Monitor vs. Beardie basking temps?

[boosh96]

Here's something I don't understand-why is it that bearded dragons, who live in the Australian desert, require a basking spot that's only, like, 100-110 degrees? I can see why monitors are generally said to need a basking spot that's 130-150, since I understand that's what their basking temps are like in the wild, but why don't bearded dragons require a similar temperature in captivity?

[smy_749]

Here's something I don't understand-why is it that bearded dragons, who live in the Australian desert, require a basking spot that's only, like, 100-110 degrees? I can see why monitors are generally said to need a basking spot that's 130-150, since I understand that's what their basking temps are like in the wild, but why don't bearded dragons require a similar temperature in captivity?

Because beardy owners treat their animals like humans and think dirt is bad and cuddling with a blanket is good for beardies. Beardies would very much enjoy 130+ basking in reality

[Starbuck]

^^^^^^^^^^this.

I've been trying to get a fellow vet student to adjust her beardies care :-/ she.offers water once a week because theyre 'desert animals' and they live on sheets so they won't get impactions :-P:-P:-P

[infernalis]

Because beardy owners treat their animals like humans and think dirt is bad and cuddling with a blanket is good for beardies. Beardies would very much enjoy 130+ basking in reality

This...

I know a couple people who keep their beardies in monitor enclosures.

The formula also works well for geckos and tropical snakes.

Behaviour changes when well heated, and the majority of keepers freak out when their animals behave naturally.

That's why I seldom post anything at all in the handling and taming threads, Tired of butting heads with people over it.

I don't molest my animals, and I am happy with that.

[formica]

This...

I know a couple people who keep their beardies in monitor enclosures.

The formula also works well for geckos and tropical snakes.

Behaviour changes when well heated, and the majority of keepers freak out when their animals behave naturally.

That's why I seldom post anything at all in the handling and taming threads, Tired of butting heads with people over it.

I don't molest my animals, and I am happy with that.

its funny how polarized these topics get, personally, I think the reality is probably somewhere inbetween the two opinions on the subject, and neither side is entirly correct

[boosh96]

Because beardy owners treat their animals like humans and think dirt is bad and cuddling with a blanket is good for beardies. Beardies would very much enjoy 130+ basking in reality

Best post ever.

[infernalis]

its funny how polarized these topics get, personally, I think the reality is probably somewhere inbetween the two opinions on the subject, and neither side is entirly correct

Explain to me why? Beardies live in the hottest part of Oz.

[smy_749]

I'll be honest, I'm tempted to keep a beardy in the same conditions that we require as 'minimum' for odatria. I feel like the species has so much more to offer if we upped the standards from 100 degree basking and tile floors with a hide they can't fit in...

[formica]

Explain to me why? Beardies live in the hottest part of Oz.


my reply was specifically to your head butting comment - i'm keeping my opinion and observations to myself on this one lol (well apart from my opinion on finding a balance)

[murrindindi]

Here's something I don't understand-why is it that bearded dragons, who live in the Australian desert, require a basking spot that's only, like, 100-110 degrees? I can see why monitors are generally said to need a basking spot that's 130-150, since I understand that's what their basking temps are like in the wild, but why don't bearded dragons require a similar temperature in captivity?



Hi, do all species of Varanids in the wild need basking surface temps between 55 to 65c (130 to 150f) with ambient temps @ around 45c+ (115f) during "activity" periods (and if not, how do they manage)?

Bearded dragons do live in some very hot places, does that mean they`re most active at the hottest times and need (relatively) very high surface temps to achieve "activity" temps and function efficiently (similar to the Varanids that do use them), or are they different in some ways (slower metabolism, which may mean needing/using less energy)?
Those are just questions in the hope of learning something new! ;)

[murrindindi]

Explain to me why? Beardies live in the hottest part of Oz.


Hi Wayne, how active are they during the hottest periods of the day/season, and are all the species living in the hottest parts?
I must say I personally don`t think it hurts to use relatively high surface temps at the basking site, perhaps up to 50c (120f) so long as the animal/s can retreat to cooler places and still achieve "activity" core temps relatively quickly. The problem may be that many (most?) people keep them in relatively small enclosures, often all glass fishtanks, using (at times) relatively high wattage bulbs, the danger being they`ll overheat the animal/s (not recommended)...

[infernalis]

Hi Wayne, how active are they during the hottest periods of the day/season, and are all the species living in the hottest parts?
I must say I personally don`t think it hurts to use relatively high surface temps at the basking site, perhaps up to 50c (120f) so long as the animal/s can retreat to cooler places and still achieve "activity" core temps relatively quickly. The problem may be that many (most?) people keep them in relatively small enclosures, often all glass fishtanks, using (at times) relatively high wattage bulbs, the danger being they`ll overheat the animal/s (not recommended)...

Every nature film I have ever seen, depicts beardies running around mid day.

[murrindindi]

Every nature film I have ever seen, depicts beardies running around mid day.

How do you know what the temps and time of day were when the animals were filmed, or how long they`d been out and about in the "midday sun" (or if the film has been edited, which is often quite likely)?
Personally, I wouldn`t go out searching for them during the hottest part of the day in the hottest season, at those times you`d have a better chance of seeing them in the morning and later afternoon in my experience.

[boosh96]

If I got a Beardie, I'd make a large enclosure and include two basking spots-one at 100 degrees and the other at 130, just to see what the little guy/gal prefers. Crap, maybe I can actually try that in the near-ish future.

[lady_bug87]

I keep mine with a bunch of dirt and 125F basking. We don't touch him. He doesn't like it. I don't either. I keep my Lacerta's the same way

[DeesBalls]

I keep my bearded dragon with a hot spot of around 120, and on a sand/soil mix with bunch of stick and limbs to climb on....

I have been told since i started keeping my beardie, that sand/soil was bad for them and to keep them on tile, or paper towel?

[Hannibalcanibal]

Mine has paper towels (dirt around me is contaminated with pesticides, but i'm thinking of switching to organic topsoil), and he has a 140+ degree basking spot.

Works fine or me, and him. So i stick with it.

[murrindindi]

I keep mine with a bunch of dirt and 125F basking. We don't touch him. He doesn't like it. I don't either. I keep my Lacerta's the same way


Hi, I take it you see this as an achievement (keeping some wild animals in matchboxes, never getting them to learn you aren`t a threat)? If you needed to handle them at some point it may be extremely stressful for them under those conditions, surely?

In my experience, even when kept at ambient and surface temps that allow them to function "optimally" they ARE capable of learning we mean no harm, and at least tolerate some interaction!
In what way do you consider that detrimental, and would you apply that to a large species of Varanid or similar (being permanently stressed by the keepers presence)? It`s entirely your choice, of course! :)

[Mikoh4792]

That's a bold assumption in the face of contradicting details. She said she doesn't touch him because he doesn't like to be touched, not because she's proud of keeping wild animals in matchboxes.(She keeps them in matchboxes?)

[smy_749]

That's a bold assumption in the face of contradicting details. She said she doesn't touch him because he doesn't like to be touched, not because she's proud of keeping wild animals in matchboxes.(She keeps them in matchboxes?)

Compaired to the wild, its all matchboxes. Just different sizes.

[Mikoh4792]

Compaired to the wild, its all matchboxes. Just different sizes.

I was going to say exactly.

[lady_bug87]

Hi, I take it you see this as an achievement (keeping some wild animals in matchboxes, never getting them to learn you aren`t a threat)? If you needed to handle them at some point it may be extremely stressful for them under those conditions, surely?

In my experience, even when kept at ambient and surface temps that allow them to function "optimally" they ARE capable of learning we mean no harm, and at least tolerate some interaction!
In what way do you consider that detrimental, and would you apply that to a large species of Varanid or similar (being permanently stressed by the keepers presence)? It`s entirely your choice, of course! :)


Lolol

I don't touch him unless I need to. If I reach my hand in I can pet him all I want. He just doesn't like being lifted and I don't blame him.

I'm not proud of not touching him I just don't see a need to.

[LadyWraith]

Because beardy owners treat their animals like humans and think dirt is bad and cuddling with a blanket is good for beardies. Beardies would very much enjoy 130+ basking in reality
^^^ Epic because it's true. I was actually wondering this same thing about beardy husbandry. Love hearing everyone chime in about a different method than the standard.