Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 649

1 members and 648 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,905
Threads: 249,105
Posts: 2,572,113
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, Pattyhud
Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 27
  1. #11
    BPnet Lifer Skiploder's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-03-2007
    Location
    Under a pile of wood.
    Posts
    3,580
    Thanks
    113
    Thanked 3,727 Times in 1,257 Posts
    Images: 1

    Re: Sav monitor substraight

    Quote Originally Posted by reptidude1 View Post
    And i know exactly what im getting into. I know its not easy. Ive been keeping ball pythons and lizzards for 5 years and i wanted to get a sav. I know all the cair, i just want to know the best substraight for them because i saw alot of diffrent options for them

    If you knew all of the care that went into them, you wouldn't be asking what a lot of varanid owners deem a very basic husbandry necessity - a deep, moisture retaining substrate that the animal can burrow into. I have never seen aspen or other wood substrates listed as a viable option and they should not be considered as such.

    As others have pointed out, the depth and type of substrate then dictates some of the design necessities of the enclosure. There are no cookie cutter out of the box enclosures you can use for this animal. You are going to have to custom build something, taking into account ALL of the husbandry requirements.

    - It has to be large.

    - It has to be able to hold a minimum of a 2' deep dirt/sand or DG/dirt mixture substrate which is heavy.

    - It has to be able to have an area where the animal can bask at a temperature of 140 degrees.

    - The enclosure will also need to be able to hold in humidity.

    In other words, I'll be amazed if you can put together an enclosure filling those requirements in a week's time. Here's a hint, stock tanks make an excellent base for an enclosure. Topping it is going to be the hard part.

    Carefully read the links that you have been given - starting with savannahmonitor.org, paying special attention to basking temps, ambient temps, substrate depth and type, enclosure size and diet.

    All of the answers to your questions are in those links. It is imperative that whatever changes you need to make, you make them as soon as possible. If you can't afford them, or if they seem like too much work, find someone who can properly keep the animal.
    Last edited by Skiploder; 07-10-2011 at 04:56 PM.

  2. #12
    Registered User slayer's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-21-2010
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    155
    Thanks
    58
    Thanked 62 Times in 39 Posts

    Re: Sav monitor substraight

    Quote Originally Posted by MMReptiles View Post
    I'd also like to add, 5 years of experience with ball pythons/(other non listed lizards) is absolutely nothing in terms of experience most should have before getting these animals.
    ..........personaly I feel the less experiance one has with the cookie cuter/recipe style of keeping that most follow with many snakes and lizards the better. Those people not really exposed to that style of keeping seem to be more receptive to the concepts and reallitys behind proper monitor husbandry and end up being good keepers.
    The more experiance people who step into varanids seem to hold on to their "beliefs" about reptile husbandry with pure dogmatic zeal and tend to give up on monitors rather then admit they have more to learns.

    Just my .02

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to slayer For This Useful Post:

    mumps (07-12-2011)

  4. #13
    BPnet Veteran reptidude1's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-29-2009
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    648
    Thanks
    80
    Thanked 39 Times in 35 Posts

    Re: Sav monitor substraight

    im not a know it all at all... i know i have alot to learn from keeping these type of animals and Skiploder, youd be surprised how much i can put togeather in a week. I have none of my animals in something bought... everythings custom built.

  5. #14
    BPnet Lifer Skiploder's Avatar
    Join Date
    03-03-2007
    Location
    Under a pile of wood.
    Posts
    3,580
    Thanks
    113
    Thanked 3,727 Times in 1,257 Posts
    Images: 1

    Re: Sav monitor substraight

    Quote Originally Posted by reptidude1 View Post
    im not a know it all at all... i know i have alot to learn from keeping these type of animals and Skiploder, youd be surprised how much i can put togeather in a week. I have none of my animals in something bought... everythings custom built.
    More power to you.

    We are all looking forward to pics next weekend.

  6. #15
    BPnet Veteran reptidude1's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-29-2009
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    648
    Thanks
    80
    Thanked 39 Times in 35 Posts
    Would soil without the sand work just for a couple of days untill i can go get sand? My local hardwear store has dirt, but not sand

  7. #16
    Banned
    Join Date
    04-22-2011
    Posts
    184
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked 47 Times in 33 Posts

    Re: Sav monitor substraight

    Quote Originally Posted by reptidude1 View Post
    Would soil without the sand work just for a couple of days untill i can go get sand? My local hardwear store has dirt, but not sand
    I use plain dirt straight from my backyard. Though, it has a higher sand/clay content than most places I'd guess.

  8. #17
    Registered User slayer's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-21-2010
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    155
    Thanks
    58
    Thanked 62 Times in 39 Posts
    Find a landscaping supply company and ask for Sandy Loam.
    Bagged top soil by itself is too "rich" with organics to work well for a sav. The prefer more arid soils.
    Last edited by slayer; 07-10-2011 at 06:38 PM.

  9. #18
    BPnet Veteran reptidude1's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-29-2009
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    648
    Thanks
    80
    Thanked 39 Times in 35 Posts
    In my backyard the soil is really hard and i think has alot of clay and sand. If i break it up can i use the soil from my backyard without worring about getting insects that will harm my sav?

  10. #19
    Registered User slayer's Avatar
    Join Date
    04-21-2010
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    155
    Thanks
    58
    Thanked 62 Times in 39 Posts
    you don't want much (if any) clay in your soil (it gums up on their toes). All you want is a sandy dirt low in organic matter(sandy loam)
    Here's a visual (with a mushroom).

    I don't worry about any bugs that hitch hike except ants or any obviously dangerous. Most likely they will be beneficial to keeping a clean environment or food for your captive.
    Last edited by slayer; 07-10-2011 at 07:22 PM.

  11. #20
    BPnet Veteran reptidude1's Avatar
    Join Date
    09-29-2009
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    648
    Thanks
    80
    Thanked 39 Times in 35 Posts
    Okay thanks, maybe ill just try and find some of the dirt with little clay twords the back of my backyard to put in. Should i bake it in the oven just to be safe about any ants and such or should it be fine.

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1