Savannah monitor
Monitor Lizard · 0 live listings
The savannah monitor is a stocky West African monitor that is often sold as a starter monitor. Many are wild-caught or farmed imports, and it grows into a strong lizard that becomes obese quickly on a rodent-heavy diet.
At a glance
The tradeoffs, honestly
A hatchling in a small tank becomes a strong adult that needs an 8-foot enclosure. Obesity from rodent-heavy diets is a common, avoidable problem.
Common questions
Captive-bred or imported?
Many savannahs are wild-caught or farmed imports. Prefer captive-bred with a hatch record; for an import, ask for a vet exam and clear fecal and look for alert eyes and no mites.
Is it a good first monitor?
Less than its reputation suggests. It needs a large, hot enclosure with deep substrate and a careful diet, and imports can be defensive.
Is it legal where I live?
Monitors are CITES Appendix II, so an import needs CITES paperwork. Florida prohibits Nile monitors and regulates others, and Hawaii bars most non-native reptiles. Check your state and city rules first.
What health tests should a Savannah monitor monitor lizard have?
Ask for Fecal exam clear, Cryptosporidium PCR negative, Exotics vet exam on file, DNA parentage report, Hatch or birth record on file and PIT tag on file.
Sources and standards
Recommended health records for a Savannah monitor monitor lizard: Fecal exam clear, Cryptosporidium PCR negative, Exotics vet exam on file, DNA parentage report, Hatch or birth record on file and PIT tag on file. Ask the seller for each record; Everybarn does not check documents with their issuers.
Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.
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