Savannah Monitor

[el lobo]

Hey everyone...

I just picked up a 2 ft. Savannah Monitor. I elected to name him Che Guavera, after one of my favourite modern day heroes. I have tried mice and pinkies and fish, but he has only eaten about a third of a hotdog. I would prefer to feed him 70% insects to avoid obesity, but unfortunately, I need affordable large insects to do this. Anyone know of some places I can get cheap hissers, nite crawlers, etc. ?

[adamanteus]

I would leave the hotdogs out of his diet, Caleb... they're poo.

[el lobo]

yes, I guessed that much. Too high of a fat content to start with. not enough nutrients either. But he is skinny as hell, and I just wanted him to eat! I got him from a woman who found him in her driveway. His feet are in a terrible way. I am working on them, but food is my main perogative right now.

[adamanteus]

What's wrong with his feet, Caleb?

[el lobo]

Skin is split and shredded....he bled from his feet on and off for about 18 hours. I put peroxide on them when I first got him to get rid of any infection, and they stopped bleeding about 8 hours ago. they are improving, but if they aren't showing definite signs of healing in the next two weeks, I'm taking him to the vet.

Oh, btw James, your a moderator, so you should know...when do I recieve the distinguished privelage of posting on the Adoption/Trade/etc. Threads?

[el lobo]

...I suspect he was kept in a wire bottom cage. Either that, or walking too much on hot concrete.

[adamanteus]

...when do I recieve the distinguished privelage of posting on the Adoption/Trade/etc. Threads?

That section is closed to everybody now (I don't know why it's still there!). We now have the new 'Classifieds' section.

[el lobo]

Got it. haha. I feel dumb.

[adamanteus]

Got it. haha. I feel dumb.

No need to feel dumb.... that section needs deleting now, I'll have a word with 'Admin'.:)

[jeanette]

Hey everyone...

I just picked up a 2 ft. Savannah Monitor. I elected to name him Che Guavera, after one of my favourite modern day heroes. I have tried mice and pinkies and fish, but he has only eaten about a third of a hotdog. I would prefer to feed him 70% insects to avoid obesity, but unfortunately, I need affordable large insects to do this. Anyone know of some places I can get cheap hissers, nite crawlers, etc. ?
you might want to try culturing your own roaches for this guy as it will work out quite cheap as you will always have food for him other than that he can eat earthworms (just not banded or red wrigglers) good luck with that

[el lobo]

Thanks Jeanette. I am just looking to see if anyone knows where I can get some really cheap hissers or lobster roaches to start some cultures.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Hey there, I once brought a savannah back from the brink of death... poor thing was covered in ticks, skinny... weak. I have a few suggestions for you to try.

You can use lean ground meat or turkey, mine seemed to enjoy that as a treat every once in a while and that's what I got her feeding at first on. Have you tried a small live mouse? Like a fuzzy? Sometimes they don't want to eat dead mice, and if it's a baby it seems to entice them a whole lot. Chicken (raw or very lightly boiled) was another favorite. My savannah also ate the occasional piece of fish (leftover from garter feedings of course). But her favorite, and most treasured food of all, was... hard boiled eggs!!! Sometimes, even when she was starving she would refuse all food until i brought out that tasty hardboiled egg. After she had that she would eat anything else, but she demanded that I keep a container of hardboiled eggs in my fridge at all times! She also would eat them if I broke a raw one into a bowl... she would eat the shell first and then drink up the whole egg! So, give eggs a shot... he may surprise you!

Oh you should have seen the look on her face when she would get to that yolk!!! You could tell it was her favorriiteee part!

[anji1971]

Thanks Jeanette. I am just looking to see if anyone knows where I can get some really cheap hissers or lobster roaches to start some cultures.

Talk to Kyle -- "Zephyr" is his forum name! He is THE roach guy around here. He'll have you set up in a jiffy!

[infernalis]

Please do me and your monitor a big favor. Varanid (monitor) husbandry is so much different than snakes.

Here is a couple basics, Savannahs are burrow animals, they need a basking spot that is around 120-130 degrees, they require humidity and a calcium rich diet. A large enough water bowl to swim in and a proper enclosure NEEDS to be at least 8 feet wide, 4 feet deep and 4 feet tall.

On one end, use clay base dirt that will allow burrowing without the tunnel collapsing. On the other end a few flat rocks, (I have the basking lamp over the rocks to get them nice and hot, and "Chomper" lies under and on those rocks for some time each day.

The survival rate for captives is alarmingly low. These critters can live 15 plus years if cared for correctly. Judging by the size of your find, it is still very young, a yearling to 18 months, unless poor husbandry in the past has stunted it's growth.

There are some great books out there...

Crickets are super cheap, and easy to raise. You will need to feed whole rodents at least twice a week or there will not be enough calcium, causing the monitor to suffer from soft bones.

A healthy monitor will consume food every day, they are expensive to keep properly, and have very intelligent brains, with LONG memory ability.

Please NEVER hesitate to ask ANYTHING, if I can be of service, I will be so glad to help out:)

Kind regards,
Wayne A. Harvey
http://www.reformedsniper.net/1/hpim1228.jpg

[drache]

I'd go for Shannons menu suggestions right now
Kyle probably hissers at a reasonable price, and you should definitely start your own colonies, but while they breed readily, they take forever to grow up (it seems), so you'd really need substantial colonies to supply something like a monitor with more than just the occasional snack
perhaps some other large roach species in addition . . . ?
I'd say, roaches as part of a varied diet will be your best bet

[infernalis]

Oh I'm sorry, Shanon's suggestions are all fine as well:)

"I once brought one back from the brink of death" - WAY TO GO!!

Monitors in general are as rugged as they look, as long as the basic needs are being met, you can have yourself a cool friend for the next decade or more.

Just try and remember that these particular animals are from the Savannahs of Africa, and the closer you can get to their natural environment the better it is for them.

Regards,
Wayne A. Harvey

[el lobo]

Thanks everyone! Thanks Wayne! I have him in a 6 long x 4 wide x 3 high. I plan on upgrading when he gains another 6 inches. he has a heating pad and a ceramic heat lamp. His basking area is around 118 degrees. He has deep coconut husk to burrow in. I tried giving him some hoppers, but he isn't interested. I have several cricket cultures, but I am trying to conserve crickets for my young snakes. I will def. Talk to Kyle. I did some research on hissers, so I am aware of how long it takes for them to gestate and mature. That is why I want to culture some Lobster roaches alongside. They are smaller, but they grow a lot faster! Thanks again for your help everyone!

[adamanteus]

It sounds like you have the whole thing well in hand, Caleb.:)

[el lobo]

I was also wondering what this stuff is? it looks like a conglomeration of sand, but it doesn't scrape off...I wasn't really worried at first, but now it is starting to take over his ear....:(

http://http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=4353&cat=500&ppuser=4493

[el lobo]

ok, my picture didn't work.

[el lobo]

here's the url for my album, so can anyone tell me what this stuff is?

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/showphoto.php?photo=4353&cat=500&ppuser=4493

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSCI0488.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSCI0486.JPG

[infernalis]

Get a vet to look at that, its hard to tell from the pictures.

I'm rather worried for your monitor, if that stuff spreads down its ear canal, you may lose it.

Whoever the creep is that had it before needs a good slap down:mad:

Look up "Davids pets" in Toledo (419 area code) David is a monitor expert, and a super guy.

As a last resort, Frank Retes at Goanna ranch could tell you, but he has NO people skills.

Keep us posted

Wayne

[infernalis]

I forgot to mention, Savs never turn down food, unless they are sick.

A healthy Sav will pounce on ANYTHING smaller and slower. They are ravenous eaters, so this one sounds really Ill.

Sorry to keep hammering, but I CARE.

Wayne

[el lobo]

Thanks for caring Wayne. I will keep you posted.

[el lobo]

Ok. He is doing better. He spent some time in his water dish and drank a lot. He still hasn't eaten much. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow morning to get that stuff on his face checked out, and see if we can figure out why he won't eat.