Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy. I just adopted a Savannah monitor about a week ago from a private owner. He is about a foot and a half from his head to the tip of his tail and he is two years old. He was purchased from a vendor at a reptile show as a hatchling and was handled regularly. He is doing great and seems to have had no issues adjusting to the change. I may even go so far as to say that he is "social," eliciting attention for snuggles in the form of tiny thawed fuzzy corpses. I'm thoroughly enjoying his presence.

I'm in the process of building an enclosure that resembles his should-have-been natural habitat (if not for his benefit, for my own). The skeletal structure for the enclosure was constructed from 3/4" plywood and measures 4'x2'x3'. I have a Sterilite tub for soaking and some attractive mopani and grapewood structures. I will be providing a deep substrate layer for burrowing and a high-temperature basking spot.

My goals for the enclosure are as follows: 1) provide for animal's basic needs, 2)allow for the animal to express as much of its natural behavioral repertoire as possible, 3)provide for ease of routine maintenance, and 4) be visually appealing. I figured while I was still in the design phase, now would be a good time to make inquiries.

Are there any design features you would recommend?

How does one go about regulating the temperature of dirt substrate when it is a foot or more deep and inside of a wooden enclosure? Is it even a factor that requires consideration? If it is, will a ventilated false bottom with some type of radiant heat panel suffice? Suggestions?

Sorry for the long post but I feel that more information is best with forums.

Thanks in advance!

Also, I am experienced with reptile husbandry but mostly with boids. Obviously monitors have needs that are quite different. I also know that he will need a larger enclosure as he grows. That said, I don't feel this enclosure will be a wasted effort.

The temperature of the soil should be fine if the cage temperatures are fine. I would just focus on that. I do have a few other suggestions for the cage.

If you are making it out of plywood you will will need to treat the enclosure, or at least the bottom and where the substrate will be. Or something along those lines to keep the humidity from rotting the wood. You may have already planned on this, just figured I would mention it. Also you should use an elevated backing spot. Decorations can look really good and be good for the monitor, but to much decoration will be a pain to upkeep.

Lastly if the monitor is 2 years old and 1 and 1/2 feet he is very small for his age. I got one the same size and age a year and a half ago. He easily tripled in size the first year. I had expected there to be some kind of permanent growth damage. That being said if yours is kept properly you might see a very rapid growth rate, and you could need a larger cage by the end of the year.

Hello and thank you for replying. I was hoping that would be the case. I have a CHE on the "cool" side and a halogen bulb over the main basking spot (which is elevated). Both are set on a thermostat and timer.

The decorations aren't much, just a couple pieces of driftwood securely attached via wooden dowels to create an above ground hide and a perch. The interior faux surfaces of the enclosure and basking platform will be sealed and removable for easy cleaning.

The girl I adopted him from had good intentions but wasn't very well informed on monitor care. He was in a forty gallon tank with an inch of walnut shells without an adequate source of heat. His diet consisted of a very cheap brand of corn-based wet dog food and the occasional pinky or fuzzy mouse as a treat. He has had virtually no nutritional intake from whole prey items. I can only imagine he is calcium deficient. I have roaches on the way and have offered him large crickets with success. I can only hope he begins to thrive here.

Generally once they are kept in proper conditions for a few days (maybe weeks for bad cases), it should begin eating anything and everything in front of it. The one I got would eat nothing when I got it. The people I got it from said it would only eat white mice and nothing else, not even other colored mice or insects. After about 5 days in a proper set up it would eat anything. good luck. Sounds like it is in great hands now.

listen I havent read your post, only the title.

but heres what you need to know, if you provide a deep layer of substrata and one heating spot over it, the monitor knows how to take advantage of this in every way, if you provide options he will use them as nature intended.

that in itself is the key to varanid husbandry, there no secrets, no special reciepy and no voudou, just simple common sens and understanding that varanids do not and dont like human contact.
cheers
ps. dont mind the photo its just to fill the blanks