Just got a tegu! adult female, but.... what is she?

[SnakeCharmr728]

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Links:
Tegu specific forums:
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Reputable Monitor Caresheets:
http://savannahmonitor.co/ <----- the truth to caring for savannah monitors
http://www.savannahmonitor.net/gout/ <--- the important of deep burrowable substrate

In depth savannah monitor care sheets:
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/841282-boscs-savannah-monitor-care-sheet.html
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/119922-so-want-sav.html

http://www.repticzone.com/forums/Monitors/messages/1272637.html

 

[pouchedrat]

I just received my reply from boamaster cages and they will custom build me my sizes. I am getting a 10' x 4' x 3' for the tegu's enclosure once she is out of hibernation and a 10' x 4' x 4' for the sav with doors built towards the top. These are being ordered within the next month. Radiant heat panels since the basement is a constant temp., fixtures for bulbs, uv lights, etc. I will be modifying as I see fit and sealing the insides completely. If a 10x4x4 is not good enough for my 15" baby, then I don't know what to tell you. The tegu will probably have free roam in a room when I'm home once she is more active and we have a playroom with tiles for my son that is gated off and all toys are put up in storage cubes when not in use, that I can lay mats down for and mop easily until she is used to us. Will set up basking areas during her use of it but she isnt awake yet.

If this is still unacceptable then whatever. I don't have time to build my own cages at this time, but I can modify a prebuilt fine. My husband has at least agreed to help me with lifting the melamine boards and holding things while I drill etc. I'm not sure I can piece the boamasters together on my own (weight and size) it may come to that though depending on our baby. I don't care anymore. Information is all conflicting

 

[james.w]

Those cages will be great for both. Tell them to not put any ventilation in either.

 

[pouchedrat]

I just received my two boamasters. 10' x 4' x 4' and 10' x 4' x 3'. They made the doors huge and put ventilation in anyway. I just.finished building one and am going to build the second one tonight. It looks like I'll have to get some melamine boards and drill them into the bottom sectio.s to hold in enough dirt. Also I am going to be sealing the insides and waterproofing them both so that'll take care of vents (theyll be covered up) .

So I'm conflicted ... they're huge (monitor is only 15" now). I want to build a sturdy background and rocks and pond area now. With the kniwledge they'll probably get destroyed... but most of my display cages I build backgrounds and stuff in.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

wow those are huge! how much do those cost?

 

[pouchedrat]

It is cheaper to buy materials and build them yourself.... trust me on that.

They were $975 each, plus I bought two 160 watt radiant heat panels, and shipping cost $290. UPS had to freight it in and the guy couldn't get it off of his truck at all. We had to take the pallet off the truck piece by piece.

My next step is to get some melamine boards for the bottom parts, to drill them in to hold dirt in. Then sealing everything with silicone in the edges and fiberglass, then probably sheets of that stuff for bathrooms and more silicone lol.

I've been pricing light fixtures and will probably get two 4' UV light fixtures (they hold multiple bulbs) for each cage... making 4 total. Then 3 heat lamp fixtures per cage on top of already having the heat panels.

I found nice looking preformed ponds that hold 33 gallons I'm going to attach inside each, and add pipe to bottom to drain outside. Also I'm VERY tempted to build foam backgrounds and a very small waterfall trickle to keep water moving. Also have an idea for basking areas/caves made with a skeletal structure of PVC pipes and joints cemented together, egg crate and zip ties to form the shelves, real slate rocks for the flat surfaces, then building up with pink insulation foam, then great stuff over that keeping slate exposed. After shaping it all and carving, cement over it all and acrylic paint (and sand it down etc...) gonna do it all outside the enclosures and let em cure before putting it in. It is mainly an idea for the monitor not tegu. And if he destroys it then oh well LOL. I just like building things and backgrounds for all my tanks....

I actually have a list of stuff I need to do before these are habitable... the decoration possibilities are NOT part of it and those'll be done outside of the cages.. so the monitor and tegu get their big cages first. Especially now that the tegu is out of hibernation

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

ouch, ya definitely cheaper to build.

 

[tegutattoos]

wow people need to calm down, Your savannah monitor looks very nice Not having deep soil isn't going to kill your monitor nor will it become dehydrated. There are many ways to house monitors and many keepers have successfully housed them without deep soil and those high temps. Here is a good Website http://savannahmonitornews.weebly.com/ that could give you some ideas if you wanted some Just remember what works for one doesn't mean it works for all.

 

[tegutattoos]

Lol I am not going to argue with you but I think the reader can decide.

 

[TegusRawsome80]

I sure hope so. Long term dehydration kills!

 

[pouchedrat]

I know I'm supposed to look for signs like sunken eyes, enlarged forearms or whatever else. I can tell you right now my boy (he is definitely male.... lol) is nasty, feisty, and you cannot hold him. I don't except for transportation to baths or whatnot. Was worried about shed skin on a couple toes . Otherwise it is a whole lot of hissing, thrashing, and he has bitten me twice both times drawn blood because I got careless and he can be FAST.

When his cage is set up that's it. Except for vet visits or something else, id rather leave him alone. I love his attitude though! But savannahs are definitely NOT docile LOL. And I don't want to stress him. Luckily tegu girl is cuddly, plus our bearded dragon is my gardening buddy. She hangs out with me on the porch while I work outside.

 

[pouchedrat]

I guess I should mention I keep 20 different tarantula species including old world arboreals, scorpions, etc. as well as have various exotics knowledge and other reptiles and mammals. I mentioned my boy is feisty.. I'm not afraid of him nor do I believe I couldn't handle an adult. I just don't want to stress him out with unnecessary handling.