Sad but true.

A $30 baby sav/Nile/water imported into the country is quite appealing to the "I'm gonna get me a big ass lizard" types who know nothing about the proper husbandry requirements of these amazing intelligent animals.

Besides being stressed, starved and parasitized, they are kept in deplorable living conditions, get photos and vids pasted on YouTube, and are then dead shortly thereafter.

There are, however, many excellent keepers of varanids and teiids out there, who invest the time and money required to properly care for these awesome creatures and reap the rewards in their relationships.

Don't have a sav, too small for me, but here's a pic of our male Argentine tegu...