I Introduced My Savs...

[AjaMichelle]

...and it was relatively uneventful. I placed the new sav in Liam's enclosure and Liam sauntered over and gave her a smell. The new sav flipped out and tried to run away so Liam sort of tackled her into a hug and smelled her super hard; the new sav submitted and allowed Liam to smell her, then Liam let the new sav go and then came over to me to solicit food.

When Liam let go, the new sav proceeded to partially evert, and then to rub its copulatory organs all over the enclosure, for like ten minutes.

Afterwards, the new sav spent the next 6 hours trying to escape the enclosure before finally trying to climb into the hide in which Liam was sleeping. There wasn't enough room, as that hide is super tight and barely large enough for Liam, so the new sav settled on a burrow.

Upon moving, the new sav is considerably more tolerant of handling, and is more outgoing than before. The new sav also seems like it's trying to get Liam to play... or something.

My basking spot and hide scheme is working out perfectly. There are multiple basking spots of the same temperature so each sav has multiple choices. There hasn't been any disputing over basking spots.

Feeding them last night was interesting. The new sav kept trying to steal food from Liam, but they didn't fight at all.

So anyway... photos!

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC280471_zps97df2a05.jpg

How I found them when I came home from work last night. Liam is on the ground, in her preferred spot.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290021_zpsb948fdbf.jpg

Liam coming over for some yummy roaches.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290025_zps0044a62b.jpg

New sav coming over for some roaches
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290027_zps2f708b0e.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290026_zpscfa1f774.jpg

Lookin' tubby!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290041_zps5f6aa52c.jpg

And her tail has filled out again.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290043_zps7954857e.jpg

New Sav
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/PC290047_zps2a1dfed6.jpg

[BarelyBreathing]

I can't say it enough, I love love love your enclosure.

[infernalis]

I can't say it enough, I love love love your enclosure.

They are lucky lizards, for sure.

[AjaMichelle]

Thank you Wayne and BB! :) I'm not totally happy with the basking area. I am going to cover the platforms completely with flagstone so none of the wood is exposed and they aren't as slippery. And I'm going to add more ground cover underneath. I am looking to make a sort of wood pile.

...and I think the new sav is probably female.

[Pirarucu]

Looking great!

[alessia55]

Will they be living together from now on?

[AjaMichelle]

Looking great!

Thanks! :)

Will they be living together from now on?

Yes they'll be living together from now on :)

[infernalis]

...and I think the new sav is probably female.

I look at it this way, even if it is another female, having two gives them something to do besides sit around.

Even if I have 2 males, I have no regrets. Seeing them interact with each other is worth it, and I think it enriches captive life.

[AjaMichelle]

I agree wholly Wayne! :)

[AjaMichelle]

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/97E2FE9E-B52C-4172-95AF-1BE7FE2A148D-6419-0000040614BB1CF2.jpg

[AjaMichelle]

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/767FCDA3-87AB-4D66-92EC-27CBE6A20CC0-7021-0000045870FF1619.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/42C94D3E-5528-4AAB-98A1-26B1DE252F62-7021-00000457FDCA8FF8.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/EC686FEE-6518-43BD-BCBB-EC8C785902BD-8661-0000054225D0E191.jpg

[BarelyBreathing]

They both look great.

[AjaMichelle]

Thanks BB! :)

[beardeds4life]

I agree that is one awesome enclosure. They look very happy :D

[MrBosc]

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/767FCDA3-87AB-4D66-92EC-27CBE6A20CC0-7021-0000045870FF1619.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/42C94D3E-5528-4AAB-98A1-26B1DE252F62-7021-00000457FDCA8FF8.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Liam/EC686FEE-6518-43BD-BCBB-EC8C785902BD-8661-0000054225D0E191.jpg
That is such a wicked picture where the one is lying on the other =] makes me feel like my one is lonely now lol :P

[AjaMichelle]

That is such a wicked picture where the one is lying on the other =] makes me feel like my one is lonely now lol :P

Thanks! :) I am happy that they seem to enjoy each others' company! :) However, remember that reptiles do not associate the way mammals do, and lying on top of one another is not ideal in many situations. I'm sure that most individuals do well living alone (possibly your bosc included!).

It's often a show of dominance, or a tangible message that resources are too limited, and individuals too many, in an enclosure. For example, many folks who keep reptiles over-crowd enclosures. The reptiles are forced to pile on top of one another to make use of limited resources. Those at the bottom suffer deficiencies and are often stressed.

Keeping more than one individual in a single enclosure means making sure you're providing more than enough resources--- food, security, basking spots, uvb radiation (less so with monitors), etc. I began preparing to move in the second savannah monitor weeks before I actually did so.

I want to stress that keeping two monitors together is not as straightforward as it might seem to be, and that you should avoid projecting emotions like loneliness, etc. onto reptiles. :)

I am fairly certain that these interactions are not stressful to either individual based on a number of other observations, but I can't really make a guess as to what's going on, especially since I haven't confirmed the sex of the second monitor, and I feel to do so would be to anthropomorphize. :)

[infernalis]

I want to stress that keeping two monitors together is not as straightforward as it might seem to be, and that you should avoid projecting emotions like loneliness, etc. onto reptiles.. :)

I concur fully.

My two grew up together, and I have to keep an eye on them that their little power struggles do not become too violent.

In the name of simplicity, I would never suggest a "rookie keeper" ( I do not mean that in a derogatory sense ) place two Boscs in the same cage.

Someone entering into this for the first time already has enough on their mind getting the conditions right for just one animal that two can be overwhelming.

[MrBosc]

Thanks! :) I am happy that they seem to enjoy each others' company! :) However, remember that reptiles do not associate the way mammals do, and lying on top of one another is not ideal in many situations. I'm sure that most individuals do well living alone (possibly your bosc included!).

It's often a show of dominance, or a tangible message that resources are too limited, and individuals too many, in an enclosure. For example, many folks who keep reptiles over-crowd enclosures. The reptiles are forced to pile on top of one another to make use of limited resources. Those at the bottom suffer deficiencies and are often stressed.

Keeping more than one individual in a single enclosure means making sure you're providing more than enough resources--- food, security, basking spots, uvb radiation (less so with monitors), etc. I began preparing to move in the second savannah monitor weeks before I actually did so.

I want to stress that keeping two monitors together is not as straightforward as it might seem to be, and that you should avoid projecting emotions like loneliness, etc. onto reptiles. :)

I am fairly certain that these interactions are not stressful to either individual based on a number of other observations, but I can't really make a guess as to what's going on, especially since I haven't confirmed the sex of the second monitor, and I feel to do so would be to anthropomorphize. :)
Wow well that's something new learned, I would have looked at them and thought "awww they're getting along so well" I would never have assumed it may have been to indicate that was in more dominant.

But all the best with yours I have a good feeling that they will get a long fine, and as for resources you've built a swimming pool so I'm fairly sure they should have no problem with what they have, I just suppose it's whether or not they both accept what they have than fight over it.

[MrBosc]

I concur fully.

My two grew up together, and I have to keep an eye on them that their little power struggles do not become too violent.

In the name of simplicity, I would never suggest a "rookie keeper" ( I do not mean that in a derogatory sense ) place two Boscs in the same cage.

Someone entering into this for the first time already has enough on their mind getting the conditions right for just one animal that two can be overwhelming.
Yes very true, well now I've noticed that anyway.. getting the conditions right for one is fairly hard so it is only right to concentrate with the one you have then once your knowledge has broadened a heck of a lot and you know more than the basics then you may see fit to have another one. I love watching your two savs have a little play, although I did think they would have a little scrap when the one bit the others tail :P

[AjaMichelle]

Update! :)

So I attempted to harness Liam to ensure she couldn't escape during her first experience outside of the enclosure, and she squirmed right out of it and looked at me like I was insane. Then she cautiously walked around and smelled and enjoyed roaches for a few minutes, but didn't do anything crazy except try to climb my humidifier. Then she let me pick her up, and when I tried to put her back in the enclosure, she grabbed onto the door track and tried to pull herself back out!

It went very well and her activity level has increased so much that I want to give her more time outside of the enclosure. My reptile room averages 50% humidity so she should only benefit.

She's increased in total length, and I'm working on getting an actual measurement. She's also lost over 30 grams. She weighed in tonight, post-poop and pre-feeding at 1.353 kg down from 1.583 kg. The little sav has broken 900 grams!

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280230_zpsf608a5c2.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280235_zps69c6c33a.jpg

The smaller sav watching us from the enclosure lol
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280238_zps90a86857.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280239_zps870b3189.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280240_zpse03d9859.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280242_zps91f8b28d.jpg

Smaller sav
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280243_zps7f570890.jpg

[AjaMichelle]

Liam
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280244_zps60fc8ff1.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280245_zps710a01c3.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280250_zpsf927625a.jpg

Smaller sav
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280254_zpsdb8bd55e.jpg

Liam
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280260_zps46c9c4b8.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280277_zpsc2f7377c.jpg

http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280276_zps67a1a43f.jpg

Those claws are really coming in!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Housed%20Together/P1280279_zps2006c123.jpg

[infernalis]

looking great as always Aja.

[AjaMichelle]

Thanks Wayne! :)

[AjaMichelle]

LLnFol2kr4M

She did not notice that box is FULL of roaches!

[bowdenmx]

They both look great. i love the two basking levels you have. may have to steal that idea :p

[AjaMichelle]

They both look great. i love the two basking levels you have. may have to steal that idea :p

Thanks! :) steal away! Just be sure to modify them such that they aren't slippery. These shelves ended up being pretty slick after I sealed them. And if you have a sav who doesn't quite trust you yet, the shelves may be too open and not secure enough for use, so take that into consideration too. :) these two are fine with the exposure.

[bowdenmx]

Thanks! :) steal away! Just be sure to modify them such that they aren't slippery. These shelves ended up being pretty slick after I sealed them. And if you have a sav who doesn't quite trust you yet, the shelves may be too open and not secure enough for use, so take that into consideration too. :) these two are fine with the exposure.

thats a good point, mayb i could make it so its removable just in case? just thought having it just a little off the substrate would allow for more floor area and burrowing.

[BarelyBreathing]

I love the picture of the little one looking out.

[AjaMichelle]

thats a good point, mayb i could make it so its removable just in case? just thought having it just a little off the substrate would allow for more floor area and burrowing.

More floor space was my main motivation for using the shelves. The savs really use them a lot and I've been really happy with them other than how smooth they turned out. But given how cool your enclosure is, I'm sure you can come up with a really neat solution. :) you may start with a more secure spot and then add the shelves later. :)

I love the picture of the little one looking out.

He was so funny. Liam never lets him look out like that. I wanted to bring him out too but he's not trustworthy yet- too bitey and flighty. :)