savannah monitor

[deecaster]

hello all........ I was sent to this site from another saying that there is a lot of knowledgable people here that could help me with my sav. Hopefully there are right.
A very quick run down....I have two juvies....got them from the same guy at about two months of age, they are now 7 months. One (that we refer to as the male) is doing great eats anything and evertything and is not shy about it. The other ( we call the female) is just not the same she has only ever took 3 pinkies (frozen/thawed) she eats crickets silkworm hornworm earthworms fine but not with that got to get it now attitude. I tried her on live pinkies last week and she has now had three of them so it does seem she likes live better. she has shed a few times but has hardly grown in size and just doesn't seem to have energy most of the time. I have never seen her go to the water herself to get a drink if I pick her up and put herin there she drinks where the big guy is in there all the time and uses it as his bathroom. They are both pretty laid back and friendly and they is no agression between them. I have brought up the idea of moving her to a seperate cage ....they are in a large cage 6 feet long by 4 feet wide they have a basking area with temps around high 90's hides and a water area in around low 80s they do have uvb lighting and well as out main lighting source in the room is uvb. They both get the exact same care the big guy does leaps and jumps when his rat pups are enter the cage and she is just like ho hum....sometimes doesn't even bother to eat....could this be normal for her? or should I move her to another cage?
or any other ideas that anyone could have I am listening.
Thanks everyone and sorry for the ong story

[Chu'Wuti]

Hi, Dee! I'm glad you've been posted finally. Also mention the drop. Hopefully the savannah monitor people will jump in with lots of info quickly!

Hey, everyone! I invited Deecaster to try this forum for good answers, so help!

[Aaron_S]

There's a very nice long thread regarding savannah keeping if you do a bit of a search.

Secondly, to point out a few quick things, the temperatures of the hot side are far too low. You need basking spots over 100F. You also should seperate them. That is probably the biggest reason.

[Smilts]

If they are housed together one will be in better condition, the winner, especially if you re not certain of sex.

[Chu'Wuti]

I believe that Dee has separated them at this point--the original post is a few days old.

Thanks, Aaron, for the temp info--I'd forgotten the savannahs needed higher basking temps.

I kinda wondered if Dee didn't have an alpha that had taught the smaller one to stay away from the food & water when Dee wasn't around.

I hope Dee will get back on and give us the updated info.

[deecaster]

Hello all and thanks for allowing me to post here. When I posted the temps I should have mentioned that the tip of the thermometer is not directly under the heat lamp it is off to side and over a bit (the only safe spot I could find to attach it where they wouldn't pull the wire. Under the direct light it is in the 120 to 130 range. I have seperated them as of yesterday to see if this will help. As Chu mentioned Jewel was dropped when I went to get her about a 4 plus foot drop. She moves fine, she is not gimpy at all. The only real big thing that makes me so concerned about her is I never see her go and drink water on her own I always place her in the water and she will drink then and that she has not grown very much since having her. She will eat crickets and different types of worms but its more like she is doing it because she has to not because she wants to.
I have read about monitor can food although I have never seen it offered in any stores around here.....I was wondering if anyone has an opinion about this type of feed?

[Aaron_S]

I think the insect diet will work better for you. Do you have enough substrate for them to burrow in? The 'female' may just need a better setup and to be alone. Just because you don't see her drink, doesn't mean she isn't. As well, not every animal is a voracious feeder, some are lazy.