Monitor vs. Beardie basking temps?

[DeesBalls]

I keep my bearded dragon with a hot spot of around 120, and on a sand/soil mix with bunch of stick and limbs to climb on....

I have been told since i started keeping my beardie, that sand/soil was bad for them and to keep them on tile, or paper towel?

[Hannibalcanibal]

Mine has paper towels (dirt around me is contaminated with pesticides, but i'm thinking of switching to organic topsoil), and he has a 140+ degree basking spot.

Works fine or me, and him. So i stick with it.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

I keep mine with a bunch of dirt and 125F basking. We don't touch him. He doesn't like it. I don't either. I keep my Lacerta's the same way

Hi, I take it you see this as an achievement (keeping some wild animals in matchboxes, never getting them to learn you aren`t a threat)? If you needed to handle them at some point it may be extremely stressful for them under those conditions, surely?

In my experience, even when kept at ambient and surface temps that allow them to function "optimally" they ARE capable of learning we mean no harm, and at least tolerate some interaction!
In what way do you consider that detrimental, and would you apply that to a large species of Varanid or similar (being permanently stressed by the keepers presence)? It`s entirely your choice, of course!

[Mikoh4792]

That's a bold assumption in the face of contradicting details. She said she doesn't touch him because he doesn't like to be touched, not because she's proud of keeping wild animals in matchboxes.(She keeps them in matchboxes?)

[smy_749]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

That's a bold assumption in the face of contradicting details. She said she doesn't touch him because he doesn't like to be touched, not because she's proud of keeping wild animals in matchboxes.(She keeps them in matchboxes?)

Compaired to the wild, its all matchboxes. Just different sizes.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Compaired to the wild, its all matchboxes. Just different sizes.

I was going to say exactly.

[lady_bug87]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi, I take it you see this as an achievement (keeping some wild animals in matchboxes, never getting them to learn you aren`t a threat)? If you needed to handle them at some point it may be extremely stressful for them under those conditions, surely?

In my experience, even when kept at ambient and surface temps that allow them to function "optimally" they ARE capable of learning we mean no harm, and at least tolerate some interaction!
In what way do you consider that detrimental, and would you apply that to a large species of Varanid or similar (being permanently stressed by the keepers presence)? It`s entirely your choice, of course!

Lolol

I don't touch him unless I need to. If I reach my hand in I can pet him all I want. He just doesn't like being lifted and I don't blame him.

I'm not proud of not touching him I just don't see a need to.

[LadyWraith]

Originally Posted by smy_749

Because beardy owners treat their animals like humans and think dirt is bad and cuddling with a blanket is good for beardies. Beardies would very much enjoy 130+ basking in reality

^^^ Epic because it's true. I was actually wondering this same thing about beardy husbandry. Love hearing everyone chime in about a different method than the standard.