View Full Version : general monitor questions
whats up,im mostly into snakes,
but recently i was looking into buying a veiled chameleon,because my fiance wanted one..
but 1 thing about me is i dont like tiny little animals/reptiles..
just like i would never buy a corn/milk/king snake..cause i dont like smaller reptiles..
so we changed our mind and are now looking into monitors,since they are bigger.they have a few at the reptile place near me,from what i've seen they have
water monitors
savannah monitors
black throat monitors
mangrove monitors
nile monitors
and some other kinds like tegus and all that..
now what im looking for is..
something not as agressive as a nile monitor
something that wont get bigger then about 5 feet,maybe 6
something that when it's small it can fit in a 33 gallon tank,untill 2 or 3 months when i buy a 75 gallong tank
something that im able to handle(at least once in a while)
and also,the price ranges,i know the water monitors are about 200$,but they get pretty big..
and also,what the heck is a yellow ackie!
i hear alot of good stuff about them..
please dont flame me thinking that im a 14 year old kid that is just asking what animal should i get next,i am very good with reptiles and animals,i treat my pythons like little babys..i get reptiles knowing that there a long term commitment,so theres no need for flaming my friends...
anyway,can i get some oppinions on prices and temperments on monitors..or anything similer..
thanks
let me know
lostwithin
04-11-04, 12:19 PM
Hey , you clearly already know about Niles and there tendency too be aggressive, I don’t know much about mangroves, Water monitors get very large and are active require a HUGE enclosure, Yellow Ackies are a smaller breed of monitor, you can search for more info on them , I would suggest a Savannah they get about 4 feet , males bigger then females, love too eat, are fairly inexpensive (too buy just as expensive too feed care for est., ) , and they tend too be tame, but because they are terrestrial monitors they are heavy bodied, and have shorter tails (compared in relation too body length) then a water or arboreal monitor, the result is a smaller in length animal, with a heavier "big" looking appearance, I would suggest getting one of those I found them easy too care for and do not require a full room for them selves, (although it never hurts). That’s just my suggestion, I also prefer keeping Large boids, and do have a few lizards, although I find them too cost so much more too feed that I will not be purchasing another monitor any time soon, Good luck with whatever you get, but a savannah seems too match the description you were describing, although some max out at 3 feet you have too remember that because they are heavy bodied they are still an impressive size, if you’d like a pick of the an adult male sav too t a size reference just PM me, I’ll be glad too share,
Devon
savannah monitors are cheap!i thought i saw them for like 500$,lol..well what really interests me the most are black throat monitors,savannahs are nice,but if im not mistaken the expensive..lol,i could be wrong..
so would a savannah be the best choise?
there are monitors that are nicer,but im not really going for that,i go for what i usually go for...what i see,if i like it..i go home,i read about it for a few months,i set up it's tank,then i go get it..
thats pretty much how it works..i've been reading on all monitors
even gila monsters and komodo dragons,just because there amazing animals,just like all reptiles(snakes are my fav)
anyway,i'll continue to read on savannah's,black throats,and maybe tegus..there not bad...more oppinions is welcome..
i'll just go read now..lol
Bartman
04-11-04, 12:34 PM
ive seen pics of some black throats and they get really really really really big lol..they just get like thick and long..if it isnt tame it can become a real problem imo.
I bought a savannah maybe 3 months ago and it was the best thing ive ever done. My sav is great, small now, but when hes big i have no doubt in my mind that he'll be extremely calm and tame. Atleast i hope lol
I got my sav for 50 bucks but thats because it was WC and usually thats highly unrecommended but in my case i didnt really have a choice. Long story but in the end i bought mine for 50 bucks. I guess CB's are more expensive but i would highly doubt into the 500's. I know theirs one near my house at a store, cb, for 280 or something near that. Starting with a cb is much better then going with a cheep wc because the vet bills will add up most likely. In my position my sav was totally healthy. I mean you can find a wc but be sure you know where your getting it from before hand. All in all id say going with a wc can be risky if you dont want to spend a lot of money but if their in perfect health their the best first monitor..other then ackies but their like over 500!
i read that black throats get about 5 feet?they dont get too big i dont think,not like what i wanted in the first place,which is a water monitor..but i found out they get very big..i will look into savannahs,but i really want a black throat..and also,i'd like to get a calm one...and the only 2 i know are calm is a black throat,and a water monitor,cause the guys at the place near me were playing with them,and they seemed really calm..but they could be differint everywhere...i'll keep reading,be sure when i get one i will post with alot of pics...
any other monitors that are calmer and not to expensive?
i wanted to spend maximum 250$,on the monitor alone,cause after that all i have to buy is all the branches and trees and all that..
let me know if anything else..
lostwithin
04-11-04, 12:58 PM
Hey, I've seem farm raised Savs for as low as 25$ (American) last time i looked they were around 40-50 bucks a piece although its bee a while, so they definitely are not 500$, I don’t know much about black throats, but you could read through the forum there is plenty of topics based around them, the sav I had was the most docile animal ever, water monitors can be too, but they get BIG, I also don’t know much about tegus, I’ve seen a red tegu, he was a bit longer then my sav but not heavier, but also very tame.
Any animal you decide too get is not going too be tame right away (unless your very lucky) it will have too get used too you like anything else would, Gilas aren’t monitors and you cant get a Komodo, have you ever kept any lizard species at all ?? Also what kinds of snakes are you into and own, just wondering,
Devon
lol,i was reading about gilas and komodos just for fun,cause i love reptiles..i have a ball python and a burmese python,i've had a tarantula,leopord geckos,a water dragon..and i read alot,and i mean alot on reptiles,so i have decided that i want a monitor,im not sure now,it's probably between a savannah monitor,and a black throat,im not sure about tegus,there not bad.but trust me,i put alot of thought into buying a reptile before i buy it..like i figured,will i be able to afford feeding a monitor?yes i will,will i be able to house a 4-5 foot lizard?yes i will,my uncle is a renovator,he can build anything,in a while he's building me a system,to hold 6 snakes,and a large lizard,it will look like a wall unit,from wall to wall,but this will only be in the late summer,so when i get the monitor,i will put it in the 33 gallon tank i have now,and if needed,i will buy a 75 gallon tank..no biggie..thanks for the oppinions..keep em coming!the more the better
kap10cavy
04-11-04, 07:23 PM
If you want something small that you can enjoy, I reccomend a red ackie. I told my wife thats the first thing on my bday list. The ones I've seen are beautiful and very active.
Bartman
04-11-04, 07:44 PM
Its at least good you put thought before you buy something..kudos :D
I had a tegu, columbian b and w, and i traded it for my sav. Im much happier with my sav. From the pics ive seen BT look very big, but pics can be decieving i guess...Look on the monitor forum, i think the user Shvar made a post and pic with his BT. One thick bodied lizard!!
Good luck with whatever you end up with and post some pics!
oh my geezis!RED ACKIE RED ACKIE YELLOW ACKIE BLACK ACKIE!
WHAT THE HECK IS AN ACKIE!lol,i hear so much about them and i've never seen one,i know the place near me has like every lizard,lol..but i've never seen an ackie..maybe i'll get a crocadile monitor,there not too bad are they?
(kidding,i value my fingers)
it's still between a savannah and black throat..there both decent priced..
edit after reading the last comment:yes i always do that,i put thought into every reptile or animal before i buy it..at least 1 month of thought..and i've been thinking of getting a monitor for the last 7 months..lol,does anyone think i should just forget about my 33 gallon tank and buy the 75 gallon?(very good price for it)..
Ackies are a "dwarf" species, usually only reaching 24-25 inches. Docile, eat small food sources (crickets, pinkies etc) An all around good introductery species, and a good "learning" animal.
Just an eye opener, if you want an albigularus (blackthroat/whitethroat) dont expect only a 5 foot animal. They can reach lengths of 6.5-7 sometimes. Also, most well fed albigs will hit 4.5-5 feet in a year (3 of mine did) They eat ALOT and get incredibly heavy. Now, you've got a heavy and long animal, oh yes long with their tails that they love to whip! Just be prepared. Cool animals, but require alot of respect! good luck with your decision and dont hesitate to ask questions.
Just saw the rest of your above post.... About an aquarium, don't bother. Save your money and purchase some wood and plexi glass. You can make a much more useful enclosure that way. Like i said, a well fed albig will grow incredibly fast, too fast for any aquarium.
yeah i know what you mean,from what i know blackthroats can get 5 feet max..but you guys have more know how with them then me..so i may stick to a savannah monitor,i hope there not to expensive,cause i went a while back,and i thought i saw 500$..but my fiance told me it said like 100 something..lol,i hope it's that price..
but what i wanna know is since i cant get the huge cage built till end of summer,should i just put the sav in my 33 gallon that i already have,or should i buy the 75 gallon tank..or would it be too big?i know i will make sure there caves,and branches,to make it as realistic as possible,
another thing,i've read alot about the substrates to use..
i was thinking either sand or repti bark,im not sure if they have the same impaction problem as leos..
also,at the reptile place they keep there monitors on sand...
let me know
First off, don't pay 500$ for a savannah. You should be able to find one for 100 or less. You may have seen an ackie. They run for alot more, but you save alot in the end on your food bill. I would honestly look at an Ackie, but if you're set on a savannah they are a good choice as well. Reference Ravi's caresheet on the monitorspot. www.themonitorspot.com Very good, and he's also got a great book you may want to read.
Savannahs also eat alot of food, so be prepared. Most people underfeed/underheat them, or overfeed/underheat. Make sure you have everything right!
75 would be fine, you can never have to much room for a monitor. I would still buy a piece of wood, or plexiglass to hold heat and humidity as opposed to a screen top.
go outside and find some dirt. Something that you can dig holes/burrows in and something that will hold a burrow. Anything from a petstore will be garbage, and potting soil doesnt work. Just make sure you find it in a clean area. Alot of people have success with riverbed sand as well.
Good luck!
hmm,i never liked getting stuff for reptiles outside,my fiance brought home a branch one day for our water dragon,lol,i didnt want to use it,but she made me do it!lol..
i have in my head how im gonna set up the tank..this will be one lucky sav,i'll tell you that..im very creative,lol..i actually want to have a cave,with a plateau ontop like in lion king(pride rock)
with a log acting as a bridge going to the other side of the tank,to another plateau..and a big water area under the log,(so if he looses balance he''ll land in the water,lol)i will not make it so any mountain or branch will reach the top of the cage,now..
after reading 13 care sheets for sav's..i have some questions
1:the substrate is confusing me..i will not use newspaper,i like more natural,so im wondering,shoud i use repti bark,sand,or some sort of moss..or i was thinking of the earth mix they have at petshops,mixed with some sort of moss?
2:i see alot of pictures with 2 or 3 lights ontop the tank,should i do this?will i really need 2 lamps?and also,any certain kind of light bulbs?or are the repti sun lights ok?if possible please explain how to set up the lights(like what light where,if i need more then 1.).
3:are heating pads needed?i was thinking a heating pad and a light,can that provide enough heat?and also,can i turn off the light at night,and just leave on the heating pad 24/7?
4:i hear that screen tops for tanks arent good because sav's have sharp claws and will tear through the screen,is this true?can i provent this by not making the branches high enough for the sav to reach the top?
5:i know they eat like little piggys....im waaaaaayyy ahead of that,what im doing is keeping a bunch of money made into 5$ bills,in a jar..it will be strickly for feeding my animals..need 500 crickets..go into the jar..and so on..that sound good?
but my question is..how should the feeding work?
like how many crickets and mice per day or week?(i've read this in the care sheets but i like to here it better from you guys :) )
thats pretty much it..all i can think of,tomorrow or tuesday im going to the reptile place near me tolook good at the 75 gallon tank,see if they have better tops for it(the one that comes with it is crap diddly crap!)
and also,i will look at aaaaallll the lizards..what i do before i buy ANY reptile or animal for that matter,is ask the guy if i can hold it...i closely watch how the creature acts,look good at color,the mouth,the eyes,and so on,i see how agressive they are..
i think im doing pretty good,how about you guys..you think im doing good on housing/husbanry knowlege ?
kap10cavy
04-11-04, 10:34 PM
Ok, substrate, the best I've found for my savannahs was good old fasion yard dirt. Forget the high dollar pet store stuff. Just make sure there's lots of it and it can hold a burrow.
Now lights, I have 2 with room to add more as they grow, if I'm not mistaken (someone will tell me if I am lol)the basking area needs to be big enough to cover snout to vent.
Oh, and don't worry about UV lighting.
I personally don't use heating pads, the basking area stays around 130 degrees, and the cool side stays at a constant 80. My lights stay on 24/7. Some people use them and I can't say if they are good or bad.
Screen tops are to be avoided, they let out heat and humidity.
Forget the fancy decor, they'll tear it down and will make their own caves.
actually the caves im getting cant be torn down,there solid,and i can only have a screen top right now..i was thinking of covering half of it with wood,or something,and im just gonna buy the earth you get in stores,i wont use outside dirt..leave lights on 24/7?
dont they need a photo pieriod to tell night and day?
i could be wrong about this stuff,but this is what i read..can i get some more answers?
kap10cavy
04-11-04, 11:12 PM
If they want it dark they'll either go to their hides or just close their eyes, one of mine sleep in the open alot, another dissapears for days sometimes in her burrow. The heat and humidity levels are more important.
in all 13 care sheets i read i didnt read 1 thing about humidity...maybe i missed it..but i wont do that,reptiles need a photoperiod,night and day,any other answers?
anyone else know alot about savannahs?
crocdoc
04-12-04, 04:01 AM
um... you're going to need to do a lot more research. Monitors are very very different from snakes. If it appears 'tame' as a baby in a shop, chances are it is either terrified or ill. They are normally flighty and nervous as babies and don't get tamer from regular handling the way a snake does. They get tame when they get less frightened of you, which is something they have to do on their own time and which cannot be forced.
Don't get a blackthroat or a croc monitor. Both get huge and both will outgrow your 75gallon tank way before you build anything large enough. As adults, both require massive enclosures (at least 10 feet long for the blackthroat, larger and higher for the croc). Tegus aren't monitors, but they are usually captive bred (don't get a golden/Columbian or whatever the current trade name for them is, but do get an Argentine black and white, or a red or one of the others), are easier to feed (bit of vegetable matter as well as rodents) and can get quite used to being handled.
Don't use a tank. Build something out of wood with a glass or plexiglass front. Glass tanks don't hold in heat well and screen tops are hopeless at keeping heat and humidity in. Your baby monitor or tegu will dehydrate.
Don't use reptibark or sand, get yourself some dirt from the backyard and lots of it. It holds burrows better. Make sure it is deep.
If the price of the monitor or tegu itself is bothering you, keep in mind that not only will you have to feed it but you'll have to pay for housing, which in large monitors can quickly get very expensive (see 'Don't get a blackthroat or croc monitor' above). You may be better off paying extra for a smaller monitor (like an 'ackie', which is Varanus acanthurus) because they can be housed in smaller enclosures. You'll have to get over your dislike of small reptiles.
Don't use a heat mat. Monitors and tegus like to bask. Get one or two basking lights (floodlights) aimed at a rock or log so that the surface temperature beneath the lights is around 45C or hotter. You'll have to experiment with different wattage bulbs once the enclosure is set up, but halogens often work well. Make sure the monitor is able to get away from the heat, so the cool part of the enclosure should be close to room temperature.
Forget the commercial little caves etc, design the enclosure for the monitor or tegu, not for you. Get it some flat bits of wood to be placed down on the deep dirt (that you dug out of your backyard), so that the monitor or tegu can dig under it for security. When the monitor or tegu does start digging its little burrows or finding places to hide, never disturb it by removing it from a hide. It will only make it feel less secure.
i know what you mean crocdoc..im not gonna argue with you,but untill the summer,i have to put the monitor in a tank,only in july can i get a custom cage built for me..
like i said,the prices dont bother me to much,i was gonna go up to 300$ if i have to..
and im never the type to use dirt from the outside,and a box or piece of wood for a cave,im always natural when it comes to housing reptiles..
but wait,if i only use lights,how do i heat it during the night?no heat pad?
and now i've seen what an ackie looks like,there not bad,actually there really nice..
im pretty sure how im gonna set it up.
earth as substrate
a few caves
a few logs
and so on
actually,the guys in the reptile place had a few monitors out cause someone was looking to buy one,they took out a water monitor,a savannah monitor,and a blackthroat...and they were very active,one guy got whiped with a tail 3 times,lol,i cant remember by which one though,but it was funny,lol.
and the other guy said "can you take out a nile monitor"
and the guy that worked there laughed..
anyway,i will go again today,check out all of the monitors,and tegus and all that,
im not getting any of the niles,crocs,blackthroats,cause i know they get big..the sav seems the best so far..
anyway,thanks for your help guys..
but it's up to 17 care sheets i've read now..and i know how to fix a tank to hold more humidity,untill i can get one made...
ive had a savahanna for about 5 yrs , i loved having him, i had to get rid of him when i got pregnant,my ex wouldnt take care of the tank and such(i guess thats why hes an ex lol)but he was a great lizard and i look forward to getting another one as soon as im in my house.
ok,i went to the reptile place near me..
there savannah monitors are 50$(babys)
there black throats are 350$
water monitors are 200$
i asked the guy to see the savannah monitors,
they were shy quick little things,they were hiding under a big cactus type of thing,and when he lifted it up he went to reach for one,and it dashed,then it went back under the plant,lol
there very cute though,i will continue reading on them,and water monitors.
and also,they had alot of other kinds of lizards,somekinds called an agama,which were lightning fast..lol
thanks for the help,i will decide what im getting after more reading of care sheets..
if people are still reading this,i thought of something else,
if i end up getting a monitor that loves water,like a few of them do,i was thinking of making a pond type of thing at one end of the tank,about 3-4 inches high,and buying one of those water falls,i know reptiles love those,but what im wondering is,i know i'd have to get a filter for the water,but how would i seperate the water from the land?i'll probably use earth for substrate,
let me know if this a good idea,and how i can seperate the land from the water..
reptiguy123
04-16-04, 11:15 AM
It is not necessary for a sav to have a waterfall and a lake.
Now listen to this: Use dirt. Everybody is telling you to. You ask questions and then ignore the answers; why ask them at all?
Wait until July. It will be the best thing for your monitor to live in the larger enclosure and for it not no have to get used to a bunch of new enclosures. That will not make any more secure.
I'm not trying to be mean to you, but crocdoc and others on this site are experianced breeders-listen to them, not pet store owners (I'm not saying that they are dumb).
Good luck!
AHLizards
04-16-04, 11:25 AM
Ponds are a pain in the butt to keep clean, espeacially with monitors, they'l thrash around in it, defecate in it.
reptiguy123
04-16-04, 11:44 AM
If anything, get a small plastic tub that you can easily take out.
alrighty,i just noticed the new posts in hear..
for the record..
we are building the cage 2 days before i get the savannah monitor,
6 feet long-3 feet deep-3 feet high
i will either use sand,or earth.
everywhere i see a savannah monitor,i see them on sand,
theres no need for you guys to talk like that,i was asking oppinions.and dont tell me i need to do more research,i've read many care sheets on all monitors,i know everything i need to know already,
all the guys who wasnt rude,thanks..
they guys who were rude..you tried..
reptiguy i know you said your not trying to be mean..
but i was asking oppinions,not asking to be told what to do..
the cage size im building will last a good while,
i will use either earth(not from outside!)repti bark,or what seems to be the natural substrate for sav's,sand....
thanks again for the help..
but 1 more question
if i buy them both as babys,can i put 2 sav's in the same big cage im building?
thanks
Cruciform
04-16-04, 12:24 PM
Heya Iceman,
Realistically, before you get the monitor everything should already be prepared well in advance. Even two days isn't really enough. You want time to be sure that the new enclosure has the heat gradient that the animal requires, that it doesn't get too humid or too dry because of the way the enclosure is sealed.
The reason people keep recommending plain ol' dirt is because it's the perfect medium for them to tunnel in while they live in an artificial enclosure. Sand and bark don't make good burrows, there's just not enough cohesion. But if you're set on sand or bark as the main substrate, then put in a container with dirt that is big enough for the monitor to burrow in if he wants. That way at least, you'll see which he prefers personally as opposed to staged photos in magazines and websites.
And don't take offense to people telling you that things need to be done this way or that way. They're concerned about the health and well being of the animal, and will come right out and say what they think is necessary to ensure the animal has a good life.
Savannahs are grassy plains, and may have sandy topsoil, but it's plain old dirt underneath. That's something to take into account when choosing a substrate.
If you're worried about parasites or other critters in dirt brought in from outside, you can bake it in the oven for an hour or two. Wait for a windy day, and open the kitchen windows when you do, as oven baked dirt stinks. :)
lol,
what if i mix?
i also thought of mixing
dirt,sand,and that moss or mulch stuff?
that seems natural?like i thought of putting dirt,about 5 inches..and putting a little sand ontop,and putting that cypress mulch stuff in some areas,for moisture or humidity..like near trees/logs,and near the water..
i guess how i will do it is i'll get one of those small rubbermaids,maybe a few inches high,and put about 2 inches of water in it..and put rocks, so the sav can climb out onto a rock,would that work?
and also i'd have to make it easy for the sav to climb out of the rubbermaid,thats another thing that the rocks are good for.
and i was planning on leaving the heat and humidity sit for a few days before i got the sav,check the temp's periodicly to make sure there the right temps..i'll be putting a hygrometer,and a few thermomitor's in there(spelling?)one near the basking area,one near the cool side,and one in the middle,and maybe one on the hot side,but lower to the floor..
thanks
AHLizards
04-16-04, 01:45 PM
Youve been told not to use sand repeatedly, just because a pet store uses it, doesnt mean its any good. its pure crap, you may as well keep it on newspaper. monitors are meant to be able to USE their substrate for nesting, burrows to sleep in, hunting for food. What will sand do? fall apart, irritate the animals eyes with dust, get in its nose, tons of things can happen, and ontop of all of those, nothing tastes better to them than a big mouthful of sand while hunting an insect. Think of these things first. You can go outside and get DIRT for FREE, whats more convienient than that?
AHLizards
04-16-04, 01:48 PM
and FYI, iam not trying to be rude. Dont take anyone personally, everyone is trying to help you. I guarentee you will not have a healthy animal if you wont take the advice given.
Leviathan
04-16-04, 02:06 PM
First off,
I would go with a Savannah monitor. I had one for quite a while, well until my friend babysat it during my honeymoon and fell in love so I let him keep it. His name was dozer. He went everywhere with me! Walks, to stores and sometimes even to the bank. He would fall asleep on me with his head on my shoulder, he let me cut his nails and never fussed. As long as you handle yours everyday he could be the same.
Also, a Ackie is a pygmy monitor from Australia. They are also know as a spiny-tailed monitor. If you have they money I would HIGHLY reccomend them. They are the funnest monitor I have ever owned (well them and Kimberly's). If you get a trio especially.
They are alot smaller but attitude wise they have it all. If you need any help feel free to email me. My husband has studied monitors ALOT and I'm sure we could help you out :)
Alecia
oh lord,AHlizards,did you even read my last post?i said im not using sand,i thought about using a little bit of sand ontop of the earth,but im gonna use earth(store bought!!!!)and some of that mulch stuff..
@ Leviathan=
thank you,you always give good advice..i know what you mean,at magazoo the woman took out an adult sav and let me hold it,it was so friendly,for sure i will let it get used to its surroundings for a little while,and then start holding it,letting walk around on our bed,on my desk,and so on..
and the other guys who posted before..
i AM going to use earth,partly from you guys advice,and partly from reading about they like to dig and burrow..
i just wanted to use sand cause i thought it looked natural,but i know that sand can cause alot of reptiles impaction if swallowed..(even though reptiles sometimes live on sand in the wild?)
again,thanks everybody for the advice..but i still need 1 more question answered..
if i buy them both as babys,from the same place,can i put 2 sav's in the same enlosure?
thanks again
Leviathan
04-16-04, 03:24 PM
Savannahs (from my expierence) are not a companion monitor like alot of the dwark and pygmy monitors. They don't really run around and play together. Savannahs are lumps... to be blunt. They like to sleep and bask and eat. A tank mate will be most likely an inconvenience. They are also quite aggresive feeders. Alot of the time the larger monitor will intimidate the smaller when it comes time to feeding. I've seen some kill the others food right in front of another and then just drop it infront of them. So I would reccomend just one.
@Iceman. you still dont seem to grasp what anyone is telling you. Soil is not dirt! storebought soil is for plants, and potting plants. It wont hold a burrow, nor will it be suitable as a substrate. If you insist on using something storebought you should just go with cypress mulch, at least it can keep humidity up. You're really not giving your savannah many natural options without using dirt, but thats your decision.... Keeping more than one in an enclosure isn't natural either. These animals come into contact with eachother during mating season. They dont live communally like some of the dwarfs do.
@Leviathan, I dont find savannahs that inactive, mine are always moving around, digging, foraging for food. My Savannahs dig, and move around almost as much as my ackies do.
Leviathan
04-16-04, 03:43 PM
You can get dirt that they can dig in through Walmart. It's like $2 or so a bag. I used it for my ackies and Kimberlys.
Also V.hb. As I said before I took my monitor for walks and what not. For the most part What i meant was they're not active together. When mine was smaller he was more active, but once he got bigger (almost 4 feet) he lied around until we took him out. Which was for a couple ours everyday.
You keep ackies and kimberlys on top soil? The only possible way I can see top soil holding a burrow is if you wet the hell out of it, and all thats going to do is create a humidity level of way over 100% and cause more problems.... Have you bred, or hatched either of those species using that substrate??
yeah thats true v.hb,a while back,i went to amazone,and the savannah was running a marathon or something,back and forth,and last time i went,they were hiding under a cactus type of thing..oh,v.hb..its not that im not taking advice or anything,
no matter what anyone says,im not using dirt from outside,i have the money to buy from a store,so i will..
i will get the cypress mulch,and the forest ground substrate,i've used forest ground a few times,and its fine..i may even get the bark,and mix in cypress mulch..
but for this i will take your advice
i'll only get one sav..
but man,he or she will have a HELL of alot of place to run around,
so i know my new sav will be in good shape,lol..
another thing,i've seen this cork bark stuff,i was thinking of using some of that stuff as platforms,to bask on,or something..
Thats good man, but its nothing to do with money. outdoor dirt is in no comparison to storebought earth, its not the same thing! trust me, ive been down that road, ive experimented with tons of mixes, straight up earth etc and found nothing nearly as good as dirt from my yard.
snakers55
04-16-04, 03:55 PM
I think I would have to back up using dirt from outside for your savannah.. If you get a bunch and bake it or something, no diseases or parasites will be in it and it will hold a heck of a lot better as a burrow than potting soil..
Leviathan
04-17-04, 12:18 AM
Well I'm sorry there pal. That's just what Frank Retes told me to use. I don't have the ackies anymore but the person that has them has had eggs. He just didn't find them until he was cleaning and they were dried up by then.
Leviathan
04-17-04, 01:38 AM
You know what... actually you're right, what a silly idea. Soil. Sorry Iceman for any confusion. Feel free to email me. I'm tired of posting stuff like this because all I see (in almost every post) is one person trying to prove another wrong rather than help which is what I thought this site is for.
Alecia
ReptiZone
04-17-04, 03:08 AM
Man I Never thaught I would see the day you would become one of thows herpers Kenny you have ben doing this for less then a year man Chill out and sit back and look at this thread man you got Advice from some of the top breeders in Canada V.hb actualy took time out of his buissy day to post some use full info man.
I want you to tell me how many Monitors you have raised and sucsesfully bread 0 thank you. Now tell me how many Pet stores you have ben too keep raise and breed monitors 0 thank you.
Monitors are alot of work I am warning you right here right now .
Build a cage that is 6 feet long 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall caus of thows 5 feet I want you to put a 2 foot litter dam that means you will need 12 square feet of dirt to fill your cage sure I am all about geting some mulch and placing it on top of the dirt but you deen that Dirt (From Out side) you see there is no store baught dirt that is apropriat for monitors.
I am telling you give that baby Sav 2 feet of dirt to dig with he will show you what being a monitor is all about .
you need to get this one thing in your head reptile cages are for reptiles so put what they need and what they will use not what you think looks good unless you are gona crawl in there and sleep with the baby y\what you want in there is totaly irelavent.
Pet stores are Garbage they are the midle man they want to make profit they dont care so what is the best way to make money sell usless stuff that will break and need to be replaced.
you keep buying that pet store garbage substrat and you will get a mite infestation in no time think of it for a min you are buying it from a pet store that sees sick reptiles come and go every day they get new shipments every week so there is bound to be mites at some point and time ever notice the wholes in thows bags of substrate they are actualy there for air circulation but get a bad bag man you just braugt home a few prego female mites boom goodbye Collection.
all thos stores out there I have worked for them or seen how the animals are cared for and desided not to work for them. If I dont want to work for them that should ring a bell in your head that they are just to Stupide my Knowlege will be wasted there. If you keep seting up your animals like they are in pet stores you will never have any reptile for more then 2 years cause they will die out one at a time. I am telling you thins for your own good man you were cool B4 you had questions and ppl here had answers.
but you little remark about you knowing everything you need to know that just blew My mind man. I worked with Monitors man Big ones Albigs waters and all man you know what I did when I wanted to buy one I Pm V.hb for help ME the guy you thik has almost all the answers I ask for Advice from Ppl here I have over 10 years of reptile keeping under me and I had to ask for help you have maby a year and you have this all figurd out with 13 Internet care sheets you got all the answers well wright me a book and I will read it and then I will know it all too.
you get what I am saying here you only know a fraction of the stuff I know about these animals and I know like 1/100 of what some ppl like v.hb know what is sad is the 1/100 V.hb is the one who taught me it so I am no better then knowing nothing at all.
anyways do what you want but dude think B4 you act.
Peace out
The ReptiZone
you are right.i have only been into reptiles for around a year..big deal!
het marc,a few days ago i was thinking of getting either a nile monitor,or a water monitor..
IM GETTING A SAVANNAH MONITOR!
90% of people say there a good beginners monitor..people have to start somewhere man..
(edited - DragnDrop)
Ugh, why do people take offence to simple questions? if you're so sensitive about what you keep your lizards on I apologise.. I just asked simply because I dont see how it would work. Where was I rude? Ive never heard of anyone keeping ackies, or kimberlys successfully on soil. I never said NOBODY has, i said ive never seen it, and asked if you've had success with it.. AS I have never had any luck with soil, or mixes..... Sorry for the confusion.
Marc, also, iam in no ways an expert haha. If you know 1/100, I know 2/100 :) theres many more knowledgable people on here that can school me anyday with monitors.. Iam still learning myself..
But, ive learned some pretty good things by keeping them for the past while, and one of the major things is, top soil/black earth doesnt work :) that would be too easy!! my back hates me for the hundreds of pounds of dirt ive had to bring in via buckets and shovels hehe
v.hb,no problem,dont worry about it..
oh cap10cavy,im not saying that i know everything about monitors cause i read 15 care sheets,i ment i know enough for me to get one...you misunderstood..
and i wasnt at all trying to be tough..
i dont need to act like that..
when i talk,i dont mean to offend anyone,
i know what you guys mean,and im not trying to prove anyone wrong..
i know there are some experts on this site.
everyone thanks for your help..
p.s-reptizone-dont think i wont go up to n.b to get you bro..its not that far..lol(kidding)
aaawww,kap10cavy,you deleted your post..lol
typical
Bartman
04-17-04, 01:09 PM
I had this huge thread a while back when i first got my sav. I got amazing advice from both V.hb and Jeff favelle and some other people i cant quite recall, but my sav is doing ten times better then before. He is eating like a machine and loving his home much more then before.
Theirs pictures of my sav tank in my gallary. As of now im using mulch but when i build my new enclosure which will be pretty soon, im going to use dirt because I would listen to these two guys WAAAY before some random caresheets off the internet.
And by the way, never do anything petstores do, most of the time, because their in it all for the money and couldnt care less for the health or proper care of the animal, again most of the time, not all...
So just use dirt its the right thing to use. Ive read some really good books by the guys at monitorspot.com and you can really tell they knew their stuff. They also studied savannah monitors in the wild and saw that they lived in areas with dirt and made burrows into them to get out of the sun or if they were shedding. So the best substrate to use for a captive animal would be dirt or mulch. But dirt is much better, and not the kind from the petstores, you need just dirt from outside.
And i dont see why you would want to spend money you can easily save and its not on the better substrate either. You're going to go buy the wrong substrate and waste your money when, for FREE, go shovel some dirt and your sav will be much happier. Trust me, take V.hb's advice!!!!!!!!!
cheers...
reptiguy123
04-18-04, 01:51 PM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be honest, I also hate using things outside. After these posts, however, DIRT seems to be my exception. Nothing compares with it; what does narutareptimedspecial brand soil have that dirt doesn't? Now lets take a look at dirt...it's baked; no parasites...wow, look there's a bunch of it and it's free!...it hold a burrow pretty damn well...good for humidity; doesn't get too dusty...the list goes on and on!
No hard feelings man. You're doing good just by asking questions. You just need to except the answers.
The best of luck!
thanks bro,i didnt stop reading care sheets yet..
Bartman
04-18-04, 03:08 PM
Get the book called The Savannah Monitor by Bennett and Thakoordyal...you'll never have to read another caresheet again...it has absolutly everything you need to know about savs.....
likeal0stchild
05-10-04, 11:57 PM
I am also a dirt user and have always been since my sav was a wee lil baby.......she strives to live.......happier than i would ever think a captive animal could be.GO WITH DIRT man.Experts are here to help you and nothin else.
c ya
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