another question

and the question is about substrate. I am currently using woodchips mixed with vermiculite, but have noticed that some ppl say they are using soil/peat and are keeping the mix slightly damp, whats best ???

I use newspaper and Aspen bedding.

ahh ok the shop where the sav came from was using wood chips but as isaid some ppl seem to say about soil so that they can dig and get food (worms) and that its self cleaning (to a degree)

Please excuse me I thought we were talking about Ball pythons. I don't own any monitors

ahh sorry for the confusion I have a ball python too. Mines off his food guess it must be his winter fast

I use soil for my monitors. A mixture of topsoil (no fertilizers..soil only), fine vermiculite, and playsand. The monitors love it.

For monitors you need a substrate that is deep enough for them to dig in and something that holds a burrow.

Scroll to proexotics FAQ section on Lizards....there is tons on info there, I would suggest reading through the whole section:
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ.html

Here is a good read on substrate for monitors from the FAQ:
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ2.html#19

...and since you have a sav. here is a part of the FAQ specifically about savs.
http://www.proexotics.com/FAQ2.html#16

Hope that helps.

thanks daniel I will look at this site