Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OKay im interested in getting a sav. I actually have been for quite a while.

Here are my questions.

If i had a cage measuring 6 feet wide 3 feet long and 3 feet tall, would this be big enough for an adult sav? If this isnt big enough but would work please tell me i dont want a big monitor in a small cage if i find that a sav is a right lizard for me.

2nd question. Whats the best substrate for these guys?

3rd. I want a natural looking cage for the monitor. But is it more important for function over fashion?

4th. My friend has a sav and he wants to know if its a male or female. Its about 30-36 inches long and he says that one time he saw it take a poop in its water tray and he say a pink thing come out its vent and then go back in. Does this mean its a boy? i Was thinking this was his Hemipenis.

Now i know everyone thinks a sav isnt a beginner monitor but ive been keeping lizards for about 3 years now. And ive also read all about these guys. from yoshi the savannah monitor to all other web pages. So can you guys please help me with this thanks everyone its appreciated.
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CHONG188

ive had a sav for almost a year now so i have a bit of knowledge in the subject
yes a 6x3x3 cage is not only big enough its what most people recommend for a sav so you hit the nail on the head so to speak.

funtion over form. however that doesnt meant your setup cant be nice looking, or natural for that matter...just make sure its got a hide spot or two and stuff to climb on and dig under. unfortuatly they dont sell pretty hide caves for big lizrds but you can always make one...just build a hide from plywood, cover it in plaster to look rock like, and paint it gray...looks very good if done right...if your too lazy to do that im sure you can figure something else out...just remember it doesnt have to look pretty for tha sav to like it...it just has to function. a crappy looking plywood structure is just as good to them so do what you want on this topic...the lizard wont care...you will.

as far as your buddies lizard its isnt a determening factor for sexing it...and although im not much on lizard gender i believe female can pop a hemi-clit or something like that...the hemi-pene on a male will be somewhat large and look nobby at the end...proexotics has a pic of this somewhere on their site www.proexotics.com.

and just out of curiousity why do you wany a sav? i started out with one and hes a complete pain in the ass (mind you i like my savanah and hes very entertaining at times just watching him)...i dont mean to bash them cuz ive run into people who have some really tame savs, but alot of them are just plain b*tchy and difficult to handle...i mean as far as ive seen your chances of getting a sav that refuses to tame are like flippin a coin, so if your friend has a decent one that doesn't nessasarily mean you wont have a little monster on your hands...just a thought, there are ohter monitors outm there similar to savs that have much better dispositions, like blackthroats...but hey if you really want a sav get one, and have fun keeping it but i dont recommend them to poeple who havent had monitors before. then again thats your call.

well i think those were your questions....if i forgot any ill just make another post. take care and if you decide to go ahed and get one have fun...thats what its all about anyway right.

forgot to get the substrate question...they seem to enjoy dirt and thats what most people use...they borrow in it...ive heard some use calci sand but that doesnt hold a borrow and that craps way too expensive whereas dirt is cheap so youre better off not touchin that stuff...easy enough to come by...if you want you can mix your dirt with sand...i mix mine with a bit of play sand. works fine but im sure there are other things you can try...look it up.

also as far as cage stuff makes sure you have a water bowl big enough for it to lay in...soaking helps them with their sheds and what-not...a few people have told me this is unessesary but my savanah uses it so ill just listen to him instead...but hey do what you want with that too im just givin ya ideals here...

now there ive answered all of them now....so there ya go...anything else you want to know just ask k.
later.

How much does an adult sav eat and how often becaue on all the sites ive read about savz they're all different. For what i undestand so far is maybe a couple of mice every 3-4 days. Does that sound right to you?

Heres a pic of my 2 chinese water dragons

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CHONG188

savanahs will eat about every day or every other day at least...2-3 mice per sitting or more depending on the size...full grown can sometimes take a small rat...just watch out though not to over feed cuz savs can get a bit fat and will eat just about as much as you let them...mines is a pig and has taken up to 5 mice at a sitting...oh and if you feed them small rats pre-kill them first...mice are no prob but a rat can bite a bit harder and may hurt them a bit...and you certainly dont wat that to happen! just basically give it as much as it wants and if its getting to be a lard @ss cut back. but you cant get away with feeding it every 3-4 days...sux but hey thats how it works.

and by the way nice water dragons!
take care and have fun.

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CHONG188