my monitors

[Boostedneon04]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/100_0376.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/100_0377.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/100_0368.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/100_0349.jpg

[Boostedneon04]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/100_0345.jpg

[Wolfus_305]

Aww, so cute!
How long have you had monitors?
Kenny

[Boostedneon04]

the Savannah ive had for a few months now and the black throat ive had for just over a month..ive kept both in the past and sold them after i lost interest.well they caught my attention again and i and snatched these two up..both can be handled. but the black throat is a little pissy until hes out of his tank..the Savannah can be handled anytime with out a worry..

[phil_7870]

what size tanks will you need for them when there fully grown .ho3w big will they get? the first is class they so cool

[Boostedneon04]

what size tanks will you need for them when there fully grown .ho3w big will they get? the first is class they so cool
full grown savannah will need a cage 8 feet by 4 feet by about 4\5 feet..black throat will need a slightly larger cage at about 8-10 feet wide by 4.5 feet by 5 feet..

[Boostedneon04]

edit 8-10feet long by 4.5 feet wide by 5 feet

[phil_7870]

what the first one it looks like a dog with scales so cool

[Boostedneon04]

what the first one it looks like a dog with scales so cool
the first one is the savannah and the second one is the baby black throat

[allergenic]

It looks like that albig is a) eating raw turkey and b) housed in an aquarium.

Please tell me this isn't true.

[Boostedneon04]

It looks like that albig is a) eating raw turkey and b) housed in an aquarium.

Please tell me this isn't true.

yes what u see is correct..hes still a baby and has plenty of room..there is no point to cooking the lean ground turkey..its better mixed with egg shells and vitamins then to cook into little turkey balls..you have a choice of cooking them or not and prefer not..they also eat superworms,crickets,roaches..

[Smilts]

I was wondering the only thing I cook for my tegu is scrambled eggs and she eats ground turkey,liver,mice,scrambled eggs, not to mention lives in a tank while shes young.

[allergenic]

yes what u see is correct..hes still a baby and has plenty of room..there is no point to cooking the lean ground turkey..its better mixed with egg shells and vitamins then to cook into little turkey balls..you have a choice of cooking them or not and prefer not..they also eat superworms,crickets,roaches..

1. Aquariums with screen tops are suitable for fish and not monitors. You cannot maintain humidity in an aquarium.
2. Monitors need whole prey items. Rodents, insects, chicks, quail, shellfish, whatever the wild diet of the particular type of monitor happens to be, is what you should replicate. The idea of feeding them ground meat is ridiculous and not nutritionally viable. The closest thing to this is the SDZ Diet, which I can bet you are not following.

[Smilts]

plenty of long time keepers do not agree with that.

[Boostedneon04]

how did i know you were going to bring up the humidity??ive been keeping monitors a long time and the top of the tank is covered and the substrate is always moist..the sd zoo diet is ground turkey with calcium and or bone meal with crushed eggs and vitamins all mixed together..how im not following what there doing??are you at my house while i feed them??do you know whats added to the ground turkey?do you know what i feed them??the answer to all that is no. your just assuming. they both are fed mice,crickets,roaches,ground turkey with vitamins with egg shells. so no they are not just fed ground turkey..

[allergenic]

plenty of long time keepers do not agree with that.

The average life span of the exanthematicus in captivity would disagree with plenty of "long time keepers".

how did i know you were going to bring up the humidity??

Because he's in an aquarium.

ive been keeping monitors a long time and the top of the tank is covered and the substrate is always moist..

It's a band-aided situation that doesn't allow for a proper humidity gradient.

the answer to all that is no. your just assuming.

If you have been keeping monitors as long as you have, why are you so surprised that you are being questioned after posting photos of an albig eating raw turkey, living in an aquarium?

they both are fed mice,crickets,roaches,ground turkey with vitamins with egg shells. so no they are not just fed ground turkey..

I just don't understand why it's so difficult for everyone to feed their monitors whole prey items. Is it an expense thing?

[Boostedneon04]

The average life span of the exanthematicus in captivity would disagree with plenty of "long time keepers".
theres a long time keeper i forget his name off the top of my head that only feeds his monitors frozen thawed mice and nothing else..this of course is in moderation since the mice are high in fat and has great success and never had an issue with mbd or impaction or anything soo like i said below its all about what has worked for keepers theres no real proof to what they eat since theres inadequate studies

Because he's in an aquarium.



It's a band-aided situation that doesn't allow for a proper humidity gradient.
see below

If you have been keeping monitors as long as you have, why are you so surprised that you are being questioned after posting photos of an albig eating raw turkey, living in an aquarium?

because ive never had a problem with the humitdy in the tank set up ever.that is why i use them till they out grow them then are placed into a large home built enclosure..

I just don't understand why it's so difficult for everyone to feed their monitors whole prey items. Is it an expense thing?

the reason why there are soo many different recommendations to feeding them various items is one most people cant afford that, two not every1 has a pet store near to get those needed insects so they feed them a mice\rat ground turkey diet that has a vitamin supplement mixed in to make up for the lack of all insects and birds etc..also there arnt enough studies out there to even say 100 percent what a wild black throat or savannah eats..soo technically till theres more proof every1 is just going by what has worked for them.

[Smilts]

The Monitors look to be in great shape.

[allergenic]

theres a long time keeper i forget his name off the top of my head that only feeds his monitors frozen thawed mice and nothing else..this of course is in moderation since the mice are high in fat and has great success and never had an issue with mbd or impaction or anything soo like i said below its all about what has worked for keepers theres no real proof to what they eat since theres inadequate studies

Mampam Conservation - Varanus exanthematicus (http://www.mampam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=68&limit=1&limitstart=1):
"A recent article about the diet of this species (Good 1998) was very misleading on the subject of the diet of this species and on other aspects of their ecology. Most of the referenced information in the article is confused or in error. I have examined the stomach contents and fecal samples from over 200 of these animals in the wild. Only one specimen was recorded as having eaten a vertebrate, the rest had fed only on invertebrates."

the reason why there are soo many different recommendations to feeding them various items is one most people cant afford that

People should not be buying enormous monitors that they cannot afford to feed. This is one of the many reasons why locales are considering putting restrictions on the keeping large reptiles.

two not every1 has a pet store near to get those needed insects so they feed them a mice\rat ground turkey diet that has a vitamin supplement mixed in to make up for the lack of all insects and birds etc..

Pet stores are a horrible places to buy insects. Large roaches, for example, are incredibly easy to breed, and available to anyone with an internet connection. There are plenty of companies on the internet selling feeder avians, raising something like button quail is also very easy. Again, if feeding proper food items is going to be a problem or a challenge, then perhaps keeping a potentially six foot monitor like an albig might not be the best decision one can make.

also there arnt enough studies out there to even say 100 percent what a wild black throat or savannah eats..soo technically till theres more proof every1 is just going by what has worked for them.

There are plenty of studies of the wild diets of those monitors. You simply need to be a better Googler. Regardless of whether they are 100 percent accurate or not, something tells me no monitor in the wild shops for ground turkey at Albertson's.

And is what "everyone" doing really working? Again, the average lifespan and overall health conditions of exanthematicus in captivity say quite the opposite.

[Boostedneon04]

ill try and keep this short but i cant lol..most people that own them are uneducated about the animals. so right there thats the first problem. second problem is people most of the time buy monitors to feed them live prey as an entertainment thing..which is bullshit..combine them both together and u get people that now have a 4 foot monitor and cant house it or take the proper care for it. where i live i know all about how hard the restrictions are to keep them..due to people that shouldnt be owning them they screw people who take pride in there reptiles and cause bans on them..the ground turkey is not there main diet..they get that one or twice a week so enough of the ground turkey bizz..i could sit and search on google all day and find half of the people say its good half say its not.then youll have the half that said feed only insects with 1 or 2 mice a week and then u have people who only feed there monitors a mice based diet..i understand everything your saying 100 percent but im not going to change whats been working for me since ive owned monitors simply because online it says i should do this..ive dont my own testing with feeding them and the diet there on is perfect..at the end of both monitors life spans ill come back to this thread to let u know how there diet worked out..but i bet youll be waiting 20 or so years for that answer lol..i take pride in my monitors and if i feel the slightest thing is effecting them or notice sumthing ill change\do what ever i have to to correct the problem..im just wondering do you own any monitors allergenic???if u do please post pics of them..have a good day
uneducated people are the main problems for monitors or any animal for that matter..so weather its feeding,housing,heating and uneducated person will likey ruin it for the people who are die hard reptile or other animal owners

[Boostedneon04]

Mampam Conservation - Varanus exanthematicus (http://www.mampam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=68&limit=1&limitstart=1):
"A recent article about the diet of this species (Good 1998) was very misleading on the subject of the diet of this species and on other aspects of their ecology. Most of the referenced information in the article is confused or in error. I have examined the stomach contents and fecal samples from over 200 of these animals in the wild. Only one specimen was recorded as having eaten a vertebrate, the rest had fed only on invertebrates."



People should not be buying enormous monitors that they cannot afford to feed. This is one of the many reasons why locales are considering putting restrictions on the keeping large reptiles.

i agree

Pet stores are a horrible places to buy insects. Large roaches, for example, are incredibly easy to breed, and available to anyone with an internet connection. There are plenty of companies on the internet selling feeder avians, raising something like button quail is also very easy. Again, if feeding proper food items is going to be a problem or a challenge, then perhaps keeping a potentially six foot monitor like an albig might not be the best decision one can make.

yes u and i and sum others know that but alot of people dont

There are plenty of studies of the wild diets of those monitors. You simply need to be a better Googler. Regardless of whether they are 100 percent accurate or not, something tells me no monitor in the wild shops for ground turkey at Albertson's.
yeah they may not be able to get ground turkey but its an easy thing to mix with vitamins to give them once or twice a week..there diet is not 100 percent ground turkey its just a small part of it..since they will eat anything they can find or over power if there was a turkey there i bet they would go after a baby turkey..
And is what "everyone" doing really working? Again, the average lifespan and overall health conditions of exanthematicus in captivity say quite the opposite.
sum its working for others its not..but with out people trying new things and new studies on them there will be no way to better the animal..

[Boostedneon04]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/033-2.jpg

[Boostedneon04]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/BoostedNeon04/033-1.jpg

[allergenic]

ill try and keep this short but i cant lol......im just wondering do you own any monitors allergenic???if u do please post pics of them..have a good day

Threads like these are filled with talking to brick walls. It doesn't matter what I say, it's not going to change anything. I'll post a few old pics I happen to have here at work, and leave you to your turkey and aquariums.

Here's a pic of the beginnings of the raise up cage I built for my v.panoptes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3182453681_f444e1537d_o.jpg

Here is one of the pair, playing games.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3182453647_79c2c1b907_o.jpg

Here is me and one of the Savannahs, with me at age 17 (I'm quite a bit older now, don't ask by how much).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3182450853_df4e7e7634_o.jpg

A bunch of hatchlings from an unfortunate rescue situation

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3183289120_b2d8283ff6_o.jpg

[allergenic]

Looks like I am limited to 4 images at a time.

Since we were talking about feeders, here is the beginnings of an old roach colony

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3182453705_96e7711a2f_o.jpg

Take care and good luck

[Boostedneon04]

Looks like I am limited to 4 images at a time.

Since we were talking about feeders, here is the beginnings of an old roach colony

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3415/3182453705_96e7711a2f_o.jpg

Take care and good luck
nicee how many do u keep normally??and ur not talking to a brick wall you have ur way and i have mine your way works for you and my way works for me lol

[Boostedneon04]

Threads like these are filled with talking to brick walls. It doesn't matter what I say, it's not going to change anything. I'll post a few old pics I happen to have here at work, and leave you to your turkey and aquariums.

Here's a pic of the beginnings of the raise up cage I built for my v.panoptes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3182453681_f444e1537d_o.jpg

Here is one of the pair, playing games.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3182453647_79c2c1b907_o.jpg

Here is me and one of the Savannahs, with me at age 17 (I'm quite a bit older now, don't ask by how much).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3504/3182450853_df4e7e7634_o.jpg

A bunch of hatchlings from an unfortunate rescue situation

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3183289120_b2d8283ff6_o.jpg

whats wrong with a glass tank when the top is plexi glass??screen i can see problems with but i have plexi on top soo no humidity escapes.

[allergenic]

nicee how many do u keep normally??and ur not talking to a brick wall you have ur way and i have mine your way works for you and my way works for me lol

It's not required that you believe me. Post your reliance on processed meats on other forums and see the responses you get.

Threads like these, for example:
Monitors - Feeding raw meats.. (http://repticzone.com/forums/Monitors/messages/1931014.html)

[Boostedneon04]

It's not required that you believe me. Post your reliance on processed meats on other forums and see the responses you get.

Threads like these, for example:
Monitors - Feeding raw meats.. (http://repticzone.com/forums/Monitors/messages/1931014.html)

yes i know that..thats why it doesnt make up 100 percent of the monitors diet like i already stated..its given once a week and there fed,crickets,wroms,eggs,etc..soo yes a 100 percent diet of processed meats would be no good i agree but my animals eat it once a week with sum egg shells and vitamin supplement..the other days there feed the incects and mice, chicks and hardboiled eggs.

[Boostedneon04]

Michael Balsai on the Savannah Monitor Diet (http://www.anapsid.org/balsai.html) was reading this today...

[Aaron_S]

I read that. It's interesting but he's got key words in there. "Judiciously" feed LEAN mice. Not rats, but mice. He also stated that a varied diet is also a very good way to go.

This interview is also done in 2000, which leaves us 8 years of captive research that isn't in there. It's also done by Melissa Kaplan who is very against the reptile industry.

[Smilts]

I also read that.. However anywhere you go there are arguments just like this, and the over all problem is there just isnt enough research.

[Boostedneon04]

I also read that.. However anywhere you go there are arguments just like this, and the over all problem is there just isnt enough research.

i agree..i think keepers need to get together and raise a few monitors on different diets and proper cage set ups and see what the best overall diet is for the species of monitor. would cost way less then doing research in the wild but wild data would also be a huge plus in what to feed the monitors. there just isnt enough research out in the wild yet that isnt out dated..

[Boostedneon04]

I also read that.. However anywhere you go there are arguments just like this, and the over all problem is there just isnt enough research.
off topic you arnt on srtforums.com are you??

[Smilts]

Nope sure not I double checked lol

[allergenic]

I read that. It's interesting but he's got key words in there. "Judiciously" feed LEAN mice. Not rats, but mice. He also stated that a varied diet is also a very good way to go.

Indeed. Most people assume that because the monitor will take the rodent eagerly that it's good for them. People will always choose chocolate over broccoli, it doesn't mean it's sustainable. The sad part is that most exanthematicus in captivity die of fatty liver disease due to a primarily rodent diet.

This interview is also done in 2000, which leaves us 8 years of captive research that isn't in there. It's also done by Melissa Kaplan who is very against the reptile industry.

Though Balsai is respected, I'm hesitant toward anything on anapsid.org, she's not had credibility in some time.

I also read that.. However anywhere you go there are arguments just like this, and the over all problem is there just isnt enough research.

I quoted enough research to point in the right direction. The problem is that people are so blockheaded they want to do it a different way. Again, people are free to go against what has been found and feed whatever they like. How long the monitor lives and the condition of its health will be the deciding factor. You should get a good 12 years out of your Savannah.

soo yes a 100 percent diet of processed meats would be no good i agree but my animals eat it once a week with sum egg shells and vitamin supplement..

If you are going to feed processed meats from the grocery store (which it looks like you are), at least please follow the SDZ Diet (which you are not).

[Smilts]

I actually dont feed ground turkey, I do know lots of people that do its a very lean meat and with supplements.. With out going to Savannah a perfect diet isnt easy.

[allergenic]

I actually dont feed ground turkey, I do know lots of people that do its a very lean meat and with supplements..

I also know lots of people who recommend feeding dog and cat food to Savannah monitors, and keeping them in aquariums with a single high wattage basking spot. I also know lots of people with dead monitors.

The only diet which includes ground turkey that has worked so far, is the SDZ Diet from Jeff Lemm:

10 lbs. lean ground turkey
90 grams steamed bonemeal
2 ground Centrum tablets

Many people seem to have other ideas as to what this diet is, and make little tweaks and substitutions until it doesn't work anymore.

With out going to Savannah

Sport, a savannah is a type of ecosystem, as is for example a desert or rainforest. It is mostly grassland. Savannah monitors come from certain regions of Africa.

a perfect diet isnt easy people do the best they can.

To repeat myself, if the best you can do is subpar, why take on a medium to large monitor in the first place?

Would people do the same thing to mammals? "I have two dogs but I can only keep them outside even in winter, and feed them breakfast cereal. I know other people that do this, I'm doing the best I can."

[Smilts]

that about Savannah was a joke, I know where they come from relax allready.

This thread was about showing off monitors which despite all you have said look great. If you truly believe that people are blockheaded and will not listen then why keep coming back and argueing the point?

I dont think the argument is rather to feed the dog, cereal or Purina, more rather to feed the dog Purina or Iams

[Aaron_S]

The reason he comes back, at least in my guess isn't to change people's minds who won't listen but to put the information out there for the readers who aren't posting.

On another note, yes anapsid.org has no credibility, which is run by Melissa Kaplan. I do note that you mentioned the interviewee is knowledgable but anything put on that site just doesn't do it for me.

[allergenic]

This thread was about showing off monitors which despite all you have said look great.

If by great you mean borderline dehydrated and slightly obese then yes they are great.

The origin of this degradation was my response to OP posting photos of his albig in an aquarium eating processed grocery store meat (with a poor excuse for a basking spot, I might add). Like it or not, that kind of stuff will get negative comments by anyone who knows anything about monitors, whether it is rationalized after the fact or not. We didn't even get to touch on the 2 inches of substrate in the enclosures, which is a bit less than the 1-2 feet of soil needed by both those monitors.

I dont think the argument is rather to feed the dog, cereal or Purina, more rather to feed the dog Purina or Iams

The argument is about (bear with me here), that if dogs eat Purina in the wild, is it really that big a deal/difficult to just feed them Purina? Why even bother with Iams?

The reason he comes back, at least in my guess isn't to change people's minds who won't listen but to put the information out there for the readers who aren't posting.
On another note, yes anapsid.org has no credibility, which is run by Melissa Kaplan. I do note that you mentioned the interviewee is knowledgable but anything put on that site just doesn't do it for me.

Thanks Aaron. Not sure if Balsai is knowledgable, haven't read his books/papers. He seems somewhat respected, I think is how I put it. The fact that it's on anapsid makes me cringe a bit also. I agree with your lean mice comment.

[Smilts]

Tanks probably are not the best, my tegu is in one while I work on her enclosure but prob not the best. I agree with you on the subject of substrate depth, I also dont care for that type of substrate at all.


As far as feeding you have inspired me to do more of my own research. How do you truly feel about the SDZ diet? It seems easy enough to follow, but is it just sort of a band aid diet? Finally you mentioned a few possibilitys for food items but what do you feel a well rounded diet for 1 week would be. I guess Im asking what one week of your monitors diet would look like or 2 weeks if that would be more thorough?

I do listen by the way. And research what Im reading.

[Boostedneon04]

dehydrated??how are they dehydrated??please explain this to me??and the tank is only till his cage is done soo relax already with the tank b.s..the savannah was over weight from the day i got him..hes sliming down and getting back to a good weight..the bone meal is to supply calcium? so whats any different than using a calcuim powder and a vitamin supplement instead of using the central vitiamin and bonemeal???or should the centrim vitamin and bonemeal be used instead??

[Boostedneon04]

oo and btw..those pictures are quite old..i ran out of cypress mulch that day and went and picked up another bag the next day..the tank is half filled with the substrate so hes got plenty to burrow and dig in..also since that isnt his cage its just a temp set up while his other is being done what type of basking area do you recommend??since u dont think the large peice of wood under the two lights is good enough??that savannah cage is also different than pictured..theres more substrate and a larger basking area now..ill take sum pictures tomm for you..

[Aaron_S]

I just don't understand why someone takes a picture of there animal in less than optimum conditions. If you need more mulch then take the picture the next day. Although mulch is terrible for burrowing. Some sort of soil mixture is best.

[Smilts]

I prefer a moist soil mix as it holds its shape better when burrowing. I also prefer a large flat area that they can lay out on and warm up, which can double as a hide. But if this was covered in the new enclosure then great, and I would love to see the new pictures.

[allergenic]

Tanks probably are not the best, my tegu is in one while I work on her enclosure but prob not the best. I agree with you on the subject of substrate depth, I also dont care for that type of substrate at all.

I love tegus, they're quite pretty.

As far as feeding you have inspired me to do more of my own research. How do you truly feel about the SDZ diet? It seems easy enough to follow, but is it just sort of a band aid diet?

The SDZ diet was developed by Jeff Lemm and others at the San Diego Zoo with the intention of replicating the nutrition of feeder animals. There are a handful of people who have followed the diet in everything from ackies to niles as an experiment, and the animals have thrived. In certain parts of the world (Australia for example), the reptile hobby has grown faster than the supply of feeder animals. The SDZ diet is a way to solve that problem. It's actually been quiet successful. But historically, people make changes, have problems, and blame the diet they're not specifically following in the first place.

Finally you mentioned a few possibilitys for food items but what do you feel a well rounded diet for 1 week would be. I guess Im asking what one week of your monitors diet would look like or 2 weeks if that would be more thorough?

Any rotation of roaches, chicks, crayfish, crabs, snails, fish, big mealworms, and, sparingly, rodents. What this would look like in a week depends on other husbandry variables. Proper heat, room for exercise/enclosure size, proper humidity. All this will contribute to how much food your monitor will metabolize. It will consume way more than it needs, so don't go by that. Watch the waistline and hydration levels.

I do listen by the way. And research what Im reading.

Same. Please don't even take my word for any of this, find stuff you can live with. Before the web was popular, I made every mistake I'm speaking against. We are lucky now with the Internet, with this wealth of information.

dehydrated??how are they dehydrated??please explain this to me??.... the savannah was over weight from the day i got him..hes sliming down and getting back to a good weight.. oo and btw..those pictures are quite old..

Both are having shed problems, with the Savannah having retained white skin around its mouth and stiff neck folds. Dehydration, obesity, and shed problems often go hand in hand. So if those are old pictures and the monitors look differently now, that's good.

and the tank is only till his cage is done soo relax already with the tank b.s.. also since that isnt his cage its just a temp set up while his other is being done

So the monitor has to live in substandard conditions in the meantime, while you figure out a suitable habitat.

i ran out of cypress mulch that day and went and picked up another bag the next day..the tank is half filled with the substrate so hes got plenty to burrow and dig in..

He should be on soil. 1-2 feet.

what type of basking area do you recommend??since u dont think the large peice of wood under the two lights is good enough??

The idea for basking areas is to use lower wattage (40/etc) bulbs brought closer to the monitor. I don't know how tall your aquarium is, but a board on top with a light fixture attached underneath the board (inside the enclosure) would be better. There should be more than one bulb, as a single bulb shines a much smaller area than the size of the monitor.

the bone meal is to supply calcium? so whats any different than using a calcuim powder and a vitamin supplement instead of using the central vitiamin and bonemeal???or should the centrim vitamin and bonemeal be used instead??

The success has been with the SDZ diet and not so much on variations, so I would follow that. You can find steamed bone meal at health food stores.

[Boostedneon04]

Both are having shed problems, with the Savannah having retained white skin around its mouth and stiff neck folds. Dehydration, obesity, and shed problems often go hand in hand. So if those are old pictures and the monitors look differently now, that's good.
the savannah was obesie when i got him and was in the middle of a shed...could u go more into this??it seems ive missed the signs of dehydration..what white skin around his mouth??he had just shed underneath his mouth so the skin looks alot lighter than the other parts of his body..they both have shed there bodies no problem since i had them but i would like to make sure there not dehydrated. both are very active and responsive and i would like to keep them that way..the black throat loves to dig he will turn up the whole cage diging threw out the day and savannah will dig here and there..i appreciate the help and apologise for being a ****** and not taking ur advice.

The idea for basking areas is to use lower wattage (40/etc) bulbs brought closer to the monitor. I don't know how tall your aquarium is, but a board on top with a light fixture attached underneath the board (inside the enclosure) would be better. There should be more than one bulb, as a single bulb shines a much smaller area than the size of the monitor.
the basking area you saw was 2 50 watt halogen bulbs, at the time in the picture there wasnt alot of substrate since i had run out that day..the wood peice brings him plenty close to the lights and hes able to lay out with his whole body in the light.

The success has been with the SDZ diet and not so much on variations, so I would follow that. You can find steamed bone meal at health food stores.
thank you i know it seems like im hard headed at times but i just get very defensive at times...like i said the ground turkey was only given in small amounts onces a week..but ill follow the sdz diet if i choose to go that route in feeding..



the savannah was obesie when i got him and was in the middle of a shed...could u go more into this??it seems ive missed the signs of dehydration..what white skin around his mouth??he had just shed underneath his mouth so the skin looks alot lighter than the other parts of his body..they both have shed there bodies no problem since i had them but i would like to make sure there not dehydrated. both are very active and responsive and i would like to keep them that way..the black throat loves to dig he will turn up the whole cage diging threw out the day and savannah will dig here and there..i appreciate the help and apologise for being a ****** and not taking ur advice.




the basking area you saw was 2 50 watt halogen bulbs, at the time in the picture there wasnt alot of substrate since i had run out that day..the wood peice brings him plenty close to the lights and hes able to lay out with his whole body in the light.


thank you i know it seems like im hard headed at times but i just get very defensive at times...like i said the ground turkey was only given in small amounts onces a week..but ill follow the sdz diet if i choose to go that route in feeding..

[siz]

What kind of soil mix do you use, Coy?

[Smilts]

A substrate that they can burrow in is a must, I use a mix of sand, shredded sphagnum moss, and a quality top soil.


Thats copied but its what I use. Also for topsoil I filter a good quality all natural potting mix to get everything but the soil out. Also if you use that watch out most of the potting soils have fertilizer in them whether it says so on the bag or not, so always double check that they dont.

Others may have other mixes they prefer.

Sorry I meant to mention that in your tegu post.

[allergenic]

the savannah was obesie when i got him and was in the middle of a shed...could u go more into this??it seems ive missed the signs of dehydration..what white skin around his mouth??he had just shed underneath his mouth so the skin looks alot lighter than the other parts of his body..they both have shed there bodies no problem since i had them but i would like to make sure there not dehydrated. both are very active and responsive and i would like to keep them that way..

The usual signs of dehydration when they are thin are things like a thin base of the tail, showing thin lines on the tail, or folds of skin that stick when you pinch them between your fingers instead of being floppy. In more extreme cases they will be lethargic, etc.

Yours were not on the thin side, so it was more a judgement about what looked to be a bad shed coupled with those neck folds. If they are active and alert that's a great sign and it was probably what you were describing, just the conditions they were in when you got them.


the black throat loves to dig he will turn up the whole cage diging threw out the day and savannah will dig here and there..

That's great behavior and a good sign. If you are able, in your next enclosure, to leave 2 full feet just for substrate, they will appreciate that. Use a 50/50 topsoil/sand mixture. The mulch is great to help keep humidity levels up, but you will find the soil mixture will hold a good burrow, which is important.

i appreciate the help and apologise for being a ****** and not taking ur advice.

I don't mind at all.

the basking area you saw was 2 50 watt halogen bulbs, at the time in the picture there wasnt alot of substrate since i had run out that day..the wood peice brings him plenty close to the lights and hes able to lay out with his whole body in the light.

Cool, I thought I saw one light beam and figured it was the same old thing.

thank you i know it seems like im hard headed at times but i just get very defensive at times...

Everyone does, including me.