Please critique my savannah setup!

[nolagurl]

I'm really sorry I can't provide a picture but I'm having camera issues.

I just brought my new savannah monitor home on Sunday. He's tiny, six inches long at the most. Overall I'm very pleased with his enclosure. I'll describe it the best I can because I'd love to get feedback from everyone.


Tank Dimensions: 3 ft. long, 2 ft wide, 2ft tall
I've purchased aquarium *background* and taped it to the back and both sides.

Substrate: 2- 8 Quart bags of ESU Jungle Mix (similar to dirt/soil) I'll use dirt once this expensive stuff runs out

Lighting/Heat: UVA/UVB Lighting, 12 hours a day. Heating- Ceramic Heat Emitter. I have it attached to a thermostat so the cage won't get too hot.

Cage Furniture:

-U-shaped bark hide on cool side
-A fully enclosed dome shaped hide on the other end
-Water bowl large enough to soak in
-Aquarium style piece with several spots to climb. There is a spot directly under the heat emitter that he uses to bask

Food:
-Dusted crickets
-Today I fed him dusted mealworms for the first time. I offered 10, he ate all but three


Sounds good? I feel like there is something else I could get, maybe extra pieces of wood to climb on. I bought the cage accessories with some *room to grow* although I know I'll have to ditch everything and get a larger enclosurewhen he's closer to adult length.

[dave68]

Sounds pretty good, nice size for a baby as well. Enjoy!

[Jeff_Favelle]

Most important factor for monitors: TEMPERATURES. I wouldn't even BEGIN to critique a monitor cage unless you provided the temperatures and pictures. Its too hard and its too big of a guess that would just result in more bad husbandry.

Go here to answer questions:

http://www.varanus.net/faq/

[crocdoc]

as Jeff said, check your basking and cool end temperatures with a non contact temperature gun or good thermometer with a probe. Also, you didn't mention what you were using for a top. Most people cover aquaria with screen, which is a big no no for dehydration.

You don't need to buy all of your enclosure furniture in a pet store. Branches and flat bits of bark from your local woods are also very good, the more in there the better. Since hatchlings are pretty nervous, I fill their enclosure with bits of wood so, if they choose to, they can go from one end to the other without ever exposing themselves. You'd be amazed at how much exploring they do, then.

I have never kept exanthematicus, so the best bit of advise I can give for that species is to purchase the small book put out by Daniel Bennet and Rav Thakoordyal. It's an excellent little book, cheap at twice the price, and covers all bases.

http://mampam.50megs.com/bok/

[nolagurl]

Originally posted by crocdoc
Most people cover aquaria with screen, which is a big no no for dehydration.

That is what I'm currently using but I live in a high humidity area. Today's humidity level is 88% and the enclosure reads higher than that.

http://www.weather.com/weather/local/70115?lswe=70115&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared

[V.hb]

Measure your ambient temps, and basking temps. Like said above they are very important. I would still make a lid out of wood, or plexi glass as well. Rest sounds pretty good to me!

[V.hb]

Also, ditch the UV lighting. It isn't nessecary IMO. Ive never used it with any monitors.

[reptiguy123]

Not necessary, but still can be used. If you paid a lot for it, wait until it burns out and then get a halogen bulb. Couldn't hurt, could it?

[nicola_boulton]

agree with repiguy123, cant do any harm at all. sounds like a great tank! really nice when people make an effort :).
Hope to see some pics soon!

[Jeff_Favelle]

You don't need to buy all of your enclosure furniture in a pet store. Branches and flat bits of bark from your local woods are also very good, the more in there the better. Since hatchlings are pretty nervous, I fill their enclosure with bits of wood so, if they choose to, they can go from one end to the other without ever exposing themselves. You'd be amazed at how much exploring they do, then.

This man speaks the TRUTH.

and it doesn't matter WHAT the humidity in your room/city is. If you have basking lights in an aquarium with spot lamps, the air WILL be dry. This is why aquariums are meant for fish. Screens are a no-no for monitors. They make beef-jerky machines.

[nolagurl]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle

and it doesn't matter WHAT the humidity in your room/city is. If you have basking lights in an aquarium with spot lamps, the air WILL be dry. This is why aquariums are meant for fish. Screens are a no-no for monitors. They make beef-jerky machines.


That makes total sense. I can easily get my grandpa to construct a wooden top. I don't care for the screen anyway.

[V.hb]

I said, ditch the UV as you may own other herps that can benefit from it more. No, it wont do any harm to the animal, it just isn't nessecary.

it is good to see people asking for advice and taking it :) hope you enjoy the sav.

[jjnnbns]

I am assuming that the background taped to the sides and back is on the outside? (Ive heard of people putting it on the inside, lol!!)

[nolagurl]

The background is on the outside. :-P