Monitor enclosure discussion thread - Page 22

KORBIN5895 · 02-24-13, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

I'm sure there's someone who breeds and makes sure they go to a good home..

I was meaning dogs and cats go into shelters and it's preferred to adopt rather then buy from a breeder who doesn't care where the animals go.

Yeah. There are really no sav breeders.

poison123 · 02-23-13, 09:28 PM

Imo if you see an animal you want then get it if you have the space. If this one were to die nothing would have stopped them from getting another.

infernalis · 02-25-13, 04:29 PM

another noteable build....

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varan...estions-3.html

War Machine · 02-25-13, 04:34 PM

The hunt for dirt is next!

jarich · 02-25-13, 04:39 PM

Looking good man!

Redbeard206 · 03-20-13, 02:37 PM

What is the best reptile friendly sealant to use on the wood for my Monitor enclosure? Wanna make sure not to use anything harmful. Thank you

infernalis · 03-20-13, 03:29 PM

I used Dutch boy floor sealer. seems to be holding up.

formica · 05-30-13, 12:36 PM

amzing thread, thanks to all who have contributed

I am a new Sav owner, admitidly bought on impulse, although I was aware of their basic needs before hand, have kept quite a few reptiles over the years, always loved them, and monitors have been on my list of reptiles i'd love to have for a loooong time!

At the moment, he/she, is just a hatchling, 5 inches long and quite nervous, i've set up a small enclosure for now, because I want to be sure its feeding properly and generally in good health - will be off to the vet in a few weeks for a check up, sexing and parasite checks

Although currently in a small enclosure, i've managed to keep the humidity high, and a nice tempreture gradient and 48C (sorry i'm english, i dont know F, 130ish i think) basking spot, although it seems to like the slightly cooler areas just around it. Theres a big plastic bowl full of water, which is obligingly used as a toilet every morning

currently about 6 inches of tortoise sand-soil mix in the bass of the enclosure, tapering off to an inch nearer to the heat lamp. Two large pieces of aquarium drift wood are its favorite places to sit on and sleep under.

I'm using a 75W hallogen bulb at the moment, the basking area seems ok, but i may try a spot lamp bulb if i have any issues with tempreture. Also have a 15W heatmatt under the 'cool' side of the enclosure, which comes on at night once the main basking lamp is out - personally I prefer to emulate natural heating, and keep it nice and warm at night, but not hot as it is during the day - been to africa a few times, and it can get damn cold at night, so I think this is ok.

Average temps in the enclosure are 30C in the middle, 35C around the heat lamp, 48C under the heat lamp, 25-26C on the cool side, with the soil temp about the same. Humidity in the middle is around 70-80%, 20-30% near the heat lamp, and around 90-100% underneath the drift wood where it likes to sleep most of the time.

It does like to dig, but generally just sleeps under the wood, which is warm and humid so I guess this is ok

Any advice much appriciated, this is my first monitor

I already have much of the wood required for its final enclosure which is set to be 10ft x 5ft x 2 ft, with a large heated aquarium in the base for swimming and catching fish (good idea for Savs? I know they love the swim, and feel if they will catch fish, then why not...but open to more experienced advice!). Also will be provided with 3 feet of soil should it deciede that burrowing is its prefered place to sleep

I only plan on keeping it in the current enclosure (2ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft) until after I've established that its healthy and behaving normally, aswell as becoming used to my presence, then its moving to a 4x2x2 enclosure ( I hve plenty of enclosures for repltiles available so moving from one to another is not an issue from that point of view)

I have one question, is the 4x2x2 going to be big enough for the next 6-7months? i am moving house in 6months time, and i would rather build the enclosure into the house, rather than deconstruct and reconstruct - that said, my sav's health is more important to me than a little extra labour, but if he's not going to grow to much longer than a foot or so i think I can wait till i move? any advice greatefull recieved

smy_749 · 05-30-13, 04:49 PM

I will let someone respond with more detail, but a large aquarium will need an amazing filter, and they are not a very 'aquatic' species so its not necessary. I would just get a large rubbermaid that you can easily replace the water which will end up being mud anyways.

Your current enclosure is too small, 2 feet is not enough.

Put him in the 4x2x2 now, don't worry about if hes eating or not. Just get a dish where he can get in and the food can't get out and you will be monitoring just fine.

formica · 05-30-13, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

I will let someone respond with more detail, but a large aquarium will need an amazing filter, and they are not a very 'aquatic' species so its not necessary. I would just get a large rubbermaid that you can easily replace the water which will end up being mud anyways.

Your current enclosure is too small, 2 feet is not enough.

Put him in the 4x2x2 now, don't worry about if hes eating or not. Just get a dish where he can get in and the food can't get out and you will be monitoring just fine.

thanks, I have a 306 filter which will happily keep a large tank clean, i was also contemplating a smaller setup - i'll investigate more, mud could be an issue, and soiling, it does like using the water as a toilet lol I'll see what I turn up, I would like to give it the opportunity to catch fish to eat, should it so wish - are there any reasons that I shouldnt do this?

eating hasnt been an issue, it has an enourmous appetite! I dont generally buy from pet stores, hence by over cautious approach to his health over the next few weeks, happy to say the place I bought him was very clear about his needs as he grew and became an adult

murrindindi · 05-30-13, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

amzing thread, thanks to all who have contributed

I am a new Sav owner, admitidly bought on impulse, although I was aware of their basic needs before hand, have kept quite a few reptiles over the years, always loved them, and monitors have been on my list of reptiles i'd love to have for a loooong time!

At the moment, he/she, is just a hatchling, 5 inches long and quite nervous, i've set up a small enclosure for now, because I want to be sure its feeding properly and generally in good health - will be off to the vet in a few weeks for a check up, sexing and parasite checks

Although currently in a small enclosure, i've managed to keep the humidity high, and a nice tempreture gradient and 48C (sorry i'm english, i dont know F, 130ish i think) basking spot, although it seems to like the slightly cooler areas just around it. Theres a big plastic bowl full of water, which is obligingly used as a toilet every morning

currently about 6 inches of tortoise sand-soil mix in the bass of the enclosure, tapering off to an inch nearer to the heat lamp. Two large pieces of aquarium drift wood are its favorite places to sit on and sleep under.

I'm using a 75W hallogen bulb at the moment, the basking area seems ok, but i may try a spot lamp bulb if i have any issues with tempreture. Also have a 15W heatmatt under the 'cool' side of the enclosure, which comes on at night once the main basking lamp is out - personally I prefer to emulate natural heating, and keep it nice and warm at night, but not hot as it is during the day - been to africa a few times, and it can get damn cold at night, so I think this is ok.

Average temps in the enclosure are 30C in the middle, 35C around the heat lamp, 48C under the heat lamp, 25-26C on the cool side, with the soil temp about the same. Humidity in the middle is around 70-80%, 20-30% near the heat lamp, and around 90-100% underneath the drift wood where it likes to sleep most of the time.

It does like to dig, but generally just sleeps under the wood, which is warm and humid so I guess this is ok

Any advice much appriciated, this is my first monitor

I already have much of the wood required for its final enclosure which is set to be 10ft x 5ft x 2 ft, with a large heated aquarium in the base for swimming and catching fish (good idea for Savs? I know they love the swim, and feel if they will catch fish, then why not...but open to more experienced advice!). Also will be provided with 3 feet of soil should it deciede that burrowing is its prefered place to sleep

I only plan on keeping it in the current enclosure (2ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft) until after I've established that its healthy and behaving normally, aswell as becoming used to my presence, then its moving to a 4x2x2 enclosure ( I hve plenty of enclosures for repltiles available so moving from one to another is not an issue from that point of view)

I have one question, is the 4x2x2 going to be big enough for the next 6-7months? i am moving house in 6months time, and i would rather build the enclosure into the house, rather than deconstruct and reconstruct - that said, my sav's health is more important to me than a little extra labour, but if he's not going to grow to much longer than a foot or so i think I can wait till i move? any advice greatefull recieved

Hi, it would be good if you could start another thread as this one is basically for the construction of enclosures rather than the care of the animal/s, and I feel you need to adjust your husbandry asap. E.g. "My new Savannah monitor" might get more responses.
A few comments: I`ll guess you`re using an all glass fishtank at the moment, although they can be modified this one is far too small, it will be extremely difficult to provide the necessary conditions inside. In 6 months this monitor could well be 60cm ToL!
A surface temp at the basking site of 48c is only 118f, it needs to be somewhat higher @ between approx. 50 to 60c (120 to 140f), the other temp you need to worry about is the lowest ambient (air) @ approx. 24c (75f).
A few photos will also be very helpful. Thanks!