Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It has been a week since I have had my 2 savannahs in the same enclosure ( the 8x8 i just built) and the male will not eat. Never, even in the most stressful of conditions have i seen him (or any for that matter) turn down food when offered. It has been a week since he has not eaten.

Do you think this is because of the female?

I feed them with tongs so I know who is getting what but he just refuses, and he has been tong fed his whole life.

They each have their own basking spots, hides, water, etc... and it does not seem like they are hating each other but he is just not eating.

suggestions?

Leave the food and let the lizard eat when it wants to eat. Also leaving the animals alone for some time, and allowing them to acclimate may work well too.

“Never, even in the most stressful of conditions have I seen him (or any for that matter) turn down food when offered.”

Never is a strong word, bear in mind, your lizard was never (there’s that word) in the enclosure it is in now, with another lizard, in that part of the room, with those basking spots, with this or that temperature or humidity, with this or that type dirt blah blah blah, there are a ton of variables that are probably new (different) and require time for him to get used to.

Haha, either way, my two sense in my short lived goanna experience with my animals turning down food, is just to leave it and let them do things on their terms. Just provide the best living conditions you can, and he will be fine.

Goodluck,
Mike.

Depends..
It could be stress from the other monitors presence, it could be stress from your presence in the new enclosure, it could be stress from the other monitor "owning" the encloure, and not allowing that monitor to function normally.
Keep an eye on them and give them a bit of time. If you see any obvious signs of dominance, or the other monitor physically stressing that one you may need to remove it, some monitors just wont like each other, and some never will, just like people.
1 week is not bad for a loss of appetite, the weather is also changing now, some individuals may respond a bit different also. Try temporarily removing the other monitor and offering food, see what happens.
I still think a bit more time is needed, maybe even 1-2 weeks more, depends on the size of each monitor, adults have no problems going without food for good periods of time in proper caging.

Thanks for the advice i'll wait it out a bit and see what happens.