Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have just acquired a full grown, male, savannah monitor. What should the basking temperature and ambient temperature be for him? Any special lighting required? Anything in particular that they need? Does anyone know of a good care sheet or a website with info? Life span of a savannah?
thanks

The animal should be between 2.5-4 ft as an adult (if its healthy), and between 4-10lb at the most. The bosc monitor is an arid to semiarid grassland/woodland dwelling medium sized African varanid. They should be kept in a cage that has enough room to have a range of temps from a surface basking temp of 150 degrees f, down to about 70 or so degrees ambient (air temps) on the other end of the cage. The animal should be kept in 1-3 ft of dirt as a substrate (this holds moisture, privacy, a burrow, aids in the ridding of waste products, and gives the animal something that is normal to it). The cage should be 4x4x8 ft and larger. It should have a constant and clean source of drinking water, be fed whole animal foods(rodents, peeps, roaches, and crickets). This is only the beginning of learning to care for your animal properly, as this is a start point Ive given you to work upwards from.

I understand that this kind of research should be done before.... but let me put some things into perspective for you.
-it was given to them (my boyfriend and his sister) quite suddenly. The owner could no longer care for it. She knew that this was a good home for it.
-I realize that they should be looked into before getting them, however this is a special case. Considering they were not even thinking of a monitor, we are now taking the necessary steps. better late than never if you ask me.
it is in a huge cage, built by its previous owner, certainly big enough for room.
thank you for the info, it is much appreciated.