Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is my first post on this forum. My name is Josh & I have two water monitors. I purchased them improperly by buying them on impulse. I haven't had any experience or knowledge of monitors so trying to find info quickly was a little overwhelming. It didn't cross my mind at how much work it would be and how many different experiments & approaches it would take. I wish I would have done it differently but can't do anything now except deal. This forum has helped me alot this past year by giving me info on lighting & other basic needs but I believe most of knowledge now has come from hands on experience. I've tried so many different substrates, lighting & enclosures that it makes my head spin but observing them day to day I get to make little tweaks & changes. Its almost been a year now & its so great to see them doing good. Their temprement are very mild & they eat constantly. Nose rub is now a distant memory & now when I take them out they have their spots where they hang out, then when they want heat they go back in their cage freely. Yesterday I found tunnels underneath the substrate (since I changed to decomposed granite/dirt) & caves. They first dug a bowl shaped cave underneath their water & from there they made tunnels on the sides that go throughout the dirt & some come up to the surface in the corners of the cage. When they sleep they stick their snouts out of them. Im so excited to see these kind of actions, it makes me feel like im on the right track. Thanks for all the informative posts.

Picking up 2 water monitors with no knowledge was definately diving in head first! Im glad to see that you did your research and got them situated and happy instead of sticking them in a little box or giving them away. I have a water myself, and not wanting to get in over my head, I chose to only get one. Now I wish I had him a girlfriend. Oh well. Its great to hear your pair is doing well!