30. If you search that you can see I meet the housing needs for monitors. Can anyone direct my as to where I can find information/any type of specialist in the field. My reptile shows in my area do not have anyone who has a great amount of knowledge in the field.

While your care does look better, and your monitor healthier, than most others', your husbandry doesn't appear to be quite up to par. While yes, you have some dirt in your cage, it appears to be very shallow and is in a small area. I'd recommend filling a whole cage with dirt and filling it with a good 8-12 inches of soil (for a monitor that size). Good dirt is especially important for nesting females, which will require at least a solid couple feet of it. What are the basking temperatures in your cage?

As far as breeding info goes, good specific info on savs is very limited. But there are plenty of great monitor keepers/breeders here and at varanus.net. A few the top of my head include FR (Frank Retes), Robyn@ProExotics, Mike's Monitors, and several others. One good thing is, good monitor care is pretty universal. So what Mike says about his peachthroats, or Frank about his flavies, or Neal Egge about his storrs and caudos, will probably apply to your savannah(s).

Good luck. I look forward to seeing CB baby Bosc's in the future.

Cheers,
Ryan
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Please excuse my childish-sounding user name. Unless I created a new account, I can't change it.

I really appreciate the contacts you listed...if I pursue the task of breeding Savs, I will definitely let you know how it turns out. As far as the substrate, I did have half the cage full of it, but Pheonix (my monitor) never wants to borough in it.

i look at it this way. monitors are like the punk rockers or metal heads of the reptile world. they're full of rebelion and will never do what you want them to do. the best thing is to give them everything they need and the option to do what they naturally want to do where they want to. fill your entire cage with 8 to 12 inches of dirt. your monitor will burrow. just not exactly where you want it to. my black throat has taught me that.

savannahs naturally live under ground. in burrows. give him that much dirt, he will create a burrow and love life. by not giving him the options to dig, climb, swim, hunt, basically do what they naturally do and do best, you're actually doing him an injustice. you will see a big change in your monitor if you give him the options.

In about 3 weeks, I am going to switch my monitor to an outdoor enclosure and use a deep substrate...Thanks!!

There's also a chance that your dirt isn't appropriate for your monitor. Unfortunately, getting good dirt usually isn't as simple as digging it up from your yard or buying it in bags from the store. It takes a bit of time to find what you are looking for. I've been keeping monitors (ackies) for maybe 2 1/2 years and I'm only just now figuring out what 'good' dirt is. Of course, part of my problem has been actually finding dirt that isn't heavy in clay.

Basically, I can tell you that you want a silty, sandy type of soil, with very little or no amounts of clay and organic material. It should hold moisture well, as well as drain fairly well. You want the top layer to dry out and sort of form a 'crust,' and the layers under that to remain lightly damp. Of course, you don't want it wet by any means. Wet dirt can lead to problems I've discovered.

Good luck with your dirt quest, and of course with your monitors in general.

Cheers,
Ryan
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Please excuse my childish-sounding user name. Unless I created a new account, I can't change it.

what i've found that works for me is i take some dirt from my yard (my entire city's dirt is full of clay) and mix it with super soil from home depot. more soil to dirt (basically clay) and it works very well. holds burrows, isn't sopping wet but holds moisture. the only thing is it's hard to find turds in the stuff because it's almost the same color.

Hmmm, I'll try playing around with that. I wouldn't think that it would work too well (for nesting, most importantly), seeing as you're starting out with two bad soils. Topsoil is usually very organic, and then you're mixing that in with clay.

Of course, there's a difference in just getting a good burrowing soil, and getting a good burrowing soil appropriate for nesting. Female monitors are known to be picky nesters.

But I might mix some up and play with it nonetheless.

Cheers,
Ryan
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Please excuse my childish-sounding user name. Unless I created a new account, I can't change it.