Drake, the Savannah Monitor, asleep on my hand.

[mumps]

what do you recommend we use as substrate and what kind of heat should we use to help him with digesting his food if not a rock?

we're planning on making him a bigger cage soon, that's why he's in this smaller cage for now.

Dirt. Six inches to a foot deep.

Basking lights. Spotlights that get the basking spot to 135F+.

And cover 75% of the lid. Keeps humidity in.

I'm guessing you're very new to reptiles. Nothing wrong with that. I'm surprised they even sell hot rocks anymore...

There's a lot of garbage care sheets on the web. Do LOTS of research.

Google "varanus" and start looking. I'm not going to write you a 45 page care sheet on varanids, but I'm thinking maybe I should...

Chris