Savannah monitor questions

[infernalis]

I don't but when I get paid next weekend im taking him to a local reptile vet just to make sure everything is okay.

I was going to suggest that.

Ideal conditions for a Savannah monitor to function well would be a basking spot of 130-140 degrees (F) provided by a bank of 3 45 watt halogen floodlights in a cluster to give an even area about 18 inches round for the lizard to lay and soak up the heat.

The average air temperatures in the rest of the cage should be above 75 degrees (F) but not exceeding an average of 90 degrees.

You should be providing at least one burrow in the substrate (like a woodchuck hole) that has a humidity level of close to 90% with your air having a humidity level around 50-70%, providing the lizard with choices, this way it encourages the animal to move around and thermo-regulate.

One word of caution, when they stop feeding it begins to mobilise the fat reserves and this is extremely hard on the animals liver.

When you go to the vet, be sure to request a uric acid level test, once uric acid levels escalate (due to renal malfunction) and gout sets in, life becomes uncomfortable for the lizard and death is the next most likely event.

Depending on how long this poor creature was housed in a chicken wire box the permanent damage may have already occurred.

I do wish you the best, and hope this is not the case.

[M_MULLINS]

Thank you for the info. Im not sure how long he was in that cage. Im actually using the same cage but I took all the chicken wire off and replaced it with plywood. Im building him another cage with dimensions that are 6x4x2 next to give him even more room. I've got a terra cotta pipe type piece that is half buried as one of hides and he loves it. His other hide is a broken center block that I rounded the edges on that is also half buried as a hide on the cooler side. When I build his new enclosure and get it set up I will post pics so you guys can let me know if it looks right.

[infernalis]

When I build his new enclosure and get it set up I will post pics so you guys can let me know if it looks right.

Give me a few minutes and I will post some pics of mine.

[infernalis]

first I buried these pipes..



then I added more dirt and some platforms / vegetation..





tight seals to keep in the humidity..





lots of light...



this monster is 8 feet wide, 4 feet front to back and 4 foot tall.



Thing is, with all that lumber, aluminum and dirt, I had to put support columns in my basement under the floor to hold up the weight of it.

That is 8 snake enclosures on the roof.

[infernalis]

Oh and it is insulated to keep in the heat...





Frame work...

[M_MULLINS]

Wow, that thing is both very nice and very big. Luckily my enclosure will be in the basement so I wont have to worry about adding support. Im going to build a platform that will be 6in tall so he will be very close to the basking lights that also will double as a hide. Im not sure how im doing the layout of the lights yet. I was thinking about putting 3-5 45 watt flood lights in a row above his basking spot then either a strip light in the back or front of the cage or either putting 5 or 6 extra lights through out the enclosure, but im not sure yet.

[infernalis]

By putting yours in the basement, be sure to insulate the floor of the cage, and be prepared to use some form of heating under the cage to keep the dirt warm.

Cement slabs are cold and draw the heat out, so your cage dirt will be unacceptably cold.

In fact, go down in your basement before you start and put your hand on the cement, cold isn't it.