Heating:
Q: Is heat important for a Savannah Monitor??
A: Yes. Very. They need heat in order to digest their food properly. Heat also helps them maintain a healthy immune system.
A: Yes. Very. They need heat in order to digest their food properly. Heat also helps them maintain a healthy immune system.
Thermoregulation:
ther·mo·reg·u·la·tion/ (-reg″u-la´shun) the regulation of heat, as of the body heat of a warm-blooded animal.
Because reptiles are cold blooded they are unable to self regulate their core temperature the way a warm blooded mammal can. There-fore, they are reliant on external heat sources. In the wild this would most likely come from the sun. But a captive specimen relies on you to provide them with a heat source.
Warmth is important but they should be able to move freely to a cooler area if they need or want. That is what thermoregulation is all about. So make sure that you are able to provide a warm & cool area for you Monitor.
My monitor seems to prefer temperatures between 75-120 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything cooler equals mouth issues & anything warmer sends him looking for a cool place to chill. I know that many people are using lights for heating that can create a basking spot of up to 150 degree Fahrenheit but my monitor does not like it that hot.
I believe his preference for slightly cooler temperatures is based on the fact that he was captive born & raised in Colorado.
ther·mo·reg·u·la·tion/ (-reg″u-la´shun) the regulation of heat, as of the body heat of a warm-blooded animal.
Because reptiles are cold blooded they are unable to self regulate their core temperature the way a warm blooded mammal can. There-fore, they are reliant on external heat sources. In the wild this would most likely come from the sun. But a captive specimen relies on you to provide them with a heat source.
Warmth is important but they should be able to move freely to a cooler area if they need or want. That is what thermoregulation is all about. So make sure that you are able to provide a warm & cool area for you Monitor.
My monitor seems to prefer temperatures between 75-120 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything cooler equals mouth issues & anything warmer sends him looking for a cool place to chill. I know that many people are using lights for heating that can create a basking spot of up to 150 degree Fahrenheit but my monitor does not like it that hot.
I believe his preference for slightly cooler temperatures is based on the fact that he was captive born & raised in Colorado.
Heat & Health:
It is extremely important that these guys are warm enough during the winter or they can develop strange black spots around their teeth & gums. How do I know this?? Because I have dealt with this issue first hand. (photo right) This can lead to worse problems such as not being able to eat. They may want to eat but find the process painful because of the infection.
Note: I checked online but was never able to locate any helpful information regarding this issue. I finally had to take him to a vet in order to resolve the problem as he had gotten to the point of not eating. A shot & antibiotics had him good as new.
BTW - I experienced this problem again at a later time but was able to correct it by turning the heat up in his bed/cage/home. So if you pay careful attention to your pet and catch this type of health issue early enough you can reverse the situation before it gets so bad you have to visit a vet.
I hope someone finds this information helpful.
Note: I checked online but was never able to locate any helpful information regarding this issue. I finally had to take him to a vet in order to resolve the problem as he had gotten to the point of not eating. A shot & antibiotics had him good as new.
BTW - I experienced this problem again at a later time but was able to correct it by turning the heat up in his bed/cage/home. So if you pay careful attention to your pet and catch this type of health issue early enough you can reverse the situation before it gets so bad you have to visit a vet.
I hope someone finds this information helpful.
All photos & videos by John Kleinknecht - Copyright © 2013 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide