new BT monitor

[snydergeckos]

i just got a black throat monitor the other day. Anyone have any suggestions that would make living better? Also ive heard some controversy with what their humidity should be. I was originally told that there should be very little humidity but then i read there should be 55%-70% humidity.

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[Dachande]

with the right soil depth, humidity levels will vary and your monitor can choose. make sure soil is over 1ft deep for young. as they get bigger the soil should get deeper.

i can't really make any suggestions unless you post info on your set up. then i could tell you what needs tweeking and adjustment.
basics- soil as substrate at least 1ft. 80-85F cool end; 100-120F hot end. thermometers will tell you this, you need a tempgun to get surface temp readings which should at least 130F.45-50 watt GE outdoor halogen floodlights work best. elevate your basking area to get desired temps. uping wattage does not help.
feed insects while young then switch to rodents and chicks as it gets bigger. the growth rate on BTs is phenominal. one keeper i spoke to had one that shot up 4-5ft in a year's time. this is natural and significant to the health of your albig. a stunted growth makes for a shorter lived animal.

some of this may sound like a broken record you've heard before. but that only reinforces that it is correct. if it sounds new then great, i didn't type all that for nothin'. lol.

good luck with your albig. if you can get some pix up and describe your set up. i'm always glad to share the knowledge.

varanus.net and mampam.com are sites with good info. anything by Daniel Bennet can yield insight into monitor husbandry and behavior

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	Blue Tongue Skink Blue Tongue Skink

[snydergeckos]

yeah about the soil i read it should be non organic... do you know where i could get some non organic soil or does it not really have to be non organic? and ill get some pictures up mayber later on today after work. also would you suggest spraying the BT ever and if so how often? We gave him his first bath last night and he loved it so that was a good sign.

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[Dachande]

i foundthe non-organic topsoil at Lowes homeimprovement stores.the brand i use is SOUTHLAND topsoil.white, red and green bag.if you cannot find this brand, any of the additivefree topsoils should work.
spray/mist him amd the cage as needed to keep the humidity where you need it.occasional soaking is okay.
you want a good moisture level; in the soil so it van hold a burrow well.but notdamp or wet.once a week i soak down my enclosures to simulate rainfall and up the humidity.this also packs the soil back down better than anything else.i have over 200lbs in my argus enclosure and i put2-3 gallons in it depending on how dry it has gotten.argus monitors dig alot, so the soil gets dried out fast in the enclosure.you may not even have to do it as much as i because albigs aren't constant diggers.they tend to dig outa hole and stick with it.my argus wil dig a burrow and the next week collapse that burrow and dig up another.so my soil dries a little faster in there than in my savannahs and ackies cagse.

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[snydergeckos]

alright i havent checked lowes yet so ill have to go there soon. thanks for the input