Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do i tell the differance between a male and a female savannah monitor?How old or big do they have to be?

Males will have an unusual - looking hemipenes that they evert now and then, often while defacating. It looks sort of like a little pink broccoli stalk...for lack of a better description. Females evert, too - but it's much less distinct.
Males may also have a more distinct, bulging snout, but that is not a definite either...depending on the region your lizard came from, age, genetic makeup....
males tend to grow larger, but again, that can't be used as criteria either because of so many other variables.
Unless you get your lizard probed (by a professional) there aren't any definites. You could have a male that doesn't evert all the way, or a female. It is hard to judge sometimes beyond a reasonable, educated guess.
Please don't probe your lizard yourself. You could do some damage.

NEVER EVER probe a monitor.
They are not built like snakes.
You'll do more harm than good.
Go buy Bennetts book on savs.
It explains it all pretty clearly.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

I'm sorry - Scott, you're right. I should have been much more emphatic. Again, to reiterate - NEVER EVER EVER EVER probe a monitor yourself. You WILL do MAJOR damage.
Thanks for being louder than I was..
Tatiana