Monitor eating his substrate?

[Deathmoon68]

I got a savannah monitor yesterday, he's really tame and active surprisingly, but i put some crickets in his cage, and he misses and sometimes eats the cypress mulch. Im worried it will get impacted. Could it happen??

[capitalB]

yes and that could be very bad. if possible feed outside in separate bin.

[Strange_Evil]

Don't put your sav through the stress of a feeding bin, you just got him. Take him off the cypress and put him on a Top soil sand mix, 50/50 or 75soil/25sand, what ever works for you. Keep mixing until you can make a solid ball in your hand that doesn't leak water and doesn't fall right apart.

If a little dirt gets ingested with proper temps, you should be fine but chunks of cypress is a different story, try using tongs as we'll.

Pics of your cage? What are your temps? Just curious.

[Deathmoon68]

Alright, thanks. My temps is around 115 in the basking and around 80 in the cool side. I'll post pics, but i really dont have much in his cage, besides a cave made out of a broken clay pot for now. Haven't got paid yet so I havent really got anything to put in his cage.

[mumps]

So.....

You have a new baby V. exanthematicus and you're broke. Besides the obvious housing problem you have do you know what it costs to feed these guys?

I suggest re-homing; quickly.

Don't mean to seem harsh but varanids are about the most expensive reptile you can own.

Chris

[Deathmoon68]

Yeah, i do. It's fine. I thought it was gonna be simple as a uro, or skink lol. But I have him in a 75 gallon that i used to have for my iguana that "ran away" as my dad told me when i was younger. His enclosure is closed so the humidity is trapped in. Imma make him a custom cage, by the time he outgrows his 75 gallon i should be done.

[Strange_Evil]

Forget the tank and start working on the custom cage right away, make a 8x4 and just section half off for now. Or what ever works, you deff need to raise your basking temps though, 115f is no good, you want 130f.

Check this site out,
http://savannahmonitor.org/