Savanna monitor is a large lizard mainly from Africa.
Over the past decade, they have been popular pets among experienced reptile breeders.
Although as babies, they only have 4-
5 inch long, they will grow rapidly to 3-
5-foot monster that needs enough space.
But are these large lizards dangerous and not worth pets, let's talk about my former pet and friend Bernard.
After isolating many reptiles from leopards, geckos, water dragons and food Dragons, I want something of a certain size and presence.
I studied Savannah Monitor & deal with babies a lot at a pet shop where I work part time and am sure I can take care of them properly.
So many people don't know how to take care of the animal when they buy it, but it's completely another theme.
I'm getting more and more fond of our small monitor which is a few months old in the store.
Since I called him every day, he was gentle with me and even seemed to like it when I held him, I had to own him, so I bought him.
I knew I would pick him up, so his home for Beginners was ready and ready.
He has a 10 gallon aquarium with bedding for some reptiles on the floor, under the tank heating pad, a hidden place & some climbing or laying stones.
A shallow water pan, glued to the thermometer, sliding the screen cover & a dome heating light finished his new home.
Pet stores usually put all of this in one kit in less than £ 50.
So it's not too bad.
The Savannah monitor requires a daytime temperature of around 80 degrees and drops to 70 degrees at night.
I found that putting the light at one end would give him a "hot spot" and it would keep the overall temperature where I needed it.
In the evening, I will turn it off and it will stay around 74 degrees between the heating pad and the house temperature.
It's okay to feed him. every chance I give him, he's ready.
I fed him mealworms, sm when he was very young.
Canned cricket food is available at pet stores.
The display likes hunting and pursuit, so he doesn't pay much attention to the food that doesn't move.
As they grow, the amount and size of their food needs to grow with them, so he soon overtook his aquarium.
I have prepared a permanent home for him.
I have a good friend who is an architect and built a wooden cage for me with all the decorations.
It is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 6 feet high, and has enough space for most lizards.
It has a sliding glass door on the front and a built-in hot light bulb and emergency light socket on the side, which is great.
I prepared it the same way with bedding, water dishes, hiding places etc and when he got to full size his hiding place was made of wood because none of the shops he bought
His food is now mainly adult mice.
I will feed him 3-4 weekly.
Some people would say it was cruel but it was the only way he ate, I tried freezing/knocking it off and moved them personally to stimulate him but he was not fooled.
One thing to mention in the food is to give them vitamin supplements, especially when they are young.
It's powder, you just have to sprinkle it on a cricket or a mouse.
In addition to ensuring that they have sufficient living conditions and food, the next important thing when raising large reptiles, lizards or snakes is to deal with them on a daily basis.
This tells the animals that you will not hurt or eat them.
If respected from the baby, monitor the people who trust.
They will test you, but you must persevere.
I remember when Bernard was a baby he would take a deep breath and occasionally snap at me, but it quickly disappeared when he trusted me and felt that I was not afraid of him.
Once they get bigger, they are harder to tame because they have developed personality and most of them are "Don't touch me. Bernard never bit me and never did any harm to me.
Sadly, Bernard suffered from intestinal cancer and died a few years later.
He started out with constipation, and before the vet found cancer from a blood test, he often had an enema at the vet.
I felt terrible because the reptile didn't show pain until too late, so I don't know how long he suffered.
I would love to take him to the pet shop, or go for a pet walk, etc, at a happier time, to see what attention he will get.
It was mixed up with "What the hell is he", "isn't he cute, like a big dog", he just leaned his head on my shoulder and looked around, from time to time, he flicked his tongue.
He tolerated people touching him, touching his back etc, and I just told them to stay away from his head for safety reasons.
Of all the reptile pets, he is my favorite.
He is easy to take care of, you can hold him as much as you like, and when my wife and I watch TV, he even lies in the chair.
The only downside is that the live mouse is fed and if not he will be the ultimate pet.
He has everything, his size, his personality and his beautiful appearance (for a lizard-ha ha! ! ).
He's from a 4-
A cute lizard, 5 inch long, striking.
5 feet 12 pound "gentle giant ".
He was still missed until today! ! !