Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Most know I have an adult pair of savs. I have witnessed some strange behavior recently and wanted some input.
One of the lights in the enclosure went out last week and I was unable to replace it until yesterday (there are about 5 other lights, so temps / basking spots were still Ok for the time being). The male ate aand went about the day as usual but the female was no where to be found (which is not uncommon for her). I became curious after not seeing her for 3 days in a row though because she has gotten out in the past, but not lately. I searched for her and found her under my homemade version of a 'retes stack', on the coldest side of the enclosure in a fairly deep burrow, sleeping. I put it back down and let her be. Now the bulb that burnt out and has been replaced is the one right over the spot she is sleeping in, so I figured after I replaced it she would come out; she hasn't. I check on her about daily and she seems fine, almost like she is 'hibernating' or something which I know they do not do in the wild but it seems like she is doing now. Also, she has not eaten this whole week, yet she still appears 'plump'. I am thinking she may be about ready to lay more eggs because this is similar to the behaviour she showed last time she layed the eggs, so I am getting a nesting box set up just in case. Any thoughts on this?
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1.1 Savannah Monitors (Annah & Terrance)
1.1 Nile Monitor (Lyle)
1.0 Timor Monitor (Timmmmaaayy)
1.0 Blood Python (Kevin)
1.0 Ball Python (Martin)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Bella)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (Peter & Jack)
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake (Hector)
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (Wayne & Maude)
1.0 Dwarf Gecko (Little Girl)
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula (Pube)
1.0 OBT Usumbara Orange Baboon Tarantula (Sin)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Ashoka)
2.0 D. auratus (Poison Dart Frogs)
1.0 Peacock Bass (Gary)

Female monitors who are heavily gravid typically do refuse food (I presume because the size of the eggs leaves no room in the stomach), so if she appears distended around the abdomen there's a good chance you will be getting eggs.

Do note, however, that savanna monitors do spend about 2/3 of the year inactive. Maybe something triggered that behavior? They are active in the wet season and remain holed up during the dry season.

Luke

Yeah, the only trigger I can think of is a slight decrease in temperature from that one light missing for a week, however the male never slowed down at all so I dunno, that is what leads me to think she might be about to drop again, plus like you said she is refusing food (which never happens) and she is still rather robust for not eating for a week. I guess I will see sooner or later!
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1.1 Savannah Monitors (Annah & Terrance)
1.1 Nile Monitor (Lyle)
1.0 Timor Monitor (Timmmmaaayy)
1.0 Blood Python (Kevin)
1.0 Ball Python (Martin)
0.1 Leopard Gecko (Bella)
2.0 Bearded Dragons (Peter & Jack)
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake (Hector)
1.1 Kenyan Sand Boas (Wayne & Maude)
1.0 Dwarf Gecko (Little Girl)
1.0 Curly Hair Tarantula (Pube)
1.0 OBT Usumbara Orange Baboon Tarantula (Sin)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Ashoka)
2.0 D. auratus (Poison Dart Frogs)
1.0 Peacock Bass (Gary)

It sounds like my Savs behavior when she laid (She laid once before meeting the male, but not since)

She has also started to go to her hide and burrow more the last few days-she also does so when my house ambient humidity is high, like when we have lot of rain
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1.1.0 YBS
1.3.0 RES
1.0.0 red belly cooter
0.0.2 mud turtles
1.1.0 Savannah Monitor
0.1.0 Blackthroat monitor
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Mountain Horned dragon
2.1.0 Ball pythons
1.0.0 Bearded dragons
cats, dog, ferrets, rabbit, rats.