Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I purchased a baby argus cross several weeks ago. He/She is in a 30 breeder tank. There is a hot spot of around 115-120 and a cool side around 78. At night I drop the temperature down to 75-80.

During the day he/she runs the around tank hunting for crickets and/r basking under the heater.

But the majority of time he spends sleeping in the water dish. It's big enough for him to fit inside. I'd say all through the evening and through the night he's in the water dish.

Is it normal for him/her to be spending so much time in the water? He's been doing it now for awhile and besides that seems healthy.

Please let me know if that's normal...

Thanks,

Susan P.

I couldn't tell you if its normal or not, but my argus has 8" of soil in his enclosure and has dug a burrow in which he sleeps in.
Does your cross have any tight hiding spots available, maybe he feels secure in the water dish, whats the humidity level in the tank?? My argus baths a couple times a day usualy after he has got himself dirty. although I not that experienced maybe looking the options i gave can shed some light on the subject..Goodluck,Clint

I haven't kept argus or crosses, but would say that it isn't 'normal' for a monitor to spend that much time in its water dish.

The two things I'd be looking at would be humidity levels and hide spots.

Are you using a deep substrate in which the monitor can burrow? This would solve both humidity and hide spot issues.

Are you using a screen top on your tank? If so, look into ways of covering it up (then recheck the temperatures of the enclosure, for it will heat up faster), for humidity rises with the heat and escapes, drying out your monitor.

If you don't have a deep enough substrate and this is a temporary enclosure until the monitor outgrows it, make sure it has a few secure hide spots.

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