Hi again.



It sounds like you are not keeping it humid enough, actually. I tried to explain in the previous post that people falsely attribute ill health to too much of this, too little of that.. it was the humidity or the diet or whatever. The reality is.. it is an interplay of everything. Areas of high humidity or, humidity within reasonable ranges is desirable, however it must be coupled with a good functioning cage.. with proper heat, choices, etc. It is a functional, operating cage that counts. One of the most important facets to keeping these guys is understanding them. They can only work with what you give them. In some ways, it is kind of sad. They really do their darndest considering what they're given.



Your lizard seems to be telling you something is in need of change. The not basking is not normal. Now, they will bask without your presence.. but on the basis of what you said- it seems you are observing the cage all throughout the day.



Have you posted any pictures of your setup? How deep is your substrate? I should mention that your ventilation is too much.. you need to narrow it down. You've got about 25% of the enclosure top left open.. that is going to affect the inner dynamics big time. This will help with the humidity. Keep in mind, you, the keeper, have the capacity to tweek all of these things. Not to throw anyone off.. just because a cage is entirely closed on the top doesn't guarantee higher levels of humidity either.. you have to support that process too with a water source and deep substrate. I hope you understand this and I hope when others read this they get what I am saying.



We have learned, too, that the routine misting part isn't necessary when you have the right enclosure going. It is almost like a band-aid.. you know, like the cage is going astray.. let me mist it. This is not indicative of a well functional enclosure. Misting as a means of tweeking things a bit is different.



With regard to the ceramic heating element.. we do not use those here, and we just haven't found a use for them with monitors.



Be sure you re-check things when you make a change. This is all a part of tweeking, and when you do- you will change the dynamic of the cage.



I hope.. through this.. you start to enjoy your experience as a keeper.

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