Aussie Pythons and Snakes

spongebob · Original Poster #1 03-Sep-06, 09:03 AM

I'd be very interested in opinions about UVB and keeping the smaller goannas ie gillens, tristis, ackies, brevicauda etc.

Also if UVB is necessary how do people provide a hot basking spot and the UVB? For these smaller goannas a mercury vapour would be too much yet how is a flouro provided aas well as a basking light like a halogen (for heat not for UVB). :idea:

Simon_Archibald · #2 03-Sep-06, 09:40 AM

Spongebob,
I have never provided supplemental UV to my varanids of any size, except of course for those housed outside getting it naturally. I have had breeding success housing monitor indoors with no UV and the offspring had no deformities or problems to speak of.

As for your comment on the Mercury Vapour globes, they're the best on the market for dragons in my opinion and would do perfectly for monitors of all sizes. While many don' t find it necessary to provide UV to goannas, it certainly can't hurt can it! These globes will not be too hot for the smaller guys, provided that you can hang the globe high enough above the basking site and make sure the enclosure is not enclosed for all the heat to build up too much. You're wanting a basking spot of around 50c and up for these species anyway.

Simon Archibald

ari · #3 03-Sep-06, 09:50 AM

Hi Spongebob

I don't know much about monitors - however I am guessing the principle has to be the same as keeping geckos that require UVA/UVB. What I would do is have a small fluro batten with a UVA/UVB tube placed above the enclosure & have a seperate hot spot globe.

Pending on your ambient temps mate I have spent hours literally on the temps radiating from a 25W & 40W globe - and a 40W globe with an ambient temp of 25-26 degrees gives a hot spot in the enclosure of about 31-32 degrees on the substrate surface if placed 30cm above the substrate. I am presuming this is a decent hot spot for monitors. However never kept them - so I dont know whether they like it hotter or not.

Simon_Archibald · #4 03-Sep-06, 09:54 AM

Sorry ari, but that's incorrect advice...those temps no good for monitors at all.

Simon Archibald

ari · #5 03-Sep-06, 09:55 AM

P.s. Herptrader has a ad for some V. brevicauda up right now - God if only - they are magnificient.

imported_Varanus · #6 03-Sep-06, 10:00 AM

Speaking of the Herptrader, have you seen the Rosenbergi off-spring for sale Simon? great to see someone breeding these at last! Are they possibly the off-spring of your adult male??

Cheers,

Varanus.

ari · #7 03-Sep-06, 10:00 AM

Simon sorry but that isnt incorrect advice - as you will note in the last phrase I stated "However never kept them - so I dont know whether they like it hotter or not"

This pricinciple is based on keeping geckos & not monitors as stated. Also I seriously can not see why the methods advised is incorrect - apart from the temps already mentioned above which I have stated I dont know.

indicus · #8 03-Sep-06, 10:12 AM

Simon wrote: Spongebob, I have never provided supplemental UV to my varanids of any size, except of course for those housed outside getting it naturally. I have had breeding success housing monitor indoors with no UV and the offspring had no deformities or problems to speak of...
I agree, no problems....however i believe juveniles do do better as far as growth rates etc go; if provided with a bit of natural sunlight from time to time.

Simon_Archibald · #9 03-Sep-06, 10:13 AM

Varanus,
It is great to see them being bred. I heard of a pair last year that were sold to a keeper in SA so I'd assume it's that pair. These are not a result of my old's males antics.

Ari,
I was simply putting forward that it's not the correct advice for keeping the monitors as they're incorrect temps. I'm aware you mentioned that you were not experienced, that why I was trying to add to your comment.

Simon Archibald

imported_Varanus · #10 03-Sep-06, 10:23 AM

.

Cheers Simon,

I reckon these would be a great introductory animal for anyone wanting a larger monitor species as they seem a lot hardier than Gouldi,Flavis! Will you be considering these again in the future?

I'd love some myself but space is a bit of a problem ATM. How would they get along with a pair of Lacies? (just thought I'd ask on the off-chance

Cheers,

Varanus.

Simon_Archibald · #11 03-Sep-06, 10:45 AM

I'd love to keep this species again...he was certainly one of my fave monitors and hardy also. As for housing them with Lacies...people always have different experiences and levels of success, but I wouldn't.

Simon Archibald

spongebob · Original Poster #12 03-Sep-06, 03:00 PM

Thanks guys for your comments.

Currently I have ackies, tristis and gillens some with UVB fluoros and some without. To ensure an adequate hotspot I'm moving over to halogen globes-just bought another 4 from Bunnings ($7.90 for a transformer and globe complete kit). I'd be interested though if anyone has had any problems with lack of access to UVB. Wouldn't want to stuff things up.

Yes I'd love some V.brevicauda as advertised on herp trader, but at $1000 a hatchling that's weight for weight more expensive than almost anything including gold
Bob

DC · #13 03-Sep-06, 04:23 PM

I use mercury vapour globes on all my indoor monitors,not only does it supply them with U.V but also supplies them with high basking temperatures.I also agrre with indicus that young monitors need the U.V for their fast growth rates.

spongebob · Original Poster #14 03-Sep-06, 04:42 PM

My main objection to mercury vapour globes is that they are either 100 or 160 watts and therefore use up a lot of power. Pity there is not a UVB producing globe of around 40-60 watts, so they can be used for small enclourues for yuong or the really small species. This why I'm moving over to halogens.