Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

warhammer · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject:

thanks all as far as i know its just me and sean that have them in the uk

Sean · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 602

Couldn't really get any descent shots but at least this will give you an idea.

I will try at the weekend hopefully.

lol93 · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject:

Beautiful! Laughing

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JohnC · Key Member Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 219 Location: UK

They are a brilliant monitor and don't grow too big. They look stunning in the flesh, and the way they move with the body held high off the ground is fascinating.
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John
Oldest member, been keeping reptiles for 36 years.
Carpets, royals, rainbow boas, corns, milks, ackies and leos.

Sean · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 602

Yes when you see them in the flesh they take your breath away and John is correct they walk so high of the ground in a ellegant rythmic motion, snake like with the long neck and body shifting from side to side.

JStroud · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject:

Awesome Sean, the adults I've seen pictures of before seem more red and the stripes weren't as prolific? Cool

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Regards James Stroud

Sean · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 602

The red colouration could have been sand staining which would also cause the pattern to look diminished, but without seeing the pictures your talking about, I cannot really comment.

Mine have always had excellent pattern and colouration its a shame the camera does not always pick this up.

arborgoanna · Contributing Member Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 128

Sean · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 602

Yes you are correct if they were kept on clay/soil/sand then there would obviously be staining. Mine have fanstatic pattern and colour compared to others that I have seen in captivity which also had no staining from substrate but were not as well defined as mine, that's the point I was making.

I prefer keep my animals clean and healthy. I have gone down the road of the so called natural substrate of sand/soil mix and various other combinations and I find it simply does not work in medium to large vivaria because it dries out and no matter how much moisture you apply, it quickly disappears, then you end up with clouds of dust all over the place which incidentally is no good for the monitor to inhale. People need to understand that this is captivity and not the wild. In the wild they can walk away from their own crap and mess but in a cage it is on top of them 24/7. I prefer to be on top of the 'poo' and so, that's why my enclosures are always clean which is most important as regards to the animal's health and condition. I don't leave left over food in the enclosures or crap or blood from meals. It is cleaned instantly. My animals have plenty of cover in logs, bark, hides etc.

I don't know if you have heard of Schardt or Afors but these are at the forefront of reptile breeding in Europe and they keep their monitors this way as well. Infact Schardt's panoptes panoptes are around 30 years old now and he still as a clutch ready to hatch maybe you should read his paper? I sent one to the late Mark Bayless around 7 years ago.

warhammer · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:39 am Post subject:

People need to understand that this is captivity and not the wild. In the wild they can walk away from their own crap and mess but in a cage it is on top of them 24/7. I prefer to be on top of the 'poo' and so, that's why my enclosures are always clean which is most important as regards to the animal's health and condition. couldn't agree more with this statement