Taming Your Sav: The Savannah Monitor as a Household Pet

Has anyone read this book? It seems 100% wrong in that she forgot about the monitors basic heath needs(humidity,heat,digging).

is this an older book that tells you to let them bite your thumbnail and it shows pics of puppy dog tame niles?

This is the link http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Your-Sa...DateDescending

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Originally Posted by rebeccabecca

This is the link http://www.amazon.com/Taming-Your-Sa...DateDescending

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I would not recommend it.

Research the author on different monitor forums. She has very shady practices, that borderlines on abuse. Her videos look cute and sweet, but most people on monitor forums consider her to be a bit..."batty". I think she used to post as "Danceswithsavs" or some such.

Anyway, I remember something about her almost drowning them to "win their trust" or something. It's been a while since I heard about her though.

Also, if I remember correctly, her beloved monitors died within a few years of being under her care.

what is the average captive monitors lifespan? I assume it's 10 years+ as many care sheets had that.

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Originally Posted by rebeccabecca

what is the average captive monitors lifespan? I assume it's 10 years+ as many care sheets had that.

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Their lifespan is 15-20 years, I believe. Some have shorter lifespans, but most generally live 10 plus.

Is it mostly diet issues that causes them to die faster? heating and husbandry issues? just want to have my little guy as long as possible:)

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Originally Posted by rebeccabecca

Is it mostly diet issues that causes them to die faster? heating and husbandry issues? just want to have my little guy as long as possible:)

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Just like with any creature, they all play an important part on lifespan.

A proper diet is indeed critical (feeding dog food is not acceptable), but they also need a proper temperatures to digest that food. A Savannah Monitor is incapable of proper digestion at low temperatures (under 100, I think I read somewhere). So, husbandry and diet play a vital part of lifespan.

Also having an obese Savannah will cut their lifespan dramatically. It is important to feed them a well balanced diet, and assure they are getting the proper exercise as well. A fat monitor is cute, but very unhealthy.

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Originally Posted by rebeccabecca

Is it mostly diet issues that causes them to die faster? heating and husbandry issues? just want to have my little guy as long as possible:)

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Yes.
People tend to overfeed, or feed the wrong things.
The most popular... Dog food

Regarding "danceswithsavs": absolute rubbish.

Regarding lifespan: I had a Nile monitor pass on at 16 yrs. old.

Regarding husbandry: Research, research, research. There are a lot of junk caresheets regarding varanids out there. I'll give you some basics:

1. Huge enclosures. For a sav I would say a minimum of 8x4 floorspace, more being better.

2. Heat, heat. Basking spots of 130 - 145F. Absolutely required.

3. Food. Variety is good. No dog food. Whole prey items (lots of insects if possible). Vitamin supplementation when a primarily insectivorous diet is given. Feed daily for the first couple of years. If proper housing/heat/humidity is provided, rodents are a good staple.

Taming: Patience. Trust. Know How.

Chris