Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Purchased my baby blackthroat almost a week ago today. Had experience with water monitors in the past, but my first time with a blackthroat. Now my question is that I have yet to see him directly basking, as I have witnessed with other monitors before. My ambient temp is 95, with the basking temp being about 145... and the cool end being 85. I was wondering if maybe i need to be dropping the basking temp closer to 130, although I have read 130-150 is ok. He seems to like to be under the branch that I have for him to bask on, but never on top of it. I even watched him to see if he did it directly after eating, and he did not. He is eating daily, and is about 10 inches right now. Any ideas about the basking, is it possible its just because he has not adjusted yet to the new sorroundings?

Chris

perhaps it is just your choice of words, but monitors are awfully different than Chondros...

snakes can use a branch for basking effectively, but most monitors do better with wider access to the basking spot. a nice broad piece of flat cork bark, a thick tree trunk, stuff like that.

without any more info or pics, perhaps the only problem is your choice of access to the heat, cause the temps sound fine
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Yes, just choice of words.. The "branch" is about 3 times as wide as he is, and 1.5 times as long as he is.. so its ample size to fit his whole body.. Sadly my digital cam has taken a trip to California so I cant post any pics at the moment. I have noticed he likes to borrow himself under the area where the basking site is, I have the trunk placed on some rocks to bring it to the level for the right temps, and he mainly stays within those rocks under the wood.

Chris