Monitor enclosure discussion thread

[crocdoc]

fldaddy, I've been keeping monitors and hanging around monitor forums for around 12 years. In that time I've seen many, many people come and go that think that their monitor is the exception to the norm. Doesn't need substrate, doesn't need assorted other husbandry 'requirements' as instructed by other monitor keepers. Is affectionate etc.

In all cases, without exception, the monitor has died after a few short years. Nowhere near the life expectancy in captivity of the species in question. Invariably, the vet's analysis (given that vets usually know little about monitor husbandry and would be disinclined to scare off customers by saying 'your husbandry sucks', anyway) is 'must have been something congenital'. It's a strange coincidence that these congenital abnormalities only occur in monitors kept a certain way but, hey, who am I to argue. Perhaps the savannahs of Africa are littered with the carcasses of congenitally abnormal monitors. I've never been there.

No, I'm not giving you the flak you expected and am not going to tell you how to look after your monitor, for it's your monitor and they are your choices. I just think it's important that you know the stats going in and that you keep in mind that there's a reason certain types of husbandry are recommended.