Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I have always wanted a sav and now I have a chance to get one with all accesories. Its still a juvie, about 18 inches in a 55 gal. I know I will need something bigger, the question is, how much bigger, how big are your enclosures for adult animals? He's eating monitor chow, eggs, some mice but not a lot, some wet catfood. I have been reading so many conflicting things on diet. I understand they are not fed every day??
This one is tame, hisses a little i guess but has never bitten. I'm not scared of being bitten, but I would really like a nice lizard, a real pet.
I have some lizard experience, I have two beardeds and two mali uromastyx and have handled many iguanas. I have been keeping reptiles for about five years now.
So pros and cons?? Should I do it?
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FireDrake

1.2 Corn Snake - Basilisk, Belladonna and Kestrel
1.1 Tangerine Hondurans - Hellboy and Watchtower
0.1 Western Hognose - Midori
1.0 Ball Python - Mandrake
0.1 California King Snake - Deneb
2.0 Jungle Corn Snake - Lestat and Uruk-Hai
1.1 Mali Uromastyx - ET and Aughra
0.2 Bearded Dragons - Chupacabra and FoxGlove
0.1 Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula - Shelob
0.1 Cinnamon Pearl Cockatiel - Bubo
2.0 Society Finches - Pesto and Clockwork
2.0 Bettas - Hydra and Kraken

Yes you should get it if only to keep it healthy.
"He's eating monitor chow, eggs, some mice but not a lot, some wet catfood."
Get it and switch to whole food items such as mice, roaches and crickets.
For a cage, he should be out of the aquarium by now. You can build one cheaper than buying one. The bigger the better.
I reccomend 4X8 because it is big enough and easy to build a box that size.

Scott
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Dont you mean 8x4? If not, 8 feet tall......Savs arent known for climing so why the extreme hieght?

I think that the best type of caging for many
smallish to medium large monitors are stock tanks.
These are galvanized steel troughs for watering
livestock. You just make a top/lid for it your set.
A 6'x2'x2' trough would probably be a decent size
for a sav.

Monitor chow & catfood are not the best foods.
A young sav should have plenty of insects in it's
diet. Roaches are the best but crickets & superworms
are ok. Mice and quail chicks in addition to insects
are good. I usually feed my monitors every other day,
but the feeding schedule can depend on many factors.

I would interpet the hissing as a good sign, often a
very 'tame' one is not happy and heathly at all. Although
savs often become rather docile, monitors are the kind
of pet that is better looked at then touched.

Good luck, whatever you decide.
Neal
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pale reason hides the infinite from us

See I do want a docile pet, I do breed my snakes and lizards but first and foremost they have to be pets. I have heard many places that savs are a good choice, but if I am wrong... well then I dont think I want one. See, I am allergic to dogs and cats and had this thought of getting a big lizard in replacement (ok that is kinda silly)
I've always wanted something bigger than a beardie or uro with the same temprament, and I am beginning to think there is nothing but iguanas and I dont really like them. Maybe I'll get a big nice boa instead! Lol

thanks!
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FireDrake

1.2 Corn Snake - Basilisk, Belladonna and Kestrel
1.1 Tangerine Hondurans - Hellboy and Watchtower
0.1 Western Hognose - Midori
1.0 Ball Python - Mandrake
0.1 California King Snake - Deneb
2.0 Jungle Corn Snake - Lestat and Uruk-Hai
1.1 Mali Uromastyx - ET and Aughra
0.2 Bearded Dragons - Chupacabra and FoxGlove
0.1 Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula - Shelob
0.1 Cinnamon Pearl Cockatiel - Bubo
2.0 Society Finches - Pesto and Clockwork
2.0 Bettas - Hydra and Kraken

>>See I do want a docile pet, I do breed my snakes and lizards but first and foremost they have to be pets. I have heard many places that savs are a good choice, but if I am wrong... well then I dont think I want one. See, I am allergic to dogs and cats and had this thought of getting a big lizard in replacement (ok that is kinda silly)
>>I've always wanted something bigger than a beardie or uro with the same temprament, and I am beginning to think there is nothing but iguanas and I dont really like them. Maybe I'll get a big nice boa instead! Lol

A monitor is not gonna be the 'lay in your lap' sort of tame of a Beardie. Monitors want to move and not be held down. Even 'puppy tame' savs are not 'docile'. They may not bite you or tail whip like an iguana but they will still be monitors. Plus it is an individual thing as to tameness.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

n/p