Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone!
I get a little excited when I start talking about my "baby", Charlie, but today he/she was introduced to an egg. I wasn't thinking he/she would be the slightest bit interested because he/she's not interested in things that don't move fast, but, he/she took the egg before the crickets! I'm happy! Charlie will take something other than crickets. Besides that I just wanted to introduce my baby to everyone.
So.. This is Charlie.

Cute Lil fella, but whats up with the rabbit pellets? Get that lil guy some good ole' fashioned dirt.

lol Thanks!
As far as the substrate, she's a bit vicious with her feeding. We originally had dirt in there, but since she's still real young, she was consuming some dirt with her food. So we switched the cage over to the alfalfa meal so we wouldn't have issues with him consuming a bunch of dirt (since dirt's not digestable, but the alfalfa meal is). We'll be building the permanent cage soon, and don't worry, there will be plenty of dirt! = )

A reminder about carnivorous reptiles, rabbit pellets are not a digestible form of matter, in order for it to be digestible it must break down completely in a carnivores short digestive system. It is a PASSABLE form of matter along with dirt, which acts like insoluable fiber in a way (cleans the digestive system some).
Dirt is not a danger to healthy reptiles, they eat loads of it when they eat sometimes. Aside from that dirt holds and retains moisture allowing it to release slowly retaining humidity in the cage. Rabbit pellets absorb moisture, and create a dry cage (desicant that gets moist then stinky and rotten).

I was feeding some pinkys the other day and they get them covered with dirt then eat them. Its frustrating, especially when they release the crickets that are covered with calcium powder.

Mogan eating a canned grasshopper.... yummy.

Yeah, that was the main reason I had decided we'd change it temporarily. She drags the dusted ones thru the dirt and gets them nasty. She can't with this stuff. I've read things that tell you you're not "supposed" to but give them dirt til they're older but I can understand the difference. I'm not having any issues with keeping the humidity level right though.

There is a condition they can get called bugsitis where the monitor will literally start growing a bushy tail and long ears and say "nyeah whatz up doc?". So you really should concider putting him on top soil in your next enclosure as SHvar was saying.

Now that's funny!!! We're planning on having it built by the end of next month and she/he will have loads of dirt. No 'rabbit pellets.'

Where are you getting your husbandry info? That substrate is not just less than ideal, it is completely inappropriate.

A good soil is far and away your best choice.

There is so much bad information out there, it is easy to fall for the okey doke. Get a copy of the Savannah Book by Bennett and Ravi, available and affordable here on the classifieds. It covers all husbandry and setup info, it is up to date solid info, and I would suggest modeling your care after the info that the book provides.

You can also check out our caresheets and FAQ info at our site, lots of info there as well.

Best of luck.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

Well, for the third time, it will have dirt in the next few days. She'll have a permanent cage by the end of next month and there will be dirt in there as well. This isn't the first savannah I've had. I've read anything I can find on them for years. I get that you say it's better. I also like that she can't eat what I don't feed her at the moment. I have no issue with the heat/humidity so I don't understand why this is being blown out of proportion. It's a totally healthy hatchling. The point to me posting pics was to show you my new addition. Not asking 20 ppl to tell me the substrate is wrong. I can see that there's no dirt in it's cage. In case anyone is wondering, that was purchased at a pet store, in the reptile section. It says "lizard litter" on the bag. I didn't buy it at a feed store, next to the rabbits. SHE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO DIRT SOON.

When we bought him/her, it had a resiratory infection. We went to the vet, and were told by the vet, to remove the dirt til she was completely better. I'm sure everyone already knows it takes them a long time to get real sick and in turn, a longer time to recuperate. She told us to put something like that in there. What's in there now is the last of the bag. But thanks for your concern.

Your pics and info just hint at husbandry issues. I think the vet gave bad advice as well.

Respiratory issues have nothing to do with dirt, they have to do with temps. Proper basking temps of 130F would rectify that in a matter of days, it doesn't take long at all.

Folks are only posting info that they are thinking will help.

And there are 18 million products in pet stores that are labeled for reptiles and are in fact horribly designed and executed, including half logs for hiding spots and any number of horrible substrates.

LOTS of Sav keepers get horrible info and products from friends, bad internet forums, really terrible books, bad stores, etc. That isn't new, and there is no blame, just some direction to better info that will get you on a better track.

Best of luck to you and your monitor.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

It IS darling and a very pretty one. I hear you about the temporary substrate.

I use Cypress mulch because it keeps the humidity nice for my humidity loving species. But I don't like them eating wood chips and bits with their food. Some food I feed are sticky like chopped rats or eggs. So I feed them on garbage can lids and the large ones that like to drag the food all over the place I feed on plywood peices.

Why thank you bishop! = )

Please allow me to clarify some things.
I did not say that I thought her respiratory infection was due to dirt. I believe I said that the vet had a concern with her injesting the dirt while she was sick. Since she was only 9 grams and a lil under 6 inches when she went, the vet told us to remove it til she was better. I had the temps raised in the cage, but since she was so little, I took her to the vet the next afternoon.
I understand that there are people that have been doing this longer than others, but I know I didn't buy the animal THEN figure out what it was. It's a life I'm discussing here, not just something I decided that morning I wanted to do. I do know a bit bout how to take care of her. I know there's plenty of "crap" out there for people to believe that they're taking care of thier animals properly. I, myself, have a descent collection of literature here. I don't nesessarily go from forum to forum to get people's opinions and base how I take care of her off of that.
I appreciate your concern, but she's thriving and well.

You mentioned that this isn't your first sav. How are the others set up? Do you have any pics? Thanks.

I had one a couple years ago. From the time it was a hatchling to two and a half years after. I got divorced and the animals stayed with him. It had a soil/sand mixture. When I first got that one, it was in a 50 gallon tank for a couple months until my ex-husband made a 4x5x5 cage for it.

I had one a couple years ago. From the time it was a hatchling to two and a half years after. I got divorced and the animals stayed with him. It had a soil/sand mixture. When I first got that one, it was in a 50 gallon tank for a couple months until my ex-husband made a 4x5x5 cage for it.

I agree that book is awesome... I actually purchased it from you guys, needless to say I ended up switching some of my husbandry around. And boy do I have a happy monster!

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0.4 Leopard Geckos
0.0.1 Tokay Gecko
0.0.1 Nile Monitor
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