Savannah Monitor baby
The Savannah monitor is a popular reptile pet. It is expected to live around 10 years, has relatively easy habitat and care requirements, and with regular contact, it can be open to regular handling and petting.
Temperature
105°–110° F
Temperament
Tame with handling, aggressive without
Color Form
Tan or grey, with red, orange, or olive highlights
Lifespan
10 years
Size
Roughly 4 feet long
Diet
Insects, rats, mice
Minimum Tank Size
8’ x 4’ x 3’
Tank Set-Up
UVB, Heater, hygrometer, substrate, branch, hide, water dish
Compatibility
Low
With regular handling from a young age, the Savannah monitor will tolerate handling and some petting, although it is unlikely to ever enjoy cuddles and hugs. If they are not handled properly, they can be quite aggressive when they reach maturity, and they have the tools to cause injury to their handlers.
Your monitor will investigate its surroundings primarily using its tongue. It darts its tongue out and back in again to “taste” the environment, and you may feel the flick of its tongue on your skin.
The lizard can become aggressive if it feels threatened, although it is also likely to burrow or hide in its burrow. They will also take refuge in their burrow if it is too hot, and these diurnal animals are active during the day and restful at night.
Appearance & Varieties
The Savannah monitor is classified as a medium monitor lizard and it is certainly smaller than giant lizard species. However, the sound of their adult size can catch some first-time owners by surprise when they see a juvenile that is only 5 inches long.
It has a short neck and tail, a wide head, and is colored brown or gray with pale spots. It also has a distinctive forked tongue. They have more muscular necks and limbs, which are useful for digging and burrowing and give them a distinct look compared to other, related lizard species.
This is considered one of the more docile species of monitor lizard and while they are considered small for this type of lizard, they grow substantially larger than other pet lizards like geckos and bearded dragons. Their size is one of the reasons that the Savannah may not be considered a good choice for amateur lizard owners. It is a species that is best left to those with experience of the smaller lizards first.
How to Take Care of Savannah Monitors
Image Credit: Cherdchai Chaivimol, Shutterstock
Savannah monitors are best described as intermediate lizards. They are easier to care for than other species of monitor, because they are the smallest, among the hardiest, and have easier care requirements than other monitors. However, they are considerably larger and take more care than small lizard species like bearded dragons and geckos. If you are considering one, you will need the following setup.
Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup
A 50-gallon tank is large enough for a juvenile, but this will only last for the first 6 months of ownership. At which point, you will need to upgrade to a more substantial size and most owners choose the larger setup straight away. In this case, the smallest recommended size is 8’ x 4’ and is at least 3’ high. You can add a branch or two, but ensure that the Savannah will not be able to escape through the lid of the tank.
Your monitor will be capable of destroying most things. Avoid tanks with screen walls and do not provide unnecessary ornaments and other decorative items because they will just get broken and be of very little value.
Water Bowls
One of the most important additions to the tank is a large water bowl. The monitor will want to submerge its entire body. Some owners use a cat litter tray because this provides ample space and should be suitably waterproof.
Temperature
Image Credit: Marius Dobilas, Shutterstock
The tank should have an ambient temperature between 95° F and 100° F with a basking spot as hot as 130° F. The temperature should get cooler at night, with a cold area of 75° F in the evening, which means that you will need a thermostat. While lights can provide heat during the day, you will need ceramic heaters for the evening.
Lighting
A UVB light with a 10-hour cycle will provide the lighting your lizard requires.
Substrate
Monitors are burrowers, so they do appreciate being given adequate substrate in which to dig. They like to dig up to 2 feet deep but avoid substrate that can cause impaction because the Savannah is prone to eating substrate as well as insects at dinnertime.
Feed
Image Credit: Colin Seddon, Shutterstock
The opportunistic carnivore will eat mice, rats, and lizards. Because they are opportunistic, this means that they are prone to putting on weight, so you should monitor the amount you feed your lizard carefully.
Juveniles will eat approximately one to four fuzzies or one small mouse, along with a handful of insects.
Adults will eat two or three adult mice a week. Again, this should be supplemented with insects.
Insects should be gut loaded and can include crickets as well as cockroaches and earthworms.