Ive read alot on these monitors, and compiled a care sheet... can you all make sure this information is correct?
Housing: Young savannah's can be housed in any size tank, but smaller ones they will quickly outgrow. The standard size for a baby savannah should be about a 55 gallon tank, and the adult should be housed in a 100 gallon tank or larger enclosure that may be built. Provide a large heat mat under 1/3 of the enclosure and use full spectrum UV lighting over the entire tank 12 hours a day. Have a large water dish that they may soak in and drink out of; make sure to change the water daily. The lid on the tank must be extremely secure because these animals are incredibly strong as adults, use at least a 20 pound weight on each end and/or clips to hold the lid down.
Feeding: They will eat anything that will fit in their mouth, but the best items are: Calcium dusted crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, mice, and rats. Do not feed a savannah anything that is larger than 1/2 the size of its head. Feed young everday and feed adults every 2 days. Make sure to get your adult savannah's out for awhile to exercise, because otherwise they will become obese, which is very unhealthy.
Size: Adult savannah's can reach up to 4 feet in length, with some exceeding that size and some staying smaller.
The other question I have is handling... from what Ive read they are very tame animals with consistent handling, but Ive never had the experience of seeing one in person so I dont really know. Is it true if I were to care for these like a dog (get it out and let it explore the house, hold it for awhile everyday, feed it out of a dish when older, take it outside for exercise) would it behave like a dog in being kind to me and other people that come to see it?
ThX
