Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, i have an 8 inch (maybe 7 inch) savannah monitor that i just recently got. And it looks healthy enough, and is pretty active, but it's just a poor eater.

thing is, in the pet store, I tried to pick the most active monitor, since I figured it would probably be the healthiest. I had my eye on this one all along (it was more active than the others, and wasn't bony or anything)then i got the guy at the pet store to feed them. And my sav was the first to get up and run, so I got that one since it looked healthy and hungry.

Well, i got it home and fed it, and it ate, but i've noticed that it just doesn't eat much. When i first offer it food, It will chase after the first one or two crickets, then it seems to lose interest in eating, and just lets the others walk around.

Now, this normally wouldn't concern me, but I've read that savs are extremely gluttonous, so it surprises me that a young, growing sav would eat so little.

Also, just today, I saw it vomit a cricket out. This is the first time this has happened. And I wasn't handling it, or stressing it out, so it can't have been due to stress.

Now, in the month I've had it, it doesn't seem to have lost any weight (hasn't shed yet, though). But I get a strong feeling that it should be eating more, and the vomiting concerns me. Any idea what's up?

BTW, ambient temps are 80 F, with basking spot at 125 F. I've searched the forums, and have seen that common causes of vomiting seem to be handling and/or cold temps. I don't think either applies in this particular case.

i recently got a 12' Sav and it didnt eat very much the first day, maybe 2 crickets. It takes them time to get used to their suroundings and there also shy animals. Just leave some cricks in there for it and you'll see they slowly disappear. In time, it'll get used to you.

Kids running through the room, banging on the cage, dehydration prevents them from digesting, stress comes in many forms. If nothing common sense seems to apply then see a vet, but step back and look at what goes on every day that a quiet, secretive, wild caught animal would not like.