It should be understood, that any methods shown or results of methods shown, are only an example of what is possible. It also should be understood, that the individual keeper is free to pick any method they choose or any combination of methods they choose. In fact, they are free to invent their own new methods. In fact, I encourage that.
Some people here, the MS'ssss and the Librarains, must only think there is one way to do anything. how odd.
The advantages of seeing or being exposed to different methods is simple, it allows you choices, you know, like allowing a monitor to pick the temperatures it wants, not what you think it should have(man has extensive failure at that)
For instance, I did indeed go to Europe and visit some well known monitor breeders, while they were indeed successful, they did not do what I wanted to do and more importantly, they had different conditions and different resources. This is not to say, anything they did was bad or wrong.
They had tiny cages, and tiny nesting, and tiny incubators and lived in crowded cities with little available space and cold most of the year.
I feel a bit texan saying this, I have, huge tracks of land, thats hot in the summer and cold in the winter(for monitors) and twice a year, its both, to hot and two cold at the same time(spring and fall) I also have a shop to build what I want.
So, for me to copy them was not my goal. My goal was to use space to an advantage. So I did.
The methods we developed were developed from a different direction and from a different point of view then the Europeans(again nothing wrong with what they did)
So now, you the monitor keepers have choices, you can keep them in small cages and such, like I saw in europe. It seems to me, that may be a good fit for people in the north and in crowded cities. Or you can keep them like us, in larger cages and different choices. Again what fits best for you.
You can use photoperiod or hibernation or brumation, or whatever they use. Or you can do what we do, simply allow them to breed when they feel like it. Again both have been shown to work/be successful.
What it boils down to is, use what fits you conditions and goals. Its really that simple. I believe the key to any method is the ability to make a decision. Please note, I said decision, I did not say the right decision. I believe most keepers fail, from being in limbo and not making a decision. Again, only my opinion.
Again, I will end with something rude, I really do not understand the weakminded individuals(lemmings) that think, if it is said, they must do it. I have faith that you the keepers will do what blows your shorts up. Heck, I have kids, they never do what i say(humor)(i brought them in this world, I can take them out)(as I run around the house at full speed, with my kids chasing me.)
For instance, we do not hibernate monitors, even when they are outside, they are active in our winter. But thats not to say, if we had a V.grieus from southern russia, that comes from somewhere thats really cold, Would I allow them to hibernate? If the animal decides to go down, I will say, night night, see you in the spring. But to say all monitors or even all V.greius, do that is odd, as they also occur in Egypt and the northern african deserts. Do you think they are the same? night, night FR
