Quote Originally Posted by rebeccabecca View Post
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
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.