Getting My First Monitor

[SerpentLust]

Well, I have been considering the purchase of a Savannah Monitor for a very long time. Years actually. I am now in a place in my life where I can accommodate one and am not moving every year haha

I've dealt with quite a few monitors before for short periods of time (fostering, helping vets, pet store work, etc.) nothing to write home about.

So anyways, I've inhaled all of the general caresheets, but I was wondering what you monitor enthusiasts have to say just in general. I'm usually a snake chick (most specifically a blood python chick) but some lizards do find their way into my family once in a while.

My main concern is that I'm having a hard time designing his enclosure, I've been searching the web and keep coming across the most attrocious looking examples of "proper monitor caging" where they're kept in dog kennels, plywood boxes with not nearly enough lighting or heat it looks like, and just random other crap. It is hardly enough to get my creative juices flowing for my enclosure.

So let's see your varanus enclosures, preferably adult enclosures as I am adopting a 7 year old (hopefully). And any tips and tricks you feel like expressing are most welcome.

[infernalis]

Just read my site.. nuff said.

The link is in my signature.

[SerpentLust]

Awesome, thanks!

[varanus_mad]

Heres the thing sounds like your getting bogged down in how the enclosure looks... thats not the important thing get the set-up right to support your monitors needs first then worry about how it looks.

[Bradyloach]

im buying a 8x4 thats made out of pvc plastic for my sav

[CDN_Blood]

Heres the thing sounds like your getting bogged down in how the enclosure looks... thats not the important thing get the set-up right to support your monitors needs first then worry about how it looks.
Agreed. The enclosure is only going to be rearranged and/or excavated daily, so simple is better in my experience with monitors ;)

[Lankyrob]

reading through Waynes posts on here and glancing at his site we have readjusted our design for our future Sav enclosure. We will most likely get a pair tho this is under discussion :)

We are now looking at 14 foot long by 12 foot wide and attempting to grow live dwarf species of trees and bushes as well as natural grasses. We are thinking of 4 individual basking areas within this space with other spot bulbs to ensure no point of the enclosure gets too cold.

There will also be a "stream" running through the area (if this is possible to achieve :)) to provide drinking/bathing area and also somewhere to drop lobsters into (i know lobster is not the right word but am tired and cant think what i mean, sorry). I am hoping to tong feed each day to achieve some level of trust as well as releasing insects into the enclosure for hunting and enrichment.

In addition to this there will be an air lock style door system leading to an outside enclosure that will have some heat lamps but the savs will only have access to this outside area whilst we are present and when (if) the weather is warm enough.

All i need now is approx £30k to build it all :)

[jarich]

reading through Waynes posts on here and glancing at his site we have readjusted our design for our future Sav enclosure. We will most likely get a pair tho this is under discussion :)

We are now looking at 14 foot long by 12 foot wide and attempting to grow live dwarf species of trees and bushes as well as natural grasses. We are thinking of 4 individual basking areas within this space with other spot bulbs to ensure no point of the enclosure gets too cold.

There will also be a "stream" running through the area (if this is possible to achieve :)) to provide drinking/bathing area and also somewhere to drop lobsters into (i know lobster is not the right word but am tired and cant think what i mean, sorry). I am hoping to tong feed each day to achieve some level of trust as well as releasing insects into the enclosure for hunting and enrichment.

In addition to this there will be an air lock style door system leading to an outside enclosure that will have some heat lamps but the savs will only have access to this outside area whilst we are present and when (if) the weather is warm enough.

All i need now is approx £30k to build it all :)

Wow! That sounds awesome. And as soon as you find the 30K, tack on an extra 1K and Ill come help you build it (cause at that point, whats another grand?!). That would be amazingly fun to help build something like that.

[Lankyrob]

Lol - it certainly wont be me building it :) will be paying a contractor to get it all done for me :)

[Akuma223]

That sounds amazing lankyrob! Its definitely something I would do when I have my own house.

[SerpentLust]

Heres the thing sounds like your getting bogged down in how the enclosure looks... thats not the important thing get the set-up right to support your monitors needs first then worry about how it looks.

Anyone who knows me or my animals knows I go to great lengths to ensure proper husbandry is always met. And for those who don't know me yet, Hi, I'm Jenn, I'm an anal retentive yet charming and friendly herper chick of many years lol

I was just curious about different monitor enclosure designs and creative ideas as I am getting a bit tired of the more sterile appearance of my snake racks and enclosures, so I have been tinkering with my lizard enclosures lately, giving them a more natural feel.

I have come to really like the monitor enclosures that are built out of steel troughs, the proexotics website has quite a few examples.

http://www.proexotics.com/faq_images/troughtop4.jpg
http://www.proexotics.com/faq_images/monitor_trough_mikemonitors3.jpg
http://www.proexotics.com/faq_images/monitor_trough2.jpg

[infernalis]

functional, just not real attractive.

[mo9e64]

If you have any questions about building those type of cages Robyn and Frank are on another forum-you can ask them.They just had a great discussion on Retes Racks.PM if you want to know the site. Moe

[SnakeyJay]

Lol.... Quick everybody get some evidence and "results" for frank :D... Just teasing ya moe

[mo9e64]

No prob, i can't put that out there and not expect some teasin' .

[infernalis]

If you have any questions about building those type of cages Robyn and Frank are on another forum-you can ask them.They just had a great discussion on Retes Racks.PM if you want to know the site. Moe

Robyn can also be asked right here too....

[SnakeyJay]

Although it is slightly rude to direct someone away from here before we've run out of ways to help :D.... I'm sure u can help with some advice yourself Moe.

[infernalis]

Although it is slightly rude to direct someone away from here before we've run out of ways to help :D.... I'm sure u can help with some advice yourself Moe.


There is no slightly about it... I was once banned for a year from a forum for suggesting another via PM.

Users have to realize that management can read PM messages if deemed necessary.

It says so right in the forum rules we all agreed to when joining.