Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can I keep Savannah Monitors outside in Florida? Will the humidity bother them? I'll have it in a 8'x4' wood cage with glass front and screen top for ventilation...Is this ok? I don't want it to be Miserable

You can but you'll still have to bring them in or supply them with heat in winter during the colder nights. I would not use wood either it will just rot away either by water damage or it will attract termites. You'll also have alot of other things to consider. First learn about them and what they need. Once you know this and have done research you'll know more about how to keep them outdoors. I have experience keeping monitors indoors and outdoors and I still run into problems.

P.S. I live in South Florida

I will be moving to my home in Florida in a few years and was also thinking about purchasing a sav at that time. I was concerned, however, about the fire ants, termites, humidity snakes??? What type of outdoor cage to you use? Just curious as my potential purchase is a few years away so I have a long time to research if this is a good idea or not.

Pam

It will be under a roof so it is unaffected by rain....We seem to have no termites where I live..Maybe it's just too hot. I have 4 basking lights for it..and a "den box"

Haha too hot for termites? Thats a new one. Nah you may live in a area where alot of houses are and not much wooded area for them to live. Houses are typically treated her in FL. so they stay clear of them. I haven't had troubles with termites here in PSL but the humidity and rain rot wood fast. Rotten wood is easily torn up by a healthy monitor.

Having a solid structure overhead on part of the cage would make more sense then the entire cage. If they are not getting sunlight why have them outside? If your only putting them out becuase you have no space or do not want them inside, well then I urge you to reconsider your purchase.

They can be housed outdoors here yes all year yes but you'll need experience to be able to do this properly and keep your monitor happy and healthy. But do not expect on the winter nights when it hits freezing or just above they will be out doing fine. They will need to come indoors.

snakes should be of no concern cause if they can get in your monitor can get out and thats not a good thing.

Termites may or may not concern you it all depends on if they are in the area and how many there are.

Humidty is a concern only to the cage material it has no effect on the monitor itself unless the temps are too cool in the cage and he is cool and wet all the time.

Fire ants are a major pain and while one or two may not harm the monitor and be able to puncture it, if there are a bunch of them they can probly do some damage to him if not directly harming him they will cause stress.

Read up and know all you can about the monitor first, then look into how your cage will benefit him and meet his needs.

Ok...I built the setup...It's out of ply and 2x4 frame One set of ply on the outside and one on the inside. I sealed the corners with that caulk w/cilicone and then coated everything with that waterproof wood sealent stuff that makes the wood all shiny. It's on a table and a "fence" around the table..so if it did get out it would still be in the fence. The top is just two 4'x4' screen tops that are kept in by pins. I don't think the monitor could cut through this stuff..but I dunno..I have 1 foot of sand/soil mixture with two shoeboxes on either side of the tank.. a ladder on the heated side up to a heat lamp. on the right side I have double socket flourecent tubing thing..with the 5.0 UVB Bulbs from exo-terra or w/e...It won't get alot of sun and I know that the UVA/UVB has not been proven to affect the monitors health..but oh well...