Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I'm looking into getting a savannah monitor. I need some advice on owning them. I do plan on building it a large cage but for now will live in a 75gal tank. These are my main concerns in owning them (as much detail as possible would be excellent and first hand encounters/owners):

1. What food can I feed my sav in variety to make sure it gets enough nutrients (a list of foods??)?

2. With daily handling and carrying around, will it become docile? And what is their overall temperament like (for the savannah monitor species in general)?

3. What kind of temperatures and features should be included in my cage setup (pictures would be great)?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to hear stories about how you raised your savs also. Any and all advice is appreciated. Please no bashing each others comments or beliefes. Certainly do voice your opinion (everyone can), butleave it at a PG level so that I can learn sav care and not hear "aggressive attitudes". Thank you.

Kenya

We get lots of questions like yours so I'll reply instead of some of the usual posters.

1. What food can I feed my sav in variety to make sure it gets enough nutrients (a list of foods??)?

Your sav doesn't need a huge variety of food like some people think. It will do great on just frozen/thawed mice and crickets. Anything other than that, he doesn't need.

2. With daily handling and carrying around, will it become docile? And what is their overall temperament like (for the savannah monitor species in general)?

He may become tame with lots of handling, but there is no guarantee. Savs can be just as mean as any of the other monitors but it's not typical. Patience is the key. Especially when they're young.

3. What kind of temperatures and features should be included in my cage setup (pictures would be great)?

Your cage should have air temps between 80 and 90 degrees from one side to the other. It should also have a basking spot with a light (any light, UV is not nessacery) above it. The surface temp of the basking spot should be 115- 150 degress. Savs like to dig, so give him a substrate such as dirt or cyprus mulch that holds humidity well. And if you're keeping him in a glass tank, make sure you DO NOT use a screen lid. Screens allow too much humidity to escape. Use plexigass or a wooden top.
Also give him a water dish big enough to fit in and lots of hide spots.

I've probably forgotten a few things, but I think I hit the important points.
Have fun

Tony

Humidity is BAD for Sav's. They live in arid climates and are not water monitors. Excessive moisture can cause sores to develop on their feet. I will fill my bath tub and let them all soak for a while in warm water once a month or so.

Use a metal screened cover which will clamp to the tank top (available at most herp shops for common tank sizes) for ventilation. It must be metal screening so you can place the dome-lamp on top without melting the screen.

Dirt should also be avoided. Use a hide-box or log for their security needs. Untreated wood shavings are available at WalMart in large bags for under $10. I have tried many substrates (including dirt) and this works best for most issues.

You can check my website for "reality" information. I consider what most owners will need to deal with rather than trying to create an outdoor zoo environment. I have not updated it for a few years but the info there covers several years of sav raising and most all aspects of normal care and common problems. I intentionally keep it low-tech since sav's are more an entry level monitor.

I do not frequent this forum much nowadays. Just have some spare time in my current job so was browsing the sav posts.

Stan's Sav's

Savs dig period. It is natural for them. Dirt should be used as a substrate.
Savs should not be considered "entry level" monitors just due to the size they get.
Granted most are docile but they get very large. Entry level should be something that is hardy, stays small, and has a decent temperament (like ackies).
Success can be had with savs but the beginner must realize how large an enclosure an 1 year old animal is going to require.