Well in my opinion, most, if not all reptile species kept in captivity are NOT given everything they need. I fully believe that almost all species will benefit from deep substrates and high basking temps. I even offered deep substrates and high basking temps for the montain species of bush vipers I kept. They did spectacular even though I was told they did not need the high basking temps and would most likely die from over heating. They only used the high basking temps infrequently and for a few minutes at a time. They also used it after they ate. I also kept them in groups. They "hung out with eachother" but they were far from social.

If you look at leopard geckos, people still insist on using paper towels as a substrate and they keep them with hot spote between 88 and 90 degrees. In my opinon, that is no way to keep reptiles period. My leopard geckos were kept on 6 to 8 inches sandy soil with hot spots that went over 115 degrees. They were super active, grew very fast, and were sexually mature in less than a year.

I am a big supporter of substrates and hot basking areas. I also support the fact that the more options you offer, the better they will do. This includes offering a nest box even if they have an entire cage to lay eggs in.

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