Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anybody had a link (or a few) to websites with good information about Savannah Monitors. My boyfriend and I just got one from a friend that couldn't dedicate the time to him... (He needs a little bit of work...he's bitey)... He gave him to us, but we've never kept them before. I got very general information and was already given his set-up. I would just like to find out more information about them if anybody knows of good sites.

Thanks.
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Teresa
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3.0 Dogs (2.0 Chihuahuas, 1.0 Toy Poodle)
1.5 Cats
1.0 Cockatiel
1.0 Indonesian Blue tongue skink

Ball Pythons
0.1 100% Het Albino (Watson)
1.0 Pastel (Sweets)
0.1 Spider (Daisy)
1.0 Albino

You can definitely try to calm her/him down. Animals in the wild adjust and cope with the changes in the environment all the time gradually over time. By learning to part of his routine, he/she will adapt, adjust, and become accustomed to you. By feeding him at the same time everyday, cleaning the cage the same time and days, doing things exactly the same time and day, you will habituate you monitor to you, and he won't be as stressful around you and more relax in captivity. You can try to let him out at the same time and days when you are home. This comes in handy in the case you need to handle him during an emergency. Hope this helps!

Also the PE website has some great care sheets and faqs section that should be very helpful. On a good note if he's fiesty and bitey that means he's probably healthy good luck.

What is the PE website? Can you post the link for me? Thanks...

The person I got him from owns a LOT of reptiles... just didn't have time to deal with him (he also has a rescue)... so my boyfriend and i wanted one and got him.

I think he'll be just fine... it'll just be hard for him right now... he's not used to being held much but he's still so small that his teeth don't really puncture the skin
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Teresa
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3.0 Dogs (2.0 Chihuahuas, 1.0 Toy Poodle)
1.5 Cats
1.0 Cockatiel
1.0 Indonesian Blue tongue skink

Ball Pythons
0.1 100% Het Albino (Watson)
1.0 Pastel (Sweets)
0.1 Spider (Daisy)
1.0 Albino

http://savannahmonitor.org/

Avoid mice, use lots of insects.

You will get better growth rates with your monitor on a rodent diet. Plus once monitors get a certain size the insects really aren't much of a meal. I've come to this conclusion just from watching mine.

I also don't handle them unless I am moving them. They get less shy as they get older.

"You will get better growth rates with your monitor on a rodent diet. Plus once monitors get a certain size the insects really aren't much of a meal. I've come to this conclusion just from watching mine."

Varanus exanthematicus is NOT like majoruti of varanids species, is a specialist feeder, 99.99% insectivorus, joungs and adults.

"Varanus exanthematicus is NOT like majoruti of varanids species, is a specialist feeder, 99.99% insectivorus, joungs and adults"

So you just feed yours insects? What exactly do you feed yours if you don't mind me asking.

Insects and others inverts for 90% or more (blaptica, grashopper, Achatina...)
Rodens only one's a month and frogs leggs.

>> So you just feed yours insects? What exactly do you feed
>> yours if you don't mind me asking.

I don't keep savs, but I do have an argus and some timors (plus some beardies). I have a colony of hisser roaches and a colony of Turkistan roaches. I literally cannot feed the roaches off fast enough to keep up with their breeding. I've got a colony of dubias, too, but they have not reached to point of self sufficiency, so I'm not feeding them off yet.

Luke

>>What is the PE website? Can you post the link for me? Thanks...
>>
Pro-Exotics Reptiles. Their caresheet is the best Sav info anywhere online.
http://www.proexotics.com/care_savannah.html

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Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org

>>I think he'll be just fine... it'll just be hard for him
>>right now... he's not used to being held much but he's
>>still so small that his teeth don't really puncture the skin

One recommendation - if you want it to be tame, stop handling it. It probably will not make much of a difference for savs, they tend to get docile as adults as long as they are not abused, but for monitors in general being handled is a cause of stress, which makes them associate you with stressful things, so they fear you even more and become more stressed than before. I find the best method is to let the monitor build up its trust in you by seeing you as a provider of good things (food, mostly). Then, when it comes to trust you, you can interact with it in a manner that is comfortable to both you and the lizard. In general, no matter what you do a young monitor will be fearful and defensive, but many adults become quite docile and trusting.

Otherwise, I second the recommendation of the Pro Exotics website.

Luke