Care sheet
Savannah Monitor
Varanus exanthematicus
Also known as: Bosc's Monitor
Varanidae ยท Squamata
- Activity
- โ๏ธ Diurnal
- Temperament
- Docile
- Adult length
- 30โ48 in
- Lifespan (captivity)
- 10โ15 yrs
- Native range
- Sub-Saharan Africa โ open savanna and grassland
Care guide
Overview
Savannah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) โ a stocky African monitor that is powerful and can tame well but is very demanding: 8x4 ft minimum, deep burrowing substrate, and a 130-150F basking surface. Feed mainly insects, not rodents.
Environment
Climate
Environment
UVB lighting
Housing
Enclosure
- HatchlingNot specified
- JuvenileNot specified
- Adult8x4x4 ft minimum with deep burrowing substrate + hot basking surface
Housing
Substrate
Nutrition
Diet & feeding
- JuvenileDaily (insect-based)
- Adult2-3x weekly; primarily insects (avoid obesity/fatty rodents)
Calcium+D3 on insects. Wild diet is largely invertebrates โ over-feeding rodents causes obesity and fatty liver.
Care
Water & behavior
Large basin for soaking; fresh water always available.
Legal & ecology
Conservation
CITES Appendix II. Frequently sold cheaply as wild-caught hatchlings then underhoused/overfed. Needs a huge enclosure, deep digging substrate, and a very hot basking surface.
Citations
Sources
Every husbandry parameter on this page is backed by the references below. Click through to read the originals.
- Varanus exanthematicus โ species accountacademic
Animal Diversity Web, U. Michigan
African savanna range, invertebrate-heavy wild diet.
Published: 2020-01-01
- government
Least Concern; CITES Appendix II.
Published: 2019-01-01
- Savannah Monitor Care Sheetbreeder community
ReptiFiles (Mariah Healey)
Enclosure scale, deep substrate, basking surface temp, insect-based diet.
Published: 2022-01-01