My sav :)

Skits · 02-21-12, 08:20 PM

I would like to introduce my sav, Spence.

He's my first monitor, and I've had him for about two days now. He was a bit of an impulse buy at a petstore, I of course knew a bit about them at the time but I'm learning much more now. I did make the mistake of feeding him raw turkey and a rat, which after reading some links and posts on this website, realise it was wrong. Today he got lots of mealies and crickets. Also in the first couple of pictures, his substrate was forest bark or something like that, which I've changed to soil now which I hope is fine.

Skits · 02-21-12, 08:21 PM

Also we're going to be building him a very large enclosure soon so no worries.

If anyone has any tips and suggestions, feel free to tell! I want to ensure my Spence gets the best care I can provide for him.

Swany · 02-21-12, 08:25 PM

Hi and welcome to the madhouse. you'll get all the help you need here ;-)

youngster · 02-21-12, 08:36 PM

Is he eating a rat? That's pretty much a no-no from what I've learned.

Gungirl · 02-21-12, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youngster

Is he eating a rat? That's pretty much a no-no from what I've learned.

If you read the original post he explains it..

infernalis · 02-21-12, 08:39 PM

Hello Spence....

Well Skits, I hope you are ready for this. The fish tank has to go, it's never going to keep Spence healthy.

You are going to need a cage like this one because humidity is paramount for your Monitor's health long term, Otherwise I can assure you he/she won't last beyond a year or two before passing away a very gruesom death.

I know because it happened to me.

infernalis · 02-21-12, 08:41 PM

Read these links..

The Savannah Monitor, Varanus exanthematicus

Varanus.US

The information there is going to be your best friend.

Skits · 02-21-12, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

If you read the original post he explains it..

She

But yes thank you.

I was on another forum and hadn't researched much at that time and thought it would be fine but I've changed his diet now to crickets and other bugs.

Gungirl · 02-21-12, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skits

She

But yes thank you.

Haha sorry Skits.. everyone is automatically a guy unless I know for sure.. bad habbit.

Skits · 02-21-12, 08:43 PM

And infernalis, thanks for the links I'll check them out. We're going to start building him a new enclosure ASAP. I'm hoping to get it started in the next week or two.

youngster · 02-21-12, 08:46 PM

Whoops sorry, I read that post but somehow I must have missed that part

BarelyBreathing · 02-21-12, 09:41 PM

In the mean time, add substrate to fill about half of that tank, and be sure to cover any screen on top.

**millertime89** · 02-21-12, 09:56 PM

argh... I want a monitor!
I need to stop checking the varanid sections on various forums.

Skits · 02-21-12, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

In the mean time, add substrate to fill about half of that tank, and be sure to cover any screen on top.

Will do, thanks for the tip. Could I use alluminum foil? I would think it would hold in humidity.

BarelyBreathing · 02-21-12, 10:30 PM

Alluminum foil works, but I find that a moist (but not dripping) towel works well to add to the humidity. Something to remember, they are savannah monitors, not desert monitors. They require humidity.