New Savannah into Rescue

[CTReptileRescue]

So he is actually a she. A possible name (still up in the air) would be Sandy.
She has actually eaten well. And is pretty calm, compared to what the original owner was saying. I'll try and grab some photos tonight. She has some really nice color now that she is cleaned up and on mulch instead of sand. We measured her at about 20 inches (snout to tip).
Rusty

[Boanerges]

She looks good in the picture already. I can't wait to see what she looks all cleaned up Good job on the rescue too

[Mettle]

3 or 4 years old and only 20"? WOW. So tiny.

Glad to see that she's a wel mannered little girl at the moment. Definitely makes for an easier adoptee that's for sure. I've met a couple really mean savs before - but then, a couple that are big sweet hearts. Let's hope she stays the latter for ya!

I know you said the enclosure was temporary while you got her settled in a bit better. Any shots of what her more permanent home looks like?

[mumps]

Wow, tiny for sure.

I have seen rescues at the local reptile zoo that have come in much worse condition, sadly. Some of the things I've seen make you shudder (I'm sure you have as well being a rescue organization).

There's a sav there now with burns, a weirdly shaped snout and hip bones showing with a really lean tail. It has improved in the last week, which is good, but it's so hard for me not to bring it home (I foster a lot of their stuff to help out).

Chris

[Boanerges]

How big should they be at that age?

[CTReptileRescue]

Sav's can be approx 2-3ft by 3 yrs of age. Depending on feeding. Some owners have a tendency to feed heavy in the early years to bulk the monitor up in that case by 3 to 3.5 feet. (just from my experiences, someone who breeds or keeps em might have a different opinion)
Rusty

[mumps]

Can't really speak on exanthematicus from experience as I've never kept them, but the other species which I have kept (and a varanid is a varanid IMO), growth is much quicker than that.

I currently am raising an ornate monitor which is almost 10 months old. It is currently almost 3 feet long, if not it is. It eats daily, is very active and is a true joy to work with (captive bred monitors are SO worth the extra big price tag). Monitors are active, intelligent voracious predators that grow quickly. I would think that a sav would be at least 2-3 feet by the time it is a year old.

Most keepers of savs don't realize the huge appetite, high basking temps (130F minimum) and large environments required by these fascinating reptiles, and it shows in the animals that I have seen, far outnumbering the properly cared for specimens, unfortunately.

Chris