Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went to my local zoo and took some KD pics. I have pretty well established what I like to see with regards to monitor care. That doesn't mean that I am right or know all I should but I like to see things like deeper substrate, good basking areas, shelters, humidity or larger pools of water. You know that sort of jazz.

I don't see anyting like that here. I also don't see how they have a temp gradient unless one of those fake rocks is a {dramatic pause} heat rock?!?!

Any thoughts?

Well zoo's have different agenda's then we do as keepers.

If there is one individual then they may not care to give it deep substrate, as then they are not thinking about nesting. They are simply thinking on more human needs then monitor needs.

Is the log behind it a hide??? The rock it is on very well could be heated, alot of zoo's have heated log's etc. in the cages.

What I do is look at the animals overall health more so then the setup. If the setup supports the animal then who am I to say anything.

I can only agree with you on the health of the animal. If it is supported then I really shouldn't judge. I just have a hard time knowing what I should supply for my animals in terms of stress reduction and over all basics even if I am not using reproduction as a goal. The faux log could be a hide so to speak but it was not very secure looking from an animals view point. I would imagine that these animals adapt to captivity pretty well based on the fact the rock it is laying on is right in front of the viewing window. Where literaly hundereds of people walk past, bang one, scream at, and generally hang around.

As mentioned above, zoos indeed have a different agenda. But it most cases, its about display value. Its rare you will find a bank of heat lamps in the viewable part of a cage. Ruins the effect. Also, artisticlly speaking, a short cage is not very viewable, so most reptile displays are very tall, this means heating elements are very far from the animal. Therefore, the old dehydration problem is common, only on a very large scale.

On the other hand, I worked on an outdoor Gorilla enclosure, that did have a viewable heat bank for gorillas.

The main concern I have with that pic is, the forarms look a little like there may be some calicum def. going on. I would have that checked.

If your thinking zoos should be a guide for private keepers, they are not and should not be. As mentioned, their goals are different. Also, they are very much like the general public. some are great, some good, some not so good, and some suck. That is common and general and hard to escape. FR

Thanks for the pics. A great looking animal, if not enclosure.

I know that chester zoo over here in the u.k use heat rocks with the komodos they have, they also use air heaters to heat just raise the temp of the air, but wouldn't that take all the humidity out of the air?,i don't recall seeing a basking area for them.

Heated floors and rocks to get temps up. Besides whats the use of a zoo animal to making money if it can hide from the public? Thats the bottom line, its a business.

I "know" one of the gentlemen that does alot of work with the herps at the zoo. I have purchased many of animals from him. I am not sure if he works with the komodos or not. I will try and get in touch with him and see how everything works. If I can I will let you guys know. I agree with SHvar it is a business what good is it for the zoo if the animals are hiding all of the time.

By the way Gene, The Crosses, Black roughnecks, and he argus are doing GREAT. They are eating my whole paycheck worth of rats every week. lol. you shold come check them out. The male roughneck is HUGE!