Sexing a yearling savannah

[bistrobob85]

How can you guys tell what sex is a savannah monitor? Do you look at the base of the tail for hemipenises? All the books ive read about monitors said the only way was through DNA analysis... and at the moment when the book was written, almost no monitor were CB... i think my sources are too old!

[crocdoc]

Do you have a copy of Daniel and Ravi's savannah monitor book? There are photos of Rav's pair in there. Compare the head shape of yours to those. Look at hemipene bulges as well, but keep in mind that females may also have hemiclitoral bulges that can fool one unless a male is handy for you to compare it to.

[bistrobob85]

I have the Michael Balsai book, General Care and Maintenance of Popular Monitors and Tegus.... pretty excellent book, maybe just a little too old for modern times!

[crocdoc]

um... really no comparison. Get the other book.