Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is it aboslutely necessary to keep a dish 4 the monitor to soak in at all times

The animal needs to be able to get water at all times. Keep in mind Air, Water, Food are things that everything needs to live. I keep the temps in the cage where they should be but occassionally I find my Sav laying in his water bowl I guess thats his was of thermo-regulating as well as it helps remove shedding skin

no, it is not necessary for them to be able to soak in their cages. i take it you have a sav? just soak him once a week. i throw them in the bathtub, others throw em in rubbermaid racks. i don't know, it doesn't matter. and don't listen to the other post at all, water should not be for thermoregulating. water is for other purposes. cheers
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Varanus Creations

Question, So what your saying is it is beneficial or just convient for you to give your animal access to water once a week??

i said you only need to give access to soaking once a week. in a good cage the animal will not need to soak to have the needs other than drinking met. so in his case all he needs to do is provide access to a fairly small water bowl, designed for drinking. with my more aquatic animals (i have a dum female, will have a male next month/ finschi at the end of this month, have had mangroves and brns) i provide large soaking tubs, because these animals use the water for security, humidity control not found in moist dirt, possibly digestion and possibly mating (the last two are some assumptions, not fact).

cheers
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Varanus Creations

I agree with you Andrew, but....

Not that I think they shouldn't have fresh water available at all times, but I think some species should not need to drink at all (normally).

The only time I have ever seen my ackies drink, or go near water (other than accidentally while chasing crickets), is when there weren't enough options for water retention.

Personally, depending on species, if I did see soaking or drinking I would really question whether I am providing all the options they need.

I always provide fairly large water bins, if nothing else, I can see if they choose to soak or drink, and if they do, I can reevaluate what I am providing.

Cheers,

--Robert

my glaeurti for instance never drink water, i provide it only to give them that choice. there was a website made by a supposed monitor breeder (i think he bred argus once)and he said he has never seen his argus drink. mine drink all the time. but i never see my goulds/flavi cross drink. funny isn't it? later, andrew

oh and ps, my sav drinks water, has moist burrows and still sometimes likes to soak in the tub to get the rest of the shed off, hmmm. interesting
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Varanus Creations

So we agree... Where's the fun in that? hahahaha

I think people pay way too much attention to what is needed, instead of providing much more than is needed. I think doing this provides me with a buffer in case things go awry or I am just plain wrong.

There is no doubt that monitors can survive, and actually flourish in horrible situations. We should try to provide the best we can, not the least we can.

OK, I'm off the soap box now.

Let's see some pics of the finchi when you get them.

--Robert

Hey Robert, all: the finschi are for Christine Himes. We hooked up via the kingsnake monitor forum dating service (bet you didn't know it existed, eh, hahaha) (atleast I know my place in this relationship (finschi, kimberlys, andrew) ((that was mostly a joke, hahaha). So, they will be at her place, and soon at our place. A certain person harrassed me a little about that earlier, so I told that person I would rephrase that the finschi will be hers . we will post pics of them as soon as they are in their cage.

cheers
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Varanus Creations

n/p