How to Keep Bosc Monitors

Bosc monitors, also called Savannah monitors, come from central and southern Africa. Their natural environment is hot and arid in the summer, with monsoon winters. They are usually dull gray in color, with blunt heads and white stomachs. Bosc monitors can range from 5 feet long to 2 1/2 feet long. Their hardy constitution makes them ideal lizards for beginners, once the lizards have been tamed.

Things You'll Need

  • Monitor terrarium
  • Wood
  • Light source
  • Heat source (heat bulb)
  • Thermometer
  • Substrate
  • Water bowl
  • Food source (crickets, roaches, earthworms, mice)
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your tank. Living areas should be large enough to accommodate your monitors---each Bosc monitor requires about 1 square foot per foot in length. Large adult monitors can require up to 6 feet squared in living space. Give the monitors wood to climb on and substrate to burrow in (use wood chips, sand or soil).

    • 2

      Set up the water bowl, which should be big enough for the monitor to lie in, light source and heating source. The light source can be as simple as a light bulb in a common light fixture. Use a 50-watt or 75-watt heating bulb as your heat source (available at pet stores), in another light fixture/heating lamp fixture. Set up your thermometer to measure the tank's temperature, which should range from 85 to 95 degrees.

    • 3

      Add the substrate, piling it deeply enough for the monitors to burrow in. Add water to the substrate to cool the monitor's cage, or to add humidity.

    • 4

      Feed your monitors every day. Feed them crickets, roaches or earthworms, with an addition of mice once or twice a week. For young monitors, use pinky or fuzzy mice rather than adult mice.

    • 5

      Clean your tank once a week to keep down the smell and keep your Bosc monitors healthy.