Help with savannah?

Question

we own a savannah monitor and supposedly they mkae great pets, but the person that owned him before us never took him out of his cage so he's not people friendly, how can we get him used to being held and used to people in general?

Answer 1

Its going to be seriously difficult depending on how old he is.

All you can do really is just hold him until he knows you're not a threat, and you're not going to hurt him. I'd wear gloves.

Its going to be easier if he's younger, and might not be possible to tame him if he's over a couple years old.

Answer 2

OK first off i have a Savannah monitor and they are look but do NOT touch pets. they can get aggressive and they are not completely domesticated like dogs or cats. therefore not people friendly. a monitor that is "friendly" is sick and dying...  they tail whip.. they leave nasty bites. and they do not get used to people. they see you as there life line you feed water and clean up his presents. so they are going to tolerate you but that has to end somewhere. if you want a pet you can hold. get an iguana they can be VERY sweet and loving and get around the same as as a Monitor and need LESS room than a full grown Savannah monitor will need. which is 12 foot long by 5 foot high by 6 foot long. for it to be happy and healthy you have to provide at LEAST that much room. if you can't do that. i highly suggest you give up your monitor to someone who can properly provide care for it.

Answer 3

You have to remember if you spent most of your life in a box with little to no disturbances you would not like someone holding you in one place.  I would say to get them to understand you mean no threat take them out and "hold" them for about 20 mins a day.  Just play with him almost like a dog.  Let him run around on the ground in a well lit and uncluttered area.  Just be there and every once in a while pet him on the sides of his head but not his stomach and never pick him up by his stomach as that they view this as a threat.  Call his name and pick him up if he will let you.  If there is no mood change in 2 weeks of doing this.  Stay near the cage at all times take him and the cage out in the livingroom and watch tv or put him on desk when you do homework anything so that he knows you are there next to him/her.  Also if he is eating live prey then I would switch to frozen mice.  The claws on a monitor are very sharp so if you ever hold him wear a sweater and gloves until tame.  I hope this helps if you have any other questions email me [e-mail].

Answer 4

short frequent holdings like 5 minutes or less every day until he gets accustomed to it them extend it a little like 2-3 minutes until he happy being out as long as you want him to be.