Savannah Monitor

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

21 Nov 2007 06:30 PM

When it comes to monitor lizards, the Savannah monitor is one of the easiest to keep. Keep in mind, though, that the Savannah monitor may not be the best choice for beginners. Monitors are extremely strong lizards and can be difficult to handle -- a beginner might be better off with a different breed.

The Savannah monitor is considered a mid-sized monitor. When full grown, a Savannah monitor lizard can reach between three and four feet in length. This means you'll need a good sized enclosure for your Savannah monitor. The cage should be at least five feet long and three feet wide and high. Plan on keeping only one Savannah monitor per enclosure, unless you are prepared to become a breeder.

Make sure your enclosure has places for your monitor lizard to hide and climb. The cage will also need a sturdy container of water. Your lizard will use the water for both drinking and bathing, so change the water daily. The enclosure will also need a heat gradient that ranges from seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit up to one hundred degrees. Use a full spectrum fluorescent bulb for your enclosure lighting; the UV rays are essential for your lizard to be able to break down and absorb vitamins. Vitamin deficiency can be a serious health issue in lizards.

In general, monitor lizards are intelligent. When raised and handled from a young age, Savannah monitors can become tame.

Savannah monitors are carnivores. You can feed your Savannah monitor lizard a variety of insects, rodents, and even goldfish! Young monitors should be fed three times per week; adult monitors will need to eat only once or twice each week. When offering rodents, your best bet is to feed your Savannah monitor frozen and thawed mice or rats. Live rodents can seriously injure a lizard by struggling.

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