Ok new savannah enclosure.. HELP!!

[sSNAKESs.com]

ok guys!! you said the sand was no good and glass sucked to.. so how about this??? 12" of "dirt" a DEEP cave, large water dish and a 140 degree hotspot... in a 4 x 2 x 2 melamine enlcosure... is this good for a baby savannah??? hehe i hope this time its right...

[NiagaraReptiles]

It looks to me like you're still thinking "snake"

Burrowing species like Sav's burrow for several reasons. One - to gain/retain moisture, Two - to escape the sun, Three - to thermoregulate, Four - security......and the list goes on. These are some of the most important reasons a Sav may have to burrow. In order to achieve any of the goals set above, it may want to burrow in a different area.....maybe to find a certain temp, or humidity level, or ?? This is why it's important of offer the choices to the monitor and let it decide. Don't "force" it to use what you have provided for it. It's all about choices.

Now, with that in mind.....if only part of the cage has a deep enough substrate for burrowing, how many options does that provide for the monitor? Or your basking spot, can that offer a secure area for basking as well as one in the open? Does the surface temp get hot enough at such a high distance from the substrate?

I hope that got some wheels turning, and I'll just leave you to ponder for a while It is difficult to get into the right frame of mind for proper monitor husbandry when one is used to keeping other reptiles. I still catch myself thinking like a human (sometimes I don't catch myself and it has to be brought to my attention by either the monitors or friends with more experience than I).

Best wishes, of course

[sSNAKESs.com]

uh oh!! lol i thought i was on the right page!! well the monitor will be like 6 inches??!?!?! and the substrate is 5" at its lowest depth, so i thought it would be able to burrow there??? i know when a monitor is adult it will need a cage with 24" of substrate but i thought this would be ok for a baby??? could anyone post some pics of there setups so i can get a better idea?? im lost jonny!! dont leave me to make the wheels turn by myself LOL!! they arent well oiled! :P

[NiagaraReptiles]

Admitting you're lost is the first step towards proper Monitor husbandry

Hell, I'm always lost......but my monitors help me along the way.

Again, maybe your little Sav will only want to burrow 5", but what if it wants to burrow more? Options, options, options You'll find too that the whole slanted substrate thing will frustrate the hell out of you once you get a healthy Varanid in there

Try to give the Monitor more than it 'needs', and let it determine what that ammount is. It may tell you you'll need more/less/hotter/colder/etc....

[sSNAKESs.com]

Thanks Jon! I guess i should concentrate on getting the monitor so i can actually observe those types of needs! LOL.. the search continues!! maybe the november show i can find one! *crosses fingers*

[NiagaraReptiles]

The basic needs will be the same for any species of monitor. Different species have developed different methods of attaining these needs depending on thier environment, however.

The best thing to do would be to start off with a "basic" set up.
<b>Basking spot(s)</b>must provide enough heat (140°F+), multiple basking sites more important if housing multiple animals together. Basking spots should not only consist of an open area with intense heat, but also hides under this "hot spot" for sheltered basking/security.
<b>Places to burrow</b> - as you don't know where the monitor wants to burrow, it's best to always keep the substrate plenty deep enough for burrowing throughout the entire enclosure, in various temperature ranges and humidity levels, etc. Different species also have different substrate composition requirements for burrowing/nesting. This tends to be a more species specific thing as opposed to individual preference. For example, you could have 3 feet of cypress mulch for a Sav and it's going to go crazy as it doesn't see that as being a suitable/recognizable substrate.
<b>Other obsitcles</b> - branches, safely placed rocks, wooded structures, etc. can offer hiding places, and activities for captive monitors.

After you have your monitor in with the "basics" you can then observe behavior and try to determine if everything the monitor needs is available to it in a form that is reconizable to it.

[Jeff_Favelle]

I can see this happening in my head right now. You put that Savannah in that cage and I guarantee you its going to pile that soil at the front of the cage so that when you open it, its all going to come pouring out!!

Nice-looking soil though!! You have the right substrate, now we just have to arrange it correctly!!

Under the heat lamp, you can place a "Retes stack"

The water dish does not need to be nearly so large. Your Savannah will never soak if kept properly.

10 inches of soil throughout should last a baby Savannah about 4-6 months depending on growth rate.

This is gonna be fun!

[lance]

very nic e lookin cage though Jeff if you wanna get rid of it sendit to me hehehe

[NiagaraReptiles]

Jeff F. - "Nice-looking soil though!! You have the right substrate, now we just have to arrange it correctly!!"

Easy with the word "right" there Jeff. One of the things I have learrned is that when talking about monitor husbandry there isn't right and wrong ways to do things.......there are bad/good/better, and again I stress that what is good at your house, may not be good at someone elses's house.

That dirt that Jeff S. has there looks like topsoil to me. While this should serve his purpose for now, I think he'll find that something else would be better, but that is something better learned by experience

[Dom]

And what might that be Jon? You got my curiosity..

Jeff, If you are looking for a second sav. Let me know, I may have a 12 inche sav for sale soon enough for sale for cheap.

Nice try on the set up though, Don't worry, I had been keeping monitors COMPLETLY WRONG for the longest tiem I am am proud to say I do it much better bu still not even close to perfect..

Jon is Right on this one .. experience is learned in time and frustration...

[Jeff_Favelle]

You think if he adds more sand to that soil it might be a better, usable, substrate? It may be. Its just looks like soil that would hold moisture very well right now.

[Dom]

Looking at your cage again Jeff .. I can see onthing that will trully get on you nerves .. the fact athta the drite will get stuck everywhere in the tracks and tat it will pill up against the window .. Its a nice looking set up though .. not ideal though for a sav

[C.Marshell]

Jeff....In case you are wondering what a retes stack is,just click on this link,should give you all the info you need.

http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ_answer...tes_Stack.html