Here's my Mikey - Page 2

spyderman · 08-07-03, 12:50 PM

I'm really a snake man, But that is a really gr8 looking Sav'. I love taking pic after pic after pic.....aft.... Oh you get the picture...Lol. I got quite a few pics online of my Bull, but got to upload the Corn pics. Keep us posted!

Dragoon · 08-07-03, 04:41 PM

Hello. Nice pics of Mikey.

I just had to comment though on the set up.
It is very pretty and interesting for a human to look at. White sand, curvy branches, contrasting rocks etc. None of which your sav needs.
Sometimes you have to choose between what makes an eye pleasing display, and what makes your pet thrive.

Sand dries out too fast, and the gritty edges can cause babies to lose toes. Weathered dirt from outside (while ugly) is recommended. And enough of it to hold tunnels. Your baby will dig its own hidespots. A layer of dried leaves on top will make it look nicer and smell foresty. It will hold humidity better, as long as there is no screen top. Hides and hollows need to allow the animal to actually hide. In a good cage, you won't see your varanid much.
Don't worry, though, they quickly learn to show up dinner time!
And I agree, at this age, he should be allowed to eat and eat. With good husbandry, it will equal growth, not fat. Worry about his waistline in 4 or 5 months. Males like to pack it on. They will beg and beg like they are starving, lol.
Good luck. D.

V.hb · 08-07-03, 06:05 PM

D, Thanks for repeating basically what I said.

meluvstgr · 08-07-03, 11:50 PM

I appreciate the information. As far as the "eye-pleasingness". TOTALLY not why I bought that stuff. It was what I knew was best at the time. I got the calci-sand because I was told it wouldn't hurt them if they ate some. I need to go out and get some dirt now. But ew, what if it has stuff in it? Does it matter?

And I hardly ever see Mikey. Those pretty trees have crevices inside that he loves to smoosh himself into, so they are pretty AND they fulfill their purpose. But I will get him some dirt.

Can anyone suggest a lid for my cage that will work with my lighting? I now have a uvb, and 2 heat lamps on the basking
spot. As of right now, he has a screen lid. But half is covered on top with a damp towel. Best I could do for the moment.

I also appreciate the food info. I read somewhere 2 crickets every day, and I didn't think that was quite right. So I've been feeding him 5.

Do you guys feed him the crickets in his tank or in a feeding tank? If in a feeder, what is in it? Just dirt?

Pontus · 08-08-03, 12:05 AM

when i had a sav i just put in alot of crikets and let him eat for a while but then i just adjusted it depending on how much he could eat and would stop eaten and he turned out fine 5 is not enough in my opinion

dirt is great and i used top soil and i had not problems with it even tho i knew bugs and stuff would be in it nothing seems to hit them there like mini tanks lol

meluvstgr · 08-08-03, 12:09 AM

I'm sorry. I forgot to put in that post that I will bump him to 12. I meant to put it in there. I just meant that I heard 2 and I thought it sounded too little.

But that's good to know. I will just start buying more. Or taking more trips to my pet store. Guys got any tips on housing crickets?

Jeff_Favelle · 08-08-03, 01:32 AM

1) Savannahs (or ANY monitor for that case) cannot get fat if housed properly.

2) 2 or 12 crickets a day? My Ackies, which are tiny cousins to your lizard eat 30-60 crickets a day EACH! I can't imagine how long they'd live on only 2 crickets a day!!

NewLineReptile · 08-08-03, 01:50 AM

Nice little sav you got i also agree feed him more here are some of my little Savannahs

Good luck with him

Brandon

ectotherm · 08-08-03, 01:10 PM

Use a 10 or 20L gal aquarium with screened top. Empty egg cartons or crumpled newsprint will provide hides for the bugs. Your best bet is to order crix online. Assuming your guy gets up to 20 or so a day, you are looking at several hundred crickets per month. You will make your local petshop owner rich if you buy crix that way. That said, start offering pinks as early as possible.

Great pics, best of luck to the both of you.

meluvstgr · 08-09-03, 12:30 AM

Well, he's 3 monthes old. How soon should I start offering pinkies? I heard that you can feed them pinkies when their head is about the width of one.

And Jeff, I am sorry, but I do not agree with that at all. They need exercise to not get obese. Any monitor book will tell you that, and it makes sense anyway.

meluvstgr · 08-09-03, 12:33 AM

Okay, everyone on here who has owned a savannah monitor, or owns one, please tell me right now how many yours eats in a day. I wanna hear everyone on this one. I don't care how much I spend, I just want to know how many.

Jeff_Favelle · 08-09-03, 04:27 AM

Quote:

They need exercise to not get obese. Any monitor book will tell you that, and it makes sense anyway.

Really? Hmmm.....which are these great monitor books you speak of.

And its not really exercise that keeps a monitor's weight in check. Don't confuse yourself. Yes its part of their metabolism, but doing cardio and laps in your backyard do not make your monitor skinny, ha ha!!

Kyle Walkinshaw · 08-09-03, 03:31 PM

LOL

meluvstgr · 08-09-03, 07:09 PM

Love the visual on that one! haha

Oh, btw, Mikey is now in dirt from my backyard.

hudson · 08-15-03, 10:29 AM

If you don't want to put a bunch of crickets in his tank in case he won't eat them, use a seperate feeding tank and dump a bunch in, if he eats them put more in. At his size food should not be restricted in anyway, you don't have to worry about him becoming obese for a while. And if you are still worried about his weight, he will get plenty of exercise chasing after all those crickets in the feeding tank.

Kate