Posted by:
Nate83
at Fri Sep 16 14:37:04 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Nate83 ]
Thank you for all your replies. I apologize if my post appeared authoritative. I am not trying to suggest that I know anything about these animals besides what has worked for me for what I already explained a short period of time.
I simply wanted to know if what is currently "known" about HL husbandry was only based on study of wild specimens. a couple of you challenged me to read what other scientists have found studying them in the wild, or even doing it myself. I do not doubt that in the wild these animals are by the percentages, Ant eaters. I've seen figures as high as 85% and as low as 35%. What I am asking is has anyone seen HL's that were set up otherwise correctly despite a predominatly ant diet, and those animals not thrive? Despite the fact that I don't feed predominatly ants, I believe the average person that comes on here with a HL and doesn't feed ants, probably has other husbandry concerns.
It seems your reasoning for feeding ants is because it's what they do in the wild, not because you've seen them die or not thrive on a non-ant diet in captivity. I mentioned the monitors in the first post. When wild diets were extensively studied they have found that Rodents are only an occasional food item for the bulk of all monitors. Yet the most successful keepers in Europe and one of the most successful monitor breeders of all time here in the states uses a predominate rodent diet. This is the reason I was questioning the ant diet. Is it because they do it in the wild? Or because it doesn't work in captivity.
As for UVB I'm not vehemently against it's use. I do believe that in any case UVB is probably never bad, except maybe nocturnals. Something I have not seen though is ill effects resulting in true insectivores from lack of it. People have claimed, "well what about beardies?" and well they're not true insectivores. This rubbery leg issue you have seen, MBD? 3 months not enough time to show effects of MBD or other calcium deficiency issues? I have seen iguanas with full unflitered sun exposure, and supplemental UVB lighting with a strict diet of greens at a 2:1 Calcium to phosphorus and then end up in the wrong hands and in as short as 4 months see the same animal again with a grossly deformed jaw and bow legged. Obviously these symptoms started before the 4 months. But possibly this is an extreme case.
The UVB I realize is something I should probably be doing, and since I really like these little guys will be getting them a bulb soon. How do you feel about the powersun mercury?
Oh yes I almost forgot...the water issue. I started by spraying down one side of the cage and found that these guys love water. I love to watch them stick their butts up in the air and lap up the water. I spray them down once a day but always make sure there is enough time for the lamps to dry it out before they get turned off. I also prodvide a shallow water dish but they do not seem interested in it so I keep spraying.
I really appreciate the good posts and they are definitely making me think. I hope everyone realizes I'm not trying to be antagonistic, nor really challenging current husbandry. If I can know why the current husbandry practices are used then I believe I can better understand my charges and provide better care.
Thanks,
Nate
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RE: HL's and husbandry - Nate83, Fri Sep 16 14:37:04 2005