Real Sunlight

[LORI34205]

I find it wierd and almost scary that when i take my 8 inch savannah out in the sun it turns like it has been in the wild for the short time that it has been alive.I put my hand in the 20 gllon long tank and he whips sometimes but he hisses at me but i dont pull back and i go in and pet him softly and hes ok if i come back 10 minutes later he does the same thing but when i bring him in he wouldnt think of even hissing.Its wierd, and i dont wanna take him out when he is a foot and a half long and capabale of giving a MEAN bite:(I heard sometimes it will make a monitor permenitlly mean.

[LORI34205]

o ya

can anyone relate to this stuff?

[Tim and Julie B]

Oh yeah. Try taking a cute little beardie outside! My little guy, an adorable rescue, puffs up and lurches back and forth after about 15 min outside. Not cute. The natural sunlight and UV do wonders for them, and turn them into the Hulk too:D
Julie B.

[LORI34205]

do you think it makes them grow quicker?
what will i do when my sav is totally ripped at 2 feet long or so and i take her out?
she could hurt me easily?
what to do?

[Colonel SB]

MY Nile monitors was the smae way he was a kitten inside but he gets 5 mins of natural sunlight and he as a holly terror.

[LORI34205]

So should we still give them sunlight?
even when we are the ones endangered of this?
or should we just keep giving it to them and have a a$$hole pet!

[Smilts]

i think its instinct. Both of my snakes are the same if we take them outside they become real hyper, and hard to keep ahold of. It seems strange but all animals started out outside. Try to catch an old Tomcat thats wild

[LORI34205]

my main Q is should i proceed to take the sav out?even if there is a chance of getting a severe bite:(
my iguana lives outside and isnt that crazy, she has never whipped me and she gets hours of sunlight everyday?

[fanmaninacan]

HEY!

My old beardie had problems goin outside aso but,,.,.,....IT WAS FREAKED EVERYTIME I TOOK him outside!!;)....He would just sit there.....
Forget being aggresive he didnt move..LOL

But i think its a good idea to give it to em once in a while.

T.P

[Linds]

I will take a moment to quote myself :D

Originally posted by Linds
Why would you want to deprive an animal of something that it would thrive on if you have the opportunity to provide it with such? These animals are basking lizards, they were born to be in the sun. I'm willing to bet your guy just perked right up and was feeling a lot better than he was after catching some vitamins and whatnot from the natural sun. People need to stop caring for their animals in ways that benefit their personal preferences rather than their animals needs. SUnlight is one of the most natural things a monitor, or any basking lizard can benefit from. I keep my iguana outside in the summer, and I believe this is the reason she is still kicking at 19 years of age. She becomes a lot more active and full of beans, and it is because she is getting her needs met to the max, doesn't matter how many UV bulbs and supplements you give your animals, nothing can compare to that of natural sunlight, and the results show, as you have experienced with yours! Apologies if this post has come across harshly... tone gets lost in type... it was truly not my intent :)

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Might I add that most Varanids as well as alot of other herps are naturally protective of themselves. Not mean persay.. Besides a 5' + animal would intimidate me if I were a mere 8" as well.
Also, correct me if Im wrong, but I thought that I read you keep your monitor in a 20 gallon tank out side. (I may have just misread it).
Xain

[LORI34205]

i have a 8 inch sav that i let lay in a 20 gallon for about 30 minutes a day, when i bring her in she is put in a 5 star hotel(55 gallon furnished well)loli just have the 20 gallon setup outside for her daily basking

[burmer]

I've thought about taking my nile out for some sunlight. He is a handfull enough as it is. I'm a little worried about him getting freaky with natural sun.

[Wuntu Menny]

I find that my chameleons get a lot more aggressive and revert to instinctual behaviour after spending time in the sun. The typical chameleon "staggerstep" tends to disappear after a short time in captivity, but returns the instant they get outside. Normally docile animals regularly flare and attempt to bite after getting a good shot of natural UV.

The funniest thing is when they think passing aircraft are predatory birds.

WM

[marisa]

But who cares how "freaky" he gets? If he gets aggresive or ":freaky" its because he is finally getting his needs meet to the max.

Linds qoute was #1 IMHO. Perfect explanation. My iguana also FREAKS out and looses her mind in the real sun, but thats how they are SUPPOSED to be. Not unmoving and certainly NOT "tame"

Even though Roxy almost takes fingers and eyes away from me outside we still like her to get natural sun and are willing to deal with her "happy" behaviour for her to get it.

:D
Marisa

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Be careful on the out side tank. Many stories of a herp over heating in a glass tank that was set outside. Plus Unless its an old tank the sunlight deal isnt doing a good a job as it should be. Just something to add. Xain

[LORI34205]

what do u mean if its a old tank?????

[Linds]

In addition KrokadilyanGuy3's warning about overheating, glass is also a UV sheild. The UV rays cannot penetrate the glass, which defeats the purpose, unless the sun is overhead and it gets in through the top.

[Bryce Masuk]

When you take your reptiles outside they Will nearly always go into a attack/defend mode because there is so much action outside they see/hear what we are conditioned to. while they are conditioned to the inside of our homes the lack of movement from small creatures and overhead enemys/objects is something they are usually not conditioned to unless they live outside. if they do live outside they often will act the same way because they see nearly anything they are not conditioned to as a predator and they must be aware of predators if they are to survive

[Pia]

Some of the reaction may be from being in a different environment. There will be lots of stimulus it's not used to as well as being in a much smaller enclosure. Don't put a reptile in a glass tank in direct sun inside or out. The glass magnifies the heat and the reptile can over heat. Also, according to my vet, most glass has lead in it which blocks the UV rays. There is no substitute for natural sunlight and basking lizards should get as much as possible, but maybe try a mesh enclosure instead of glass or a harness and leash. A lot of pet stores carry ones made especially for reptiles and I know a couple of people that use them for their bearded dragons and one that uses one for his monitor. It may fight it at first but should get used to it. Hope this helps.

[burmer]

I took my beardie outside today to see how he would like it. His colors got real bright and he did hulk up. I guess everything around him peaked his interest because he seemed really alert. I'll try taking out my nile tomorrow. I'm sure he'll be more of a handful.