My Boscs never drink.....

[infernalis]

It's FR... With him, reasoning goes out the window mate.


That's why I can't just take his word for it without seeing it myself.

Please, I don't want my thread turning into a discussion about FR.

[Pirarucu]

Wayne, it also could be possible that yours occasionally take sips while bathing.

From what I've seen, monitors don't drink very often but when they do, they seem to prefer very fresh water, or even better, running water.

[varanus_mad]

Monitors ive kept that ive seen drink...

my first bosc...

after that no i havent at all really...

[BarelyBreathing]

I've only noticed one of my savs drink once, and that was when I first brought her home.

[BeardedDee]

Originally Posted by infernalis

It's FR... With him, reasoning goes out the window mate.


That's why I can't just take his word for it without seeing it myself.

Please, I don't want my thread turning into a discussion about FR.

Nor do I. I often forget research I've done, so is drinking to quench a thirst or regulate any dehydration or other?

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by BeardedDee

Nor do I. I often forget research I've done, so is drinking to quench a thirst or regulate any dehydration or other?

Since drinking is to quench thirst, and thirst is a need for hydration, I would lean toward the concept that either the lizard is losing hydration or there is not enough moisture in the food...

However, I am rather speculating.

Hence this thread, nothing like picking the minds of others for thoughts.

[varanus_mad]

Lizards are much better at managing water loss than we are, they dont sweat or excrete liquids from a huge surface like we do,

Its perfectly conceivable that provided they keep there core hydration level stable through there environment, they dont actually need to drink, when conditions allow them to avoid doing so, after all its another risk to there survival finding a permanent water source within there home range.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by varanus_mad

Its perfectly conceivable that provided they keep there core hydration level stable through there environment, they dont actually need to drink, when conditions allow them to avoid doing so, after all its another risk to there survival finding a permanent water source within there home range.

That's where my head is at mate, Some of those lizards that live in the desert sand have probably never seen a water hole before.

The "Red Heart" of Australia has lizards running all about, yet many a man has died trying to cross it. (so I have read)

WHERE THE DEAD MEN LIE by Barcroft Boake (1866-92)

[Lankyrob]

This is a complete guess and speculation on my part but

In the wild a watering hole is the most dangerous place for any animal except apex predators, whilst monitors are large i wouldnt class them as apex in terms of theareas they live so i would assume they would avoid the watering holes if at all possible and would have evolved a way to retain as much hydration as possible.

Just a guess

[jarich]

Originally Posted by varanus_mad

Lizards are much better at managing water loss than we are, they dont sweat or excrete liquids from a huge surface like we do,

Its perfectly conceivable that provided they keep there core hydration level stable through there environment, they dont actually need to drink, when conditions allow them to avoid doing so, after all its another risk to there survival finding a permanent water source within there home range.

I hear what youre saying, but these are just monitors in a box. While instinct will account for some of their behaviour, fear of going to a water source doesnt seem like one that would translate for a smart monitor in a small box. I have a feeling its one of those things that is probably not be correlated in a direct way. In other words, while they may not need to drink, I dont think that drinking necessarily proves dehydration or poor husbandry. Ive seen plenty of dehydrated monitors who also had no interest in drinking from a water source.

I think it definitely might be something that would be species dependent too. Like I said, some of the people I trust most regarding housing of various species have said that they have seen their animals drink from a pond/bowl.