Proper general lizard care?

[boosh96]

I've got a really broad question-should all diurnal tropical/desert lizards be kept in a way similar to monitors, with a 130+ degree basking spot and stuff? If not, then what lizards should be kept like this in order to truly show natural behavior?

[formica]

lizards even in tropical zones, come from a wide range of different environments, and diurnal animals are active at different times of day, each species needs to be understood individually, and each animal needs to be understood individually.

Monitors are a large animal (generally speaking), they can handle allot more heat than most other lizards, which are generally allot smaller, and heat up, aswell as over heat, allot faster, you wont find many desert or tropical lizards out in the mid-day sun for more than a few seconds or minutes, there are exceptions, Galapagos Iguanas for eg. but they soon dive into the sea when they are to hot, and you will frequently witness a Beardies gaping @ 100F, having to cool themselves down at that tempreture

There is no harm in offering the option of temperatures that go beyond what is recommended, as long as the recommended temps are available, and they can cool down as much as they need

[Toothless]

I think they all should be offered a higher basking temp, but that there should be lower temps available as well. If they don't need the high temps then they won't use it, but if the need arrives then it's available.
Keep in mind I have no experience on the issue and am just stating my opinion. I only have experience with my moni, but have been looking into geckos lately.

[smy_749]

Some species do very poorly when high basking areas are offered. Tropical and desert are not the same...

[Toothless]

Some species do very poorly when high basking areas are offered. Tropical and desert are not the same...

Even if lower basking temperatures are offered as well? I'm not disagreeing at all, just looking for some insight. I would assume that they are smart enough not to use a basking surface that's too high if others are made available- but then again...everyone knows what ASSuME means :P.

[murrindindi]

Some species do very poorly when high basking areas are offered. Tropical and desert are not the same...



Thanks, I`m glad at least two of us understand that!!;)
It`s all very well offering these relatively high surface temps for animals that actually need them to function efficiently because they have a relatively high metabolism and a necessarily active lifestyle to fuel it (many Varanids).
The "one size fits all" mentality may not always be what`s best, it isn`t necessarily as simple as "raise the ambient and basking temps, they`ll eat and flourish" with all species of lizard/snake....