savanna lizard???

BallPython13 · 06-01-03, 08:10 PM

I went to my local pet shop today and saw what was called a savanna lizard.Are these ok for captivity?What do they eat?Are they venimous,and do they like to be handled?ALso how big do they get???

asphyxia · 06-01-03, 08:15 PM

May I suggest thet you learn how to look after your Ball Python before getting any thing else.

Brian

BallPython13 · 06-01-03, 08:25 PM

I know how to care for them.I have had one live for 7 years in my care but I gave it a better home.So now you know I know how to take care of them.Im sure you know how to take care of your animals but you have the ocasinal question...

hudson · 06-01-03, 08:28 PM

If what what your talking about is a savanna monitor, then yeah they do fine in captivity, chances are good that it is wild caught though bacause most are, so you would have to watch for internal parasites.
They are carniverous, no they are not venomous
If you get them young enough or handle them frequently, then they can be quite handleable.
They can grow anywhere from 3 to 5 feet long, and they are NOT a beginner herp, they can give a nasty bite if not handled properly, and do require quite a large enclosure.

BallPython13 · 06-01-03, 09:01 PM

so I take it they have sharp teeth...Im a 13 year old kid with a mom and if she found out he bit me she would get rid of him.THat is if the bite was realy bad.The on eat hte pet shop is about 7 inches long and is priced at 24.99 is this a good price???

ReptiZone · 06-01-03, 09:34 PM

lets just put it this way keep reserching your ball python and leave the big boys to the experianced herpers your time will come where you will keep large reptiles untill then do your self a big favor and do all the reserch you can find and in due time you will be able to put it all to good works. You are lucky I had to do my reserch till I moved out then I got my first ball at 17.

hudson · 06-01-03, 10:00 PM

At 13, I really think you are to young for a savanna. Financially are you capable of providing a large enclosure (over 6 feet in length), paying for vet bills for internal parasites, and medical bills for stitches and antibiotics for yourself when he bites you (not just big teeth, but very powerful jaws). I would wait till you have a little more experience, and old enough to get a job to provide all the necessities.

yankeefoxtrot · 06-01-03, 10:21 PM

Again i agree with asphyxia!!!! take it easy till you learn a little bit more about herps. We all get a little carried away when we first get into the hobby. Take care of what you have and in a year or so expand your collection. I had my red tail for 5 years before i got another herp.

Lucas out

Dom · 06-02-03, 12:31 AM

all great points made by everyone.. 7 years with your provious ball... You started pretty young.

Savana's are EXTREMELY rewardig animals to keep if u keep em properly. They are one of the toughest reptiles on earth .. being cared for under inproper husbandry, they will still survive and manage to go on for a few motnh to a few years.. BUT...

Theres more to more to it then keeping it alive.. you have to make it thrive..

BallPython13 · 06-02-03, 01:13 AM

What do they eat?

ReptiZone · 06-02-03, 01:18 AM

crikets meal worms pinkys bats the ocasional finger if it is too clost to the food item in question. LOL

BallPython13 · 06-02-03, 01:28 AM

do you recomend any other common large long lived reptiles?See my other topic.

Tim and Julie B · 06-02-03, 01:33 AM

If you have never owned a lizard let alone a larger lizard then don't even consider a Sav. They get extremely big and extremely strong. Even if you do get it young and semi tame it down. This lizard will get over three feet (with proper care) before you turn 15. I don't care if you are the biggest 15 year old in N. America that lizard is going to be incredably stong and with no experiance handling any type of large reptile you are asking for trouble. I have heard our white throat (close to a Sav.) crush a rats skull with a loud crunch, think about if it ever bit your hand. Get experiance first then get into the larger stuff. Maybe set it as a goal down the road but until then maybe get something a little bit more of a beginner species. Everyone here is experianced and we are all giving you the same advice. So please take it.

To answer your question they eat quite a large variaty of things. They are mainly insectivorious. When they are older they eat a lot of rodents. There is a lot of other things you can feed them as well. A balanced diet is an important part of keeping any reptile. If you really want to learn about them try researching it on the net. Savannah monitor. Hope this all is going to help.

BallPython13 · 06-02-03, 01:48 AM

Im not getting one!Im short for my age so the lizard will be even bigger to me...

ReptiZone · 06-02-03, 10:17 AM

Ok I am gona be verry straight foward I am sure that ppl here will agree with me on this.

now look at the factors you are 13 now are you seriouse about this hobby I dont know but in due time we will all get to know you better.

I am warning you in advance that what you are about to read is no realy somting you wana hear.

Now if you wana a lagre reptile to be cool or just the be able to say you have it well forget what other ppl here tell you get a baby burm and sell it after 6 monts to a year cause that is what most kids your age do anyway. YES you get experiance, man a burm is a verry good start for geting larg constrictor experiance.
but that kind of experiance is not respected in the real world.

you say that you are 13 and your mom would get rid of the animal if it bit you well right there scrach off all large animals cause we all know that the baby form of all large animals are pron to bite alot.

you say you are 13 and a full grown savana monitor is to big for you right there forget about owning any large animals caus to my knowleg the sav is one of the smalest large animal.

now if you wana moderate size animal to gain respected experiance and you wana be able to share it with you kids in the future get a new born baby BCI yes the good old fasion boa constrictor they get big but dont get to big at one time and have a rather good temperment but even at that you can still get biten just cause I say they dont bite dosen't mean they have no teeth.

anyway you are young but what ever decision you make now will stay with you for the rest of your life wether the animals stay with you and you are respected for it or you sell a animal because you were to hard headed to take good advice when it was given.

let's just put it this way I saw a lot of your topics and you are LUCKY alot of big names on this site took the time to reply to your post if you waste there typing time by not taking there advice these ppl will over look what ever you have to say in the future cause they tryed to help in the past and you disrespected there knowleg and trew it in there face.

anyway do what you feal like doing but be ready for the rest of your life cause that is a long term comitement it is just like having a baby.