Savannah Monitor. Habitat

Similar documents
A Rhode Island Non-Profit Organization Bearded Dragon Care

Leopard Gecko GUIDE TO. Introduction. Types of Leopard Gecko

Tel: Registered Charity Number:

Introduction to Leopard Gecko Care

Sulcata Tortoise. Scientific Name: Geochelone [Centrochelys] Sulcata

Crested Gecko GUIDE TO. Introduction. Types of Crested Gecko

Chameleons: Biology, Husbandry and Disease Prevention. Paul Stewart, DVM. Origin: Africa (40% of species) and Madagascar (40% of species)

Newsletter May Crested Geckos and our guide to decorating your vivarium.

Bearded Dragon GUIDE TO. Introduction. Types of Bearded Dragon

CHOOSING YOUR REPTILE LIGHTING AND HEATING

Corn Snake Care Sheet

Savannah Monitor (Bosc s Monitor) Varanus exanthematicus

Pet Care of a Bearded Dragon

Reptile Husbandry for the Practitioner

Kori Bustard Husbandry. Sara Hallager, Biologist, Smithsonian National Zoological Park

SCORPION C A R E. P & K Pets Info Sheet #07 19 Magill Rd Stepney SA 5069 P: F:

Steppe Runner Eremias arguta

Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps

Horsefield Tortoise (Testudo horsefieldi)

Bearded dragons Pogona sp.

Crested Gecko Rhacodactylus ciliatus

Group Editor: John F. Taylor (The Herp Father) Managing Editor: Dr. Robert G. Sprackland Exec. Director & Design: Rebecca Billard-Taylor

Bearded Dragon Care Sheet Bearded dragon (Pogona Vitticeps)

Production Basics How Do I Raise Poultry for Eggs?

reptile parent YOUR GUIDE TO COMPLETE CARE

Why feed live, when there are dried and canned insects available?

Full of advice for caring for your pet. Your guide to Degus. Jollyes, only the best for you and your pets.

Freshwater Turtles. Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital LLC. Melissa Magnuson D.V.M

Recommended Resources: The following resources may be useful in teaching

Fulton County 4-H AQUATIC SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT FOR NON-FISH EXHIBITS

Contents. Foreword 19. Historical Note: Mythical Iguana of the Mayas 23. Introduction 25

Proceedings of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Sydney, Australia 2007

Tel:

Reptiles and amphibian behaviour

Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis) Darrell Senneke and Chris Tabaka DVM Copyright 2003, 2004 World Chelonian Trust. All rights reserve

General Leopard Gecko Care: Housing

Reptile UVB100. Tropical Terrarium Bulb

BEDDING GUIDE Choose the right bedding for your reptile. Ornate Uromastyx (Uromastyx ornata)

The captive maintenance and breeding of. Diporiphora winneckei (Cane grass dragon) at the Alice Springs Desert Park.

General Practice Service Willows Information Sheets. Cat nutrition

What and where to buy

Rabbit Adoption Policy

Facilitated Adoption Profile Herptile

MINI 4-H. PROJECT EXHIBIT TAG Mini 4 H Pet Animal Name: Age: Clay County Cooperative Extension N Rd Brazil, IN

Group Editor: John F. Taylor (The Herp Father) Managing Editor: Dr. Robert G. Sprackland Exec. Director & Design: Rebecca Billard-Taylor

Animal Behavior OBJECTIVES PREPARATION SCHEDULE VOCABULARY BACKGROUND INFORMATION MATERIALS. For the class. The students.

Terrestrial Isopod Care, Breeding, Application, and Identification

BEARDED DRAGON CARESHEET

Facilitated Adoption Profile Herptile

Bearded Dragon Care Sheet

Fat dogs are a big problem

Species Fact Sheets. Order: Gruiformes Family: Cariamidae Scientific Name: Cariama cristata Common Name: Red-legged seriema

Unit C: Poultry Management. Lesson 2: Feeding, Management and Equipment for Poultry

Keeping and Raising Mealworms

PRODUCTION BASICS HOW DO I RAISE POULTRY FOR MEAT? Chuck Schuster University of Maryland Extension Central Maryland

Care Sheet for the Mt. Meru Jackson s Chameleon Trioceros merumontanus. By Petr Necas & Bill Strand

Reptiles. Feeding and Breeding Equipment

Females lay between 2 and 15 eggs 30 days after mating. These hatch after approximately 2 months. Deserts and scrublands in Southern Mexico

Fundamentals to be considered when choosing your reptile pet.

Texas Tortoise Gopherus berlandieri Fact Sheet

4-H Small Animals. Birds Gerbils Hamsters Mice Reptiles

Getting your rabbits. into shape

ZooTrek : Habitats. Grades 6 8

Fact Sheet Pygmy Bearded Dragon

Brumation (Hibernation) in Chelonians and Snakes

Husbandry and Reproduction of Varanus glauerti in Captivity

Bearded Dragon. Cup Diets. Highly Palatable Food. Convenient serving portions Tasty and nutritious Light-shielded to preserve nutrients

Recommended Resources: The following resources may be useful in teaching

Guinea Pig Adoption Policy

Frequently Asked Questions--FEEDING SNAKES. Quick Click Menu

STATE FFA POULTRY EVALUATION KNOWLEDGE TEST

How To Take Great Care Of Your Pet Iguana

Husbandry Guidelines Name Species Prepared by

POULTRY STANDARDS The focus of PROOF certification is the on. farm management of livestock in a farming

ESSENTIAL CARE & EQUIPMENT

Steggles Sydney Royal School Meat Bird Pairs Competition Support Guide

Your dog a guide to feeding dogs aged 1-6

Are Green Pythons difficult species to keep?

This Report Brought To You By:

Raising Chicks. Brooding

Parrots, Budgerigars and Cockatiels

Maintenance for FoodChain s 10 Gallon Aquaponic System

Unit D: Egg Production. Lesson 4: Producing Layers

An Invasive Species For more information: MyFWC.com/iguana

Breeding White Storks( Ciconia ciconia at Chessington World of Adventures Paul Wexler

Breeding the Common Golden-Backed Woodpecker in Captivity Dinopium javanense

Broiler Management for Birds Grown to Low Kill Weights ( lb / kg)

Four Methods:Preparing to BreedChoosing the Eggs to IncubateLetting the Hen Hatch the EggsIncubating the Eggs Yourself

The Guinea Pig. Nose. Eye. Whiskers COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. Ear. Underbelly. Nail. Rump

Choosing the Right Pet for You

Reptilepro. Code No. Description Specification Packing

An Ancient Reptile by Guy Belleranti

Arthritis in Dogs and Cats

Park Vets Guide to Rabbit Ownership

This Coloring Book has been adapted for the Wildlife of the Table Rocks

Iguana aggression. A relaxed green iguana. Defensive aggression

Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Geochelone/Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Feeding Behavior of a Dog, Betta Fish, and Leopard Gecko. Shannon Hutchison

Taking Care of Your Bearded Dragon

Reproducing: Cockroaches hatch from eggs. See if you can spot the smallest cockroach in the enclosure.

Transcription:

Savannah Monitor The savannah monitor, as one would expect given the common name, is found in the savannahs and grasslands of central Africa. These animals are superbly adapted predators that hunt and forage during the cooler daylight hours for foods consisting of insects, birds, eggs, rodents, and other reptiles. This species is very similar in general morphology to the black throated monitor and the white throated monitor. In some places, these three species have overlapping ranges, and were at one time considered the same species. Incidently, all of these monitors have very similar care requirements, and the guidelines provided below may be applied to the maintenance of any one of these animals. In the past, savannah monitors were imported to the United States and Europe in massive numbers, often resulting in dehydrated, starving animals that failed to thrive. Luckily, with the recent interest in conservation within their countries of origin, these monitors are being "ranched," that is being bred and/or hatched in controlled environments in their native land. As a result, healthy and spunky babies are now widely available, as are animals bred here in the States by a few dedicated hobbyists. Common Name: Savanna Monitor Scientific Name: Varanus exanthematicus Distribution: Central Africa. Size: 2.5' - 3' Life Span: Expected to live well over 10 years, with 15 to 20 years being a reasonable average. Habitat

A single or pair of hatchlings can be comfortably kept in a 20 or 30 gallon terrarium or equivalent enclosure for the first few months of life. Once they exceed 8 inches, you should begin shopping for a larger enclosure. A single adult can be maintained in a 6 foot by 2 foot enclosure, while 6 by 4 would be best for a pair. These animals usually get along in pairs or small groups, but aggression between males or surrounding feeding have been reported. If ample space if provided, as well as an assortment of hiding and basking spots, these animals can be considered communal. Smaller enclosures for babies and juveniles can be A glass terrarium with a sliding screen top. Larger animals can be housed in molded plastic enclosures such as those manufactured by Vision Herpetelogical, or in other custom enclosures. Remember, monitors are smart, active, and powerful animals. Attention should be paid to the size and security of any cage designed to contain a large monitor. Heating and Lighting These monitors are found throughout Central Africa fairly near to the equator, and as such require high daytime temperatures for proper health. The ambient or background temperature within the cage should range from 80 degrees on the cool side to 90 degrees on the warmer side of the enclosure. A basking spot should be provided to create a single zone (multiple basking spots for multiple animals) that gets around 100 degrees. Larger animals can tolerate higher basking temperatures, and there are many reports of basking spots exceeding 130 degrees being utilized by this species. At night, temperatures can safely drop to 75 degrees. If needed, heating pads or ceramic heat emitters may be used to increase nighttime temperatures to acceptable levels. During the day, basking bulbs, ceramic heat emitters, or both should be used to

ensure high heat and plenty of bright light. There are differing opinions as to the necessity of full spectrum lighting for monitor lizards. In theory, because they are eating a wide variety of whole prey items, they should be receiving ample amounts of vitamin D3 and calcium. However, captive reptiles rarely receive a diet anywhere near as varied or nutritious as they would receive in the wild. Additionally, wild savannah monitors do bask for extended periods of time in unfiltered sunlight, so it seems only fitting that they should be exposed to similar conditions in captivity. In larger enclosures, self-ballasted mercury vapor bulbs (such as Zoo Med s Powersun) can be used as both a heat source and for ultraviolet (UV) light. In smaller enclosures the use of an independent heat source in conjunction with a traditional fluorescent UV bulb is acceptable. Substrates Savannah monitors are natural diggers, both when foraging for food and when constructing burrows. A substrate that allows for this behavior is recommended, as is one that will retain enough humidity to offset dehydration and shedding issues. Mulch type bedding such as orchid bark or cypress mulch are ideal, and aspen products (shredded or chipped) have proven successful as well. As an active species, much of what you put into your monitor enclosure will get pushed around and potentially toppled over. A simplistic set-up consisting of a few chunks of heavy wood, some sort of shelter, and a sturdy basking platform will suffice. Ultimately, trial and error will dictate what does and does not work for your animal. Live plants should be avoided, as they tend to die in the extreme heat of a savannah monitor enclosure, not to mention the physical trauma they may endure on behalf of a large, curious lizard.

Artificial vines and plants may be used to beautify the monitor home, but are not required Nutrition In the wild, savannah monitors are both active hunters and scavengers. Recent studies have shown that the majority of their diet consists of insects (roaches, termites, scorpions, millipedes), birds, eggs, other reptiles, and rodents. The captive diet should be similar, with an emphasis on invertebrate prey. Young monitors will enjoy a staple diet of appropriately sized mealworms, waxworms, and feeder roaches. Avoid feeding young monitors rodents, as young, unweaned mice are very high in fat, but low in other more valuable nutrients. Older monitors can receive rodents occasionally as part of a balanced diet. One or two rodents a week should be the absolute maximum. Keep in mind that these animals are simply not designed to digest large quantities of fur and fat, and the constraints of a captive lifestyle can only compound potential issues. Even adult savannah monitors should be fed lots of insects. A colony of large roaches (such as giant Malagasy hissing roaches) would be a good investment, and if properly maintained, should provide a constant supply of food items for your lizard. Crickets and larger mealworms will also be consumed. A mixture of ground turkey, raw egg, chicken gizzards & hearts and a suitable calcium/vitamin supplement has proven very successful in both the private sector and among zoos for maintaining large, carnivorous lizards. As long as careful attention to supplementation and variety, this mixture can make up as much as half of the lizards staple diet. All food items, with the exception of rodents and pre-mixed diets, should be regualruy dusted with a high quality calcium/vitamin D3 supplement. Food for growing monitors should be dusted several

times a week, while less frequent supplementation is acceptable for older lizards. A good multivitamin should also be employed, and as formulas differ, follow the manufacturers directions for dosage information. It should be noted that savannah monitors are particularly prone to obesity and subsequent medical problems. Poor diet, coupled with lack of room to exercise quickly result in an overweight monitor. Avoid overfeeding, try to replicate the natural diet, and provide ample space to avoid these problems. Water and Humidity Despite hailing from an arid environment, savannah monitors do drink water regularly, and will even soak if given a large enough receptacle. A heavy dish that is unlikely to tip is recommended, as is one that can be easily disinfected if the animal defecates in the water. In the wild, these lizards spend the hottest parts of the day in the refuge of moist burrows. The humidity levels within these "micro habitats" prevents dehydration and helps to ensure healthy skin shedding. In captivity, little is required as far as maintaining ambient humidity, however, the use of one or more humid-hides is recommended. These are simply standard hide areas (cork bark, half-logs, etc) that have been stuffed with moist soil or barely wet sphagnum moss. Handling In addition to being hardy, reasonablely sized, and readily available, savannah monitors are also toted as one of the easiest monitor species to tame. With regular, gentle handling, most of these animals will learn to tolerate, or even enjoy, human interaction.

Babies can be nervous and defensive, but this is to be expected of a young, frightened animal. After providing ample time for your pet to settle into it s new home you can begin the process of creating a pet-owner bond with your lizard. As Always, This is only a basic care sheet, Please continue to educate yourself on your new family member.