Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was thinking about getting into monitors and thought that savanahs might be my cup of tea. I would like to know if they get much bigger then 3-4 feet. What kind of enclosure do babies and adults need? What do they feed on? If someone could give me some information, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Matt

HI, if you get a bosc monitor then they average out at around 3-3.5 ft but albigs e.t.c can and do get much bigger. and as to ypur question about vivarium size for a three and a half foot monitor the minimum i would keep it in is a 6x3x3.
matt

They have been known to grow from 30 inches to 4.5 ft (supposedly the record is 5ft) and around 2-10lbs. They get obese very easy if not kept properly. As an adult a cage of 4ftx4ftx8ft would be the smallest they will need, with around 1.5-2ft of dirt to dig and tunnel in. A basking spot that can fit the entire animals snout-to-vent legth and then some into the hot spot of 130 degrees.. An air temp (ambient) that ranges from 86 to 68f. They eat from crickets to hissing roaches from mice to chicken peeps and small rats when large enough to do so. They are imported animals that wholesale for around $1-$5 each then are sold for anywhere from $20-$150 each depending on how dishonest the seller is. If these poor animals were actually bred in captivity the price for them would range from up to and beyond $300. They make interesting captives.

They make interesting captives? I say they are wonderful. Hopefully one day Smaug will be like Sobek,so Fat and Happy. He's sooo purty.
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

i think that would have to go to niles, haha.

the deal with iguanas is that they get too darn big to keep. i mean you can keep a sav in an 6x3 all its life. but an iggy needs a 12x6 if kept properly and most people sense that and then dump theirs.

yeah savs go to the rescue places but most are just killed out of stupidity.

andrew

'if they were bred in captivity there price would range up to and beyond $300'

why? people have captive bred niles and they sell for 75-100, that doesn't make sense.

8x4 minimum? most savs do not get over 3 feet.

cheers

Andrew, why is that? I think it would be more manageable if mine were to stay under 4 feet, but I intend to give it the best care I can.

they just don't get huge (some do). wild savs are maxed out at about 3 feet or so.

you can over feed a sav as well, that part was excellent advice.

andrew

i am not saying an 8x4 is bad. shoot, stick a pygmy mulga monitor in an 8x4, i am sure he would love it.

i was just saying 8x4 is not the "minimum" whatever that means.

the thought on what a minimum is: lizard's length x 2 in cage length and lizards length x 1 in cage width. Savs don't need a tall cage, 2 or 3 feet will do fine. and yes, i have kept savs. a sav was my first monitor and i had it for several years.

there is more to cages than minimum sizes.

andrew