Monitors: The Big Lizards

 

Have you ever seen a monitor lizard? They are huge! Yes, they do look a bit intimidating, with their large bodies and forked tongue, but they are amazing creatures! And, luckily, we have seen our fair share in our clinic. If you've never seen or heard of a monitor lizard, please read further.

A Little Bit About Monitors (Savannah)

Savannah monitors are native to the grasslands of Africa, where they have adapted to many different habitats, including the desert and woodlands. They live in tropical savannahs, hence the name, Savannah Monitor.

The temperament of a Savannah Monitor in captivity is fairly tame (with a lot of effort), and relatively intelligent. Monitors that come into our clinic are often skittish, so we let them walk around the reception and treatment areas. In the wild, they are aggressive and aware of their size and use this to their advantage, to intimidate their prey and scare away predators.

Diet

Monitors are carnivores and in the wild, they eat invertebrates (i.e. snails). In captivity, rodents are their sources of food. If you own a monitor, make sure that the rodents are frozen and thawed. Live rodents can hurt your lizard.

Housing

Monitors should be in a LARGE enclosure. A spare room is ideal. Remember, height in your monitor's tank is important because they can escape easily. Like most reptiles, monitors require warmth and humidity. The hot end of their tank should be about 90-100 degrees, while the cool end is 70-80 degrees. The humidity needs to be about 70-80%.

So now, you know a little more about monitors and their care in captivity. If you have any questions about these majestic reptiles, please let our veterinarians or staff know.