Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've posted before in the past, about my savannah monitor. I'm not too sure how fast these little guys are supposed to grow, but he's atleast 1 1/2 - 2 months old now. To me, He seems still really small - almost as if he's barely growing. He's about 7-9inches in length, with tail. He eats fuzzy mice, and sometimes pinky rats.. about 2-3 per week - thats his own choice not mine. He's in a 20 long gallon tank for the time being, we're working on building him a new home. His temperature for basking spot is around 90-100. Cooler side is usually 75-80. Unfortunately, it is kind of dry in there. I've been trying to solve this issue. His substrate is peat moss, as where I live, I've been having problems finding good dirt, and mixtures. I can access Top soil, but is that okay to use?

He just seems like he's not growing too fast. Any suggestions?

get his basking temps up higher... the warmer the temps, the greater chance of him having the proper metabolic rate.. If monitors/reptiles are not warm enough, they will not grow at a "normal" pace, may be lethargic and inactive, and will become obese. Look at all of the obese, inactive savanahs that are in peoples' care.. Most people do not give them the temps they need. I would shoot for a 130-140F basking site...note this is not ambient, keep the ambient temps where they are, they sound sufficeiient, that's about the lowest I keep my monitors on the cool end.

As for substrate, no matter what you use will dry out, and keep poor humidity if you are using a screen top for your 20gal aquarium.. I would suggest trying to cover up most of the screening to help keep moisture in... Top soil should work out fine; I would be careful not to purchase any compost soils, as they may have cow crap and other "enhancing" additives... straight top soil should be fine for you... I think peat moss gets too dusty for me, at least the top layer.... I use a sandy substrate for my little monitors, which I keep damp, by adding water to it accordingly.

I hope this gives you some aspects to look at, these are basically the techniques I use with my lizards, and they seem to be content.. Good luck, have a great day...

bob
The Odatriad

some of mine didnt hit there growing surt untill they were almost 1foot and 1/2 and then grew like crazy dont worrie he will grow as long as you keep feeding his belly...

bosc1973

Theres no reason to worry if you dont see oustanding growth in your monitor. One of my buddys thats bred Varanus Exanthematicus, has some cbb critters that are about a year old and only about a foot in length. They are healthy animals though. Everyone preaches this or that, but really there are a million and one ways of conducting buisness. Some work, and some dont, but really theres no single "ideal" method. Hahahaha. He11, if your litle beast has enough hides/ choices/ etc., you could get away with bedding him with plain old butcher paper(provided the humidity was within reason).

i have a 2 yrs old cumingi who's still under 24in svl yet she is in good condition, she eats well and the enclosure is fine and vets said she's healthy but the big question is... why under 24in svl for a 2 1/5 yr old water monitor? maybe a dwarf cumingi? hahahaha
my other cumingi is under 1 yr but it's already 13in svl but they are kept in the same condition with the same husbandry system...

Just be patient,
Some monitors take a long time even a year before they hit their spurt. I have a huge male Bosc and for the first year he never hit over 8 inches, always expected him to be one of the smaller 2 foot ones. Now he is three years old, huge, and my able bodied breeder. It will happen before you know it and one day you will have this big animal sitting in its cage. Don't rush him enjoy when they can fit in your hand and not require help in maneuvering them around.

Good luck.