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Hello all, I've been looking in to getting a savannah monitor lizard. I was wondering if anyone knew a few stores in Phoenix that carry them. I'd prefer a younger lizard so that I may raise it. If anyone knows of some stores, I's greatly appreciate the feedback. Thank you
I know the normal shipments are done in march. I have not built an enclosure for one yet, but I could make one before march. And I have a lot of dry dirt that I could sift to get rocks and stuff out of, and I know I'll also need some other substrate because my dirt is dry and crumbly.
I ran my cage empty for two months while I dialed everything in, that allowed me to sort out any issues (and there were a few) prior to involving any animals.
easy fix for dry soil.
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Okay thank you. About what size enclosure would you say is appropriate for 1 savannah monitor? And currently I have a 50 long terrarium, would that support a very young monitor for about a year?
Not really, no. They will reach adult size in about a year or so. It would take more work to adapt that tank to their needs for a couple months than it would just to build the adult enclosure and get it taken care of right away.
The general rule of thumb is to give it an enclosure twice the length of how long the adult will be, and as wide as it is long. So in that case you are looking at an enclosure around 8 feet by 4 feet. Youll also need about 2 feet of soil substrate and another two feet or so for lighting, so around 4 feet tall. Now that is the recommended minimum, and if you can give them more room, then that is even better.
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Okay thank you. About what size enclosure would you say is appropriate for 1 savannah monitor? And currently I have a 50 long terrarium, would that support a very young monitor for about a year?
my Sav grew from ~5inches to 21inches, in ~6 months, many grow significantly more than that, they grow really fast! with a adult growth potential of 36-48inches+
...I dont think a 4ft enclosure is fair on a Sav for a year...6 months tops, but, there isnt much point in doing that unless you have no other option, as you dont have the Sav now, you do have options, there are smaller monitors out there, or get building a big enclosure, 8x4x4 is recommended minimum, and many Sav owners feel that is not big enough
when I got mine, everything I thought I knew about monitor husbandry requirements was wrong, I wouldnt recommend putting one into a 4ft enclosure unless there was no other choice, but you have a choice! and plenty of time to get a big enclosure built
I know they don't come in until march so arizona will have warmer weather, but would an enclosure be good to put outside if I don't have room in my house? Since it gets to be 100+ in the summer I'm sure that would work for a savannah monitor outside in an enclosure, but what about the winter? Would an outside encousure still work? I have plenty if room to build an enclosure larger than 8x4x4 and I could build a little canopy to keep it out of direct sun. Is this a good idea or a terrible one?
It'll get to be more than 100 in the sun, but normally in the shade the temp is usually a lot cooler like 80 or 90, and it is very dry, but I could always have a humidifier or mister for the inside to keep it at a higher humidity along with wetting the soil to prevent it from getting too dry.
I'm not the home owner, I'll be moving out in a year. I'm still in high school. I was hoping to make an enclosure that was capable of being taken apart easily and transporting such as using acrylic, polycarbonate, or plexus glass for the actual terrarium, and using wood to give it stability and look better than a clear box with sand in it. And using epoxy on the inside like traditional terrariums, I could easily peel the epoxy when I need to transport it.
check out the link infernalis posted up, savannahmonitor.net - there is allot of information there on what they need, I think you will mostly want to make it out of wood, it will be massively expensive to build an 8x4x4 entirely out of acrylic or polycarb, and it would scratch to hell with either matirial...plus it needs to hold a ton of soil (litrally a ton, or more), you'd need 8mm+ even with a wooden frame
had a quick check of arizona's average humidity, there is allot of variation, from low ranges, 10-30 all year around in some parts, to much higher, 50-70 in other parts - something to consider for an outdoor enclosure
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Originally Posted by KORBIN5895
One word. Burrows.
i'm sure you cant be suggesting that its ok for it to be dry above ground all year round, thats far beyond even my plans
I'm not the home owner, I'll be moving out in a year. I'm still in high school. I was hoping to make an enclosure that was capable of being taken apart easily and transporting such as using acrylic, polycarbonate, or plexus glass for the actual terrarium, and using wood to give it stability and look better than a clear box with sand in it. And using epoxy on the inside like traditional terrariums, I could easily peel the epoxy when I need to transport it.
I'm sorry to say this, but.... savs need more food, care, time, and effort, not to mention enclosure space and money input than almost any other easily available reptile in captivity. The sheer amount of the above is too much for me to provide ( as a highschool student, like you) , and probably too much for you, as well.
Good for you for wanting a reptile, but may i suggest...
leopard gecko
bearded dragon
crested gecko
And if you really want a monitor, i would suggest looking into ackies- good lizards, small, but with all of the monitor personality.
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