Recent Savannah Monitor

[allergenic]

I rarely post photos, so I thought this would be a good place, based on our recent conversations.

I picked this gal up last week, from someone who wasn't taking proper care of her. She looked like a small sausage with legs, and was dry and slightly dehydrated looking. He fed her chicken gizzards and ground turkey, and kept her in a 40 gallon screen topped aquarium. At a year old, she's only 16 inches long.

I immediately got her on a foot of soil, good humidity, sufficient basking temps, and a diet of insects. She's perked up quite a bit.




Within the first day she had dug a network of burrows in the soil, and I can hear her in the bottom corners of the enclosure scratching way underneath the dirt. Her main burrow is roughly two feet in length, and branches off from there. She spends most of her time down there, and is looking much more hydrated.

[infernalis]

She looks awfully dark in color, is that normal?

She's in good hands now!

[marvelfreak]

What infernalis said. I never seen one that dark. You sure it's a Savannah? I thing it looks more like a Tegu. Good job on the rescue. Does stress make them darker? She does looks health, not skinny or anything. Best of luck and keep us posted on how she doing.

[infernalis]

the snout looks short as well.

[allergenic]

Originally Posted by infernalis

She looks awfully dark in color, is that normal?

Yes

Originally Posted by infernalis

She's in good hands now!

Thanks

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

You sure it's a Savannah?

Yes

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

I thing it looks more like a Tegu.

No

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Does stress make them darker?

No

Originally Posted by infernalis

the snout looks short as well.

She is growth stunted due to poor care, which I'm sure the short snout is part of. She is ~1 year old, and should be ~20-24 inches. She's only 16 inches. Shame.

[siz]

Lol definitely not a Tegu. Poor girl is so small. I'm sure she'll do great with you! Keep us updated on her progress