Best substrate for a savannah

Yes, you could mist them, I personally just bought an automatic mister that I'm trying out made by Zoomed. It seems to work well, I just have to keep it on the lowest time setting for when it sprays, otherwise it will get too wet. But with the mister it goes off twice a day and the humidity stays at 60% and never rises or falls, so it stays perfect. I bought it because am in the process of building new enclosures for my monitors, and I am going to go all out with them. I think setting them up it the funnest part.

Although like I said before, they would need a large water dish as well as maintained humidity. They do like to soak and it helps with their shedding, but be prepared to clean it everyday, sometimes twice a day.

Cool I'll have to check out that mister. Thanks! I don't mind the clean up, and I agree the set up is alot of fun, but I get so stressed trying to make the best place for my pets and the research is soooooooooooo tireing sometimes because there's so much different info out there! Like I'm still stuck on whether my 175gal glass terrarium will work for a bit, or if I should just build a wood one. Anyway thanks for the help!

Well, I will let you know that I have always started my baby monitors off in my 125 gallon fish tank, but a lot of people will give you crap for it. I never seen a difference in growth/health as to when I started them in tanks or built enclosures. However, I usually only keep them in the fish tanks for their first year, then move them to new larger and freshly built enclosures, so I wouldn't personally tell you not to as I have never had any problems.

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Originally Posted by bsash

Yes, you could mist them, I personally just bought an automatic mister that I'm trying out made by Zoomed.

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The mister you're using is it the Zoo Med Habba Mist automatic mister? It's been recommended to me for my Iggies so I dont have to spray them everyday. I think I'll have to pick one up and try it for the Sav and my Iggies. Thanks so much for the info!!

I'd like to thank you guys for all the help. I really appreciate it!

Just a heads up, the purpose of using dirt is that it will keep the humidity where it needs to be, and allow them to burrow to accomplish things like thermoregulation.

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Normally I see Savs kept on cypress mulch to keep the humidity up, but most prefer the dirt mix.

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This is because they cannot burrow in cypress mulch.

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Originally Posted by Jhussey

How high should the humidity be? I keep finding mixed feeling on this topic. Some books/site say they need about 50-75%

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The goal is not a humidity number, it's a humidity gradient. You will see less humidity in areas such as under the basking lights, and more humidity in other areas of the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Jhussey

others say as long as they have a tub of water large enough to soak in, don't worry about it.

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As they don't take in water through anywhere but their mouth, soaking is useless. Lacking humidity your monitor will suffer all sorts of health problems.

Good luck.

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Originally Posted by bsash

Yes, you could mist them, I personally just bought an automatic mister that I'm trying out made by Zoomed

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With your enclosure set up properly, with proper semi-moist substrate, you will not need to mist.

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Originally Posted by bsash

Well, I will let you know that I have always started my baby monitors off in my 125 gallon fish tank, but a lot of people will give you crap for it.

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That's because it's extremely bad advice and a great way to cause massive health problems for monitors. They are not fish or bearded dragons.

Good luck.

Great advice, bill.

I don't keep exanthematicus, but a good deep layer of plain ol' dirt is what's best for maintaining proper humidity gradients, like bill mentioned.

Chris

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Originally Posted by Jhussey

The mister you're using is it the Zoo Med Habba Mist automatic mister? It's been recommended to me for my Iggies so I dont have to spray them everyday. I think I'll have to pick one up and try it for the Sav and my Iggies. Thanks so much for the info!!

I'd like to thank you guys for all the help. I really appreciate it!

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Yes, that is the mister that I use.

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Originally Posted by billwalsh

With your enclosure set up properly, with proper semi-moist substrate, you will not need to mist.

That's because it's extremely bad advice and a great way to cause massive health problems for monitors. They are not fish or bearded dragons.

Good luck.

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Some times you do need to mist, even with the dirt, I've used it and is the best I have had as far as humidity control. The main reason that I like the excavator clay is because it hold the burrows better than anything else I have had in the past, but you do need to spray it once or twice a day.

I have never had any problems with it, but they usually don't stay in there past their first year. Not trying to get on any ones crap-list, I'm just saying that is how I work it. Once I am done with the built enclosures, they just get moved into them.

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Originally Posted by mumps

Great advice, bill.

I don't keep exanthematicus, but a good deep layer of plain ol' dirt is what's best for maintaining proper humidity gradients, like bill mentioned.

Chris

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That is best for humidity, but the excavator clay works best for the burrows. As long as you don't mind misting, or buying an automatic mister, either or is great. Well, there is also the price difference, the excavator clay will cost you a fortune for a large enclosure, as the dirt is real cheap.