Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got a new savannah. just a baby-she's around 6-7inches.
i have read a lot of care sheets but was wondering if anyone else has some pointers on taming them down and some quirky things about them.
ANYTHING appreciated thanks!
brandon

>>i just got a new savannah. just a baby-she's around 6-7inches.
>>i have read a lot of care sheets but was wondering if anyone else has some pointers on taming them down and some quirky things about them.
>>ANYTHING appreciated thanks!
>>brandon

Let it be. Let it alone, let it eat and thrive and be a monitor. If you wanted a hang out on your lap animal you should get a Bearded dragon. Monitors are gonna get used to you and allow you in their space sometimes but you aren't gonna walk around with them carrying them if they are healthy.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I asked this same question a few months ago. My advice....listen to the experts on here.
After i read the responses to my question, i stopped trying to force my little sav to be nice. I havent picked it up again.

I realized Monitors are a whole different world of reptiles. Theres a Monitor psychology to it I guess. After a few weeks my monitor started to settle down. Now... a few months later...she waits for me to walk up to her cage.. she actively engages me and watches me. I dont know if she'll ever let me just carry her around but i think she's gonna be a happy monitor who trusts me.

Good Luck,
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

Pay close attention to what Sonya and Hissenia have said.

I epsecially like this, from Hissenia: "I realized Monitors are a whole different world of reptiles."

Indeed they are.

And also this: ""There's a Monitor psychology to it I guess."

Indeed there is. Reversed roles. Monitors are the teachers (psychologists) and we humans are the students (patients).

Like Sonya said, "Let it be. Let it alone,"
You found it & got it, now give it time to find you.

Read thru the several pages of threads here & then search the archives for "sav," "savannah," "bosc," or some other variation of their name and you will have the knowledge that is helpful to gain a wonderful experience.

Personally, I believe that once you have some knowledge, the secret lies in one's ability to read their captive's behavior, actions, and then being able to make any adjustments necessary. Observe & interpret.

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

HEy, id do the opposite! SPend at least a few hours a day holding the little guy and dont feed him in his cage!! I have a 3 yr old sav thats just over four feet and is a puppy tame monitor! I use him in childrens shows and regularly walk him outside on his leash. He is very happy and healthy and just a complete joy to have. I do think that some monitors just wont ever tame down but give it a shot...maybe you got a good one there. Tank, my big guy is the only one of 5 that I raised up the same time that is like this.

>>HEy, id do the opposite! SPend at least a few hours a day holding the little guy and dont feed him in his cage!! I have a 3 yr old sav thats just over four feet and is a puppy tame monitor! I use him in childrens shows and regularly walk him outside on his leash. He is very happy and healthy and just a complete joy to have. I do think that some monitors just wont ever tame down but give it a shot...maybe you got a good one there. Tank, my big guy is the only one of 5 that I raised up the same time that is like this.

In my measley experience of three savs kept for 3-5years and several hatchlings through the stores I work(ed)...Yours is the exception not the rule.
My three have all been raised a different way and all three are the same as far as trusting me and ease to handle. One was forced as yours was. One was got at probably a year (over a foot) and never held before as he was a fresh Petco import that was wild and bit at first. The third was let be but in captivity since hatching, got it's tail bitten off (lost about4 inches anyway) by another sav a bit over a year ago...just before it came to me. And came to me thin and terrified. (ironic since it got given to me by folks that were terrified of it....don't know why)
When I have to pull one out any of the three allow it. One, the last, is a bit more torqued but also been in my care the least time. Otherwise they will slump over my shoulder and watch stuff. Any could be shown to a group and not show any aggression. If there is not food involved they don't use teeth.
So, I would say that it is a individual temperament thing. I also fully believe that if you took a torqued out, high stress baby and tried to force it to play nice you would tame it into a high stress situation of death. My middle one is like that. He came to captivity and fought me tooth and claw any time I tried to force him to be nice. Then he would spend a day or two off food and 'sulking' (stressing) Once we both came to a level of mutual trust he has flourished allows us to deal with each other.....though he will bite my 18" hemastats when I use them to block him from taking food from one of the others. By the look on his face it is obvious he is just pissed.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I understand your position, but I have to say doesnt it seem likely that you would end up with better results (better than 20% success rate) by allowing them to be who they are naturally? I mean, dont force it, if they want to come to you they will. They are very intelligent reptiles I have noticed. They have very active eyes, with a fire in them so to speak. Most force tamed monitors I have seen lack that fire, they almost seem half dead, broken. Most are obese and barely resemble the awesome predator they truly are. Anyway, assuming that isnt the case with yours, it would seem time to try another method, like the ones prescribed here by those that have serious monitor experience. Even if you still end up with 1/5, at least you didnt torture 4 of them to get the results hahah.

Tom

Hi there!
I'm not trying to belittle you or anything remotely close, but, with all due respect, sport, stop and think about what you just said.

> > > "Tank, my big guy is the only one of 5 that I raised up the same time that is like this."

You're telling this person to go AGAINST the odds. You're saying that in your experience, 1 out of 5 savs can be puppy dog tame by manhandling, so keep going thru the savs until you find that 1. What do we do with the ones that are now traumatized? Throw 'em in a corner and maybe they'll breed?

Oops! That might come across a lil' more harsher than I wanted it to. Sorry 'bout that. Nah, I'm not ticked at ya or think you're the devil. Ha! Ha! I tried the manhandle approach with my nile when I first got it so I understand where you're coming from. Three fingers later I realized it wasn't working. Ha! Just kiddin'!

Have a good one!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

to get the little guy used to you don't handle him while he's little because he is scared of anything bigger than it. handle when atleast a foot so you will be able to control him and he would have matured a bit. soon he will become used to you feeding it and cleaning its cage and know you will not hurt him. he will get used to your smell, voice, and what you look like. savannahs are very intelligent for lizards. they will remember you because you proved you are not a threat. i have a 1 and a half year old sav about 2ft long and he lets me hold him and walk around with him. he only bit me once because my hand smelled like ground turkey but and light flick on the side of the head works fine. he will soon get used to being handled it will just take time a persistance. just remember that a monitor can never be truly tame because they still that instinct in them. no animal can ever be truly tamed because they all have that instict that has been passed down in their genes for millions of years but any animal can be tamed to a degree in time and patience.