Instructions
Watch the Savannah monitor. Generally, the males will be more active and aggressive than the females. This behavior is evident in very young lizards, but you can get timid males and bold females. For juvenile Savannah monitors, however, it might be the best method for determining sex until they get older.
Compare the head and neck of the Savannah monitor. The head and neck of a male Savannah monitor are going to be thicker than those of the female, which have a slightly more delicate profile.
Look for the hemipenal bulges. The hemipenal bulges are located underneath the base of the tail, and in an adult Savannah monitor, the bulges will be significantly more pronounced.
Look for everted hemipenes. Hemipenes are the Savannah monitor sex organs, and they look like a pair of small pink tubes. Sometimes, a male will evert his hemipenes, pushing them out and dragging them along the ground in a dominant or territorial display. This behavior is exclusive to males.
Consult a veterinarian about endoscopy. Endoscopy refers to the process of inserting a viewing device into the Savannah monitor to determine the presence of ovaries or testes. This process can be very stressful on a Savannah monitor and should not be done unless discovering the sex of a Savannah monitor is absolutely vital.
How to Tell If a Savannah Monitor Is Male or Female
Though Savannah monitors are often labeled as beginning lizards that are ideal for new reptile keepers, they can actually present some problems like a septic bite that should be handled by someone with more reptile experience. Identifying the sex of a Savannah monitor can take some time and some attention to detail, and can be difficult unless the specimen is a full adult.