Savannah monitor ?

Question

I have him in a 45 gallon rubbermaid tub with mesh on top a 150w lamp and a 100w bulb, a hide,water, i use repti-bark for substrate. list of foods: nightcrawlers,crickets,superworms,frozen mice, and a piece of chicken everyonce in a while. Am I doing everything correct. He doesn't seem vorocious when he eats (he's a very very tame lizard) he just shakes his head not violently, very lightly is this normal. And when i pet him he flattens his belly out and bows his head down and closes his eyes is he sick (he usually is very active except when i hold him). He is a foot long lizard. I fed him two nightcrawlers (very fat) and hes full is this normal? Am i doing everything right? please tell me critism is excepted and also if you don't mind what are signs that he'll strike at me. He is also a very dark color (darker) then most sav's is this ok?

Answer 1

What is your basking temperature? He should have a basking temp of 120 degrees.

Have you had a fecal check done to test for internal parasites? If not, do so, as your lizard is probably wild caught.

Answer 2

It's always helpful to read some websites that go into detailed care to see if you are doing everything correctly. Here are a couple of good ones:

http://www.anapsid.org/savannah.html
http://www.petreptiles.com/Monitor/monitor-food.php3

Answer 3

try going for a 33 long, or 40 breeder glass tank for him he may be happier in there also id is easier to control the humidity and allows him to see his surrounding as well as you ;-)

Answer 4

he's probably fine sav's are very docile compared to other monitor species