I was under the impression that such a substrate as wood shavings offers very little or no value/benefit to the physiology of the captives, and that deep, burrowable natural substrates such as leaf detritus and dirt were of greater value and importance to captive varanids.



Has anybody on this forum found wood shavings to work equally as well or offer the same benefits that natural substrates do? The reason why I ask, is that it seems as though some keepers who come to this forum are scolded for using such a substrate, meanwhile it appears to be acceptable for others to use.



Should wood shavings be used or ditched? What are your thoughts?

[ Hide Replies ]

• Taming monitors - FR, Thu May 25 11:59:20 2006
• Accidental conditioning - JM, Thu May 25 16:17:47 2006
• RE: It appears you half trained him - FR, Thu May 25 17:09:58 2006
• RE: It appears you half trained him - phantompoo, Fri May 26 00:51:11 2006
• Wood shavings as a suitable substrate? - odatriad, Fri May 26 09:33:25 2006
• RE: Are you addicted or what? - FR, Fri May 26 10:27:58 2006
• RE: Are you addicted or what? - mistaman, Sat May 27 15:52:56 2006
• he's smarter than I thought - JM, Mon May 29 15:15:04 2006
• RE: Your right - FR, Mon May 29 15:53:15 2006