savannahs
06-17-13, 12:06 AM
Hello. I accumulated a lot of information on how to care for a Savannah Monitor over a three month period. I need the experts here to let me know if the information is correct. Please keep in mind that my future Sav will be kept in my garage since it's the only place big enough for its large enclosure. Temperatures in the garage can vary a lot. What can I do about that? Also, will humidity be difficult to manage in the garage? I live in California, to give you an idea of what the temperature and humidity may be like.
Heating / Lighting
- I'm confused about the temperatures. What should the basking area, warm side, and cool side be? Can the temperatures drop at night?
- I need a Temp Gun.
- I need to use multiple heat lights to heat the enclosure instead of one.
- I need a UVB light on for 12 hours each day.
- Do I need a large branch for it to bask on or just a large piece of tile? Or would both be good?
Humidity
- Humidity should be 60% on the cool side (how can I make sure it gets this humid?).
- Humidity should be 85-100% in the burrow (how can I make sure it gets this humid?).
- I need a Hygrometer.
Hiding Places
- I need to provide a burrow.
- How do I make a burrow?
- Should I put sphagnum moss in the burrow?
- How big should the burrow be for a baby / adult?
- How do I make hides that are big enough for baby/adult savs?
Diet / Water
- Dubia roaches, crickets, superworms, frozen mice, frozen rats, and organic boiled/scrambled eggs are healthy or so I've read.
- What should I dust the insects with? Rep-Cal? Repashy (what kind)?
- How often should I feed each prey item to the Sav?
- How large should the insects be for a baby/adult Sav?
- How large should the mice/rats be for a baby/adult Sav?
- I need a large water dish and it needs to be changed daily.
- How large should the water dish be?
Enclosure
- I am going to make a 8 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft enclosure for it (is this too small for a full grown Sav? If it is, the largest enclosure I could make would be 10 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft).
- Is it alright to make the enclosure out of redwood?
- What should the windows be made out of? I don't want to use glass. I just really don't like glass.
- Can I house a baby Sav in the huge enclosure? If I can't, then is a 40 gallon tank large enough for a baby Sav? It's the largest size I can get. If it's too small, my only option would be the huge enclosure.
Substrate
- What should the substrate be? I've read "soil" is a good substrate, but I need to know what type and where I can purchase it.
- How in the world would I change the substrate? I know they need burrows, so I'm assuming it will need to be deep. Would I have to shovel it out to change it?
Training
- What are some good techniques to make it trust me?
- What do I need to teach it? (Main thing I really need to know). I know to never take it out of the cage and just let it come out by itself.
- How do I make it know my fingers aren't food?
- Is hand feeding frowned upon?
- How do I make sure the Sav doesn't bite me?
- Can I walk it in my backyard on a leash? I saw someone on YouTube do it though I know YouTube is a very unreliable source sometimes.
- How should I exercise it?
I think that's everything I know. Just so you know, I'm 13 years old. I know I'm young, but I'm very responsible. I know that it can bite my finger off if isn't "tamed". And that is why I will spend all day with it on the weekend and 4 hours with it on weekdays to train it and care for it. I know it can get 2-4 feet long. I know it eats a lot. I am prepared for the HUGE resposibility. Please throw things I don't know at me though, because I NEED to know what I'm getting into. Thanks. :)
Heating / Lighting
- I'm confused about the temperatures. What should the basking area, warm side, and cool side be? Can the temperatures drop at night?
- I need a Temp Gun.
- I need to use multiple heat lights to heat the enclosure instead of one.
- I need a UVB light on for 12 hours each day.
- Do I need a large branch for it to bask on or just a large piece of tile? Or would both be good?
Humidity
- Humidity should be 60% on the cool side (how can I make sure it gets this humid?).
- Humidity should be 85-100% in the burrow (how can I make sure it gets this humid?).
- I need a Hygrometer.
Hiding Places
- I need to provide a burrow.
- How do I make a burrow?
- Should I put sphagnum moss in the burrow?
- How big should the burrow be for a baby / adult?
- How do I make hides that are big enough for baby/adult savs?
Diet / Water
- Dubia roaches, crickets, superworms, frozen mice, frozen rats, and organic boiled/scrambled eggs are healthy or so I've read.
- What should I dust the insects with? Rep-Cal? Repashy (what kind)?
- How often should I feed each prey item to the Sav?
- How large should the insects be for a baby/adult Sav?
- How large should the mice/rats be for a baby/adult Sav?
- I need a large water dish and it needs to be changed daily.
- How large should the water dish be?
Enclosure
- I am going to make a 8 ft x 4 ft x 4 ft enclosure for it (is this too small for a full grown Sav? If it is, the largest enclosure I could make would be 10 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft).
- Is it alright to make the enclosure out of redwood?
- What should the windows be made out of? I don't want to use glass. I just really don't like glass.
- Can I house a baby Sav in the huge enclosure? If I can't, then is a 40 gallon tank large enough for a baby Sav? It's the largest size I can get. If it's too small, my only option would be the huge enclosure.
Substrate
- What should the substrate be? I've read "soil" is a good substrate, but I need to know what type and where I can purchase it.
- How in the world would I change the substrate? I know they need burrows, so I'm assuming it will need to be deep. Would I have to shovel it out to change it?
Training
- What are some good techniques to make it trust me?
- What do I need to teach it? (Main thing I really need to know). I know to never take it out of the cage and just let it come out by itself.
- How do I make it know my fingers aren't food?
- Is hand feeding frowned upon?
- How do I make sure the Sav doesn't bite me?
- Can I walk it in my backyard on a leash? I saw someone on YouTube do it though I know YouTube is a very unreliable source sometimes.
- How should I exercise it?
I think that's everything I know. Just so you know, I'm 13 years old. I know I'm young, but I'm very responsible. I know that it can bite my finger off if isn't "tamed". And that is why I will spend all day with it on the weekend and 4 hours with it on weekdays to train it and care for it. I know it can get 2-4 feet long. I know it eats a lot. I am prepared for the HUGE resposibility. Please throw things I don't know at me though, because I NEED to know what I'm getting into. Thanks. :)