just a few questions.

[thomas1123]

Hello all! I was thinking the other day and is it possible for a monitor to go to the bathroom inside one of its burrows? If so how would you go about cleaning it up?
Would you destroy that part of the burrow or what? Also when cleaning the vivarium in general do you destroy the burrows or leave them around? Those are just some questions I haven't really been able to find an answer for. LOL. Also for a baby ackie monitor should i put it on paper towels till he is older or just put him with dirt automatically? Should i get an Under Tank Heater or no? I have been reading and I read that monitors do not need a UVB light. Is this true? When I get my ackie i am going to be putting him into an exo-terra cage until he gets bigger and i can get my custom cage built. But I was planning to cut a piece of plywood to the size of my tank so I could keep the humidity in. Would this work to help save humidity instead of a screen lid? Thanks! If i forgot any questions ill be sure to post them! I just want to make sure I do everything correctly the first time.

[Grendel]

The short answer to the question is they will poop where they please. You should not dig them out and break up their burrows because you will stress them and they will hate you.
So don't worry about a poop underground.

[formica]

My Sav only poops in its water tray, and it had previously used an empty tray to poop in aswell (glass, nothing in it), only once in the substrate when i first got it, after that, only in the water - which is really the most amazing thing I've experienced with reptiles, the stench of a freshly layed poop is hard work to deal with haha but now I just pour it all down the toilet, sterilize the tray and refil with fresh water

Would a monitor really poop in its own burrow? I feel not, from what I've read most peoples monitors like to do it in water, or far away from the burrow entrance - the expression "dont s**t on your own doorstep" comes to mind

i'm not an expert tho - so i culd be wrong, I'd imagine the smell would get pretty bad if it was doing that tho, you'd know about it

[infernalis]

First of all, if the most intelligent reptile to walk the earth should be pooping where it sleeps, it's sick.

I could not imagine a healthy monitor crapping in his bed.

With a well set up bio active cage, cleaning is not necessary, bacteria and bugs will clean the cage for you. A little vinegar windex for the front glass is all you will need.

I leave my animal's burrows alone.

My honest opinion, I would put baby right into an adult size enclosure right away. There is a benefit to this, the extra room promotes exercise.

[infernalis]

My animals don't poop in their water.

[formica]

Originally Posted by infernalis

My animals don't poop in their water.

do they have a favorite spot to poop? or is just random?

My Sav also has another smaller bowl of water, which he doesnt poop in, only in the soaking tray, and thankfully only once a day lol I suspect in the wild these guys find a stream to poop in, perhaps to keep them safer from predetors, bit like cats digging and covering their own

[infernalis]

My lizards poop in the back corners of the cage.

All evidence seems to indicate that Savannah Monitors don't frequent streams very often.

[varanus_mad]

Originally Posted by infernalis

My lizards poop in the back corners of the cage.

All evidence seems to indicate that Savannah Monitors don't frequent streams very often.

if youv ever seen one swimming compared to a truly aquatic monitor you know why...

[franks]

Originally Posted by varanus_mad

if youv ever seen one swimming compared to a truly aquatic monitor you know why...

Mine is a pretty capable swimmer. I have been surprised. Also, Mine will only poop in his water. The annoying part is sometimes he will hold it in and wait until I change his water.

Edit: From what I have read, been told, and have experienced, these extremely intelligent animals usually choose the water because they understand from an early age that it is changed daily. I think most keepers that change daily will find that their lizard chooses this as a toilet bowl because it will not have to live with its own crap.

[franks]

Originally Posted by infernalis

All evidence seems to indicate that Savannah Monitors don't frequent streams very often.

Can you link or describe the evidence? I would be very interested to see.

[mdfmonitor]

i've seen them bury their poop before & i think they poop in the water to help avoid predators ( can't prove), my sav use to go in one end & out the other pooping on the way, maybe if he'd had a great set-up like Waynes he may not of poop in his water, i'll never know.

[formica]

its odd that its a common occurrence in captivity then; I assumed it was the norm from everything i've read so far, not doing it in water being rarer

[varanus_mad]

Originally Posted by formica

its odd that its a common occurrence in captivity then; I assumed it was the norm from everything i've read so far, not doing it in water being rarer

Im not sure if its something to do with how well hydrated your monitor is or not....

i see it more frequently in those kept sub-standard than those kept like waynes...

[thomas1123]

Yeah this is what i was thinking but i just didn't know 100% lol To increase humidity should i put a little water dripper or anything just to keep the soil a little moist in the cage or should i just mist it once a day?

[varanus_mad]

Originally Posted by thomas1123

Yeah this is what i was thinking but i just didn't know 100% lol To increase humidity should i put a little water dripper or anything just to keep the soil a little moist in the cage or should i just mist it once a day?

If your viv has no vents... and a good depth of soil it shouldnt need that level of attention... and if it does...

Then your monitors suffering from low level dehydration as our viv designs have to minimise humidity loss and consequently moisture loss from your monitor...