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My New baby Savannah
Hey everybody. first post here on BP.net. A little about myself:
My name is Zac, I am a 31 year old Navy vet who has worked with reptiles since I was 8. A couple of years ago, I left a career as an Aircraft mechanic to become a Wildlife biologist. I am currently working toward my masters at Texas State University, and am currently involved in Nuisance animal relocation, as well as educational Children’s reptile shows.
I have a small collection (9 animals), as I like to focus more on quality care, than quantity. I have been thinking a long time about adding a monitor to my collection. I worked with several when I volunteered at NERD (I was stationed an hour north of them, in Maine) and fell in love with them. My girlfriend and I decided that a Savannah would fit our needs the best, as we currently rent a home, so building an enclosure for anything larger would be difficult, yet we wanted something that would eventually be captivating enough for the students at our reptile displays. I have always been fascinated with the intelligence of the savannah monitor and their enthusiasm in just about everything they do.
My Girlfriend surprised me the other day with a baby Sav that not only very good looking, but healthy from a local mom-and-pop pet shop. She also brought home top soil, crickets, a terra cotta pot, and a Lowes Gift Card. LOL
Right now, the little guy is in a 24"x18"x18" exo-terra, but plans and materials for an Adult setup are underway. His basking temps are currently at 134F, and the ambient temp in the Herp room is kept at 80. He has been eating steady on dusted Crickets, Dubia Roaches and earth worms. I spend a little time with him each morning and he is slowly becoming more bold, but only fractionally so. In the week I have had him, he has taken two items from the tongs, and eaten in front of me only 4 times, but he no longer bolts when I come in the room. I am letting him do his thing, on his terms. I hope to use him in shows later in life, but if that never happens, then so be it.
So without further rambling, meet my new addition: Dewback!
  This bathtub was given to me by a friend. it was never used, but will soon be the basis for his adult cage. it is roughly 3.5’x5.5’.

Thanks for looking! and feel free to comment!
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The Following User Says Thank You to Boola For This Useful Post:
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Welcome! That's a great looking sav. How secure are those bricks? I'd hate for him to be climbing and they fall over on him.
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The Following User Says Thank You to ChrisS For This Useful Post:
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Re: My New baby Savannah
Cool little one, my kids have been wanting one for a while now.
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The Following User Says Thank You to txcoker For This Useful Post:
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Registered User
Check this site out, has great info on caring for the monitors
welcome to the forum
Savannahmonitor.co
Savannahmonitor.net
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to simpleyork For This Useful Post:
Boola (08-27-2012),infernalis (08-27-2012)
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Registered User
Re: My New baby Savannah
 Originally Posted by ChrisS
Welcome! That's a great looking sav. How secure are those bricks? I'd hate for him to be climbing and they fall over on him.
Thanks for the kind welcomes! Trust me, those bricks arent going anywhere. The base is pretty secure in the soil, and they interlock. And with the Lowes card and my previous work as a general contractor, I hope to have him in something much more dignified before he gets big enough to possibly pull one down. But I appreciate the concern.
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congrats, and I have to say, your lizard is one of the very few lucky ones.
sounds like you have done your homework... huge KUDOS on that.
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The Following User Says Thank You to infernalis For This Useful Post:
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Registered User
Re: My New baby Savannah
 Originally Posted by infernalis
congrats, and I have to say, your lizard is one of the very few lucky ones.
sounds like you have done your homework... huge KUDOS on that.
Thanks! Well, this aint my first rodeo. He’s the first monitor i have personally owned, but not the first one ive ever cared for. I have been in this hobby for over 20 years, and while i dont generally post on forums much, i do read quite a few regularly and always put as much research as possible into my animals. I still research animals i have had for 10 years.
When i started back in 1990, there wasnt a whole lot of info available on a variety of animals that are quite common now. New information is always popping up and i think its crucial to keep researching. Always. 
One thing I always strive for is Quality, its the main reason I keep my collection relatively low. I have a good majority of my time occupied with the ones I have, plus work and school. Couldnt imagine having dozens of animals to care for.
I also have a pre-established Dubia colony that i started a couple years ago for my beardies, so he has plenty of food on hand, and I am supplimenting with night crawlers and crickets, with a Hisser colony in the works as well. I MAY add in a pinky or some meat as a rare treat. I would like to add snails, but am unsure as to where to get them. any help would be appreciated.
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The reason I said your lizard is one of the lucky ones... read the column "the annual Savannah Monitor Tragedy" on my website.
http://www.Savannahmonitor.net
There is photos of my cage, so if you need ideas, or hit my youtube channel, lots of videos of my Savs in action.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Infernalis1?feature=mhee
visit my thread right here...
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...nnah-Monitors)
Last edited by infernalis; 08-27-2012 at 08:37 AM.
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The Following User Says Thank You to infernalis For This Useful Post:
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Registered User
Thanks again, Wayne. I am finding your site very useful. Funny enough, I have read a few things on it before. Its part of what I based my current husbandry on.
Now comes the work with the trust. Just doing little bits every day so he gets used to my presents. he isnt darting off to a hide everytime I come in now, but he still is leary of me. But its only been a week, so no worries.
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Registered User
Just a short Video of Dewey eating an earthworm. This was taken about a week ago, and he has become a lot more brave since this. Still timid at first, but he will now come right out to the edge of the cage for food. Still wont eat if he can see my hands in the cage, But i am happy with the progress we have made.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Boola For This Useful Post:
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