Day/night cycle in varanids + my new green tree monitor pictures ;)

Hello,

i'm new to the forum but have recently acquired a green tree monitor. I've been doing a lot of research prior and one question that gets some conflicting opinions is the importance of day/light cycle. This is surprising because i would imagine they'd like it like any other reptile. However, from some very reputable members on a certain varanus message board it has been said that they actually sleep when they want essentially and in a cage with hiding spots and dark spots day/night cycle is NOT a requirement. What i currently have is a basking spot on one side and a fluorescent "recreating" the day/night cycle, this has been suggested to me by another prolific monitor keeper as well.

I'm just trying to see what you guys think/feel on the topic and any of your personal observations with this.

Thank you

PS. Oh here are some pics of him + set-up

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...g3sl/sexy3.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...ag3sl/sexy.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...ag3sl/tail.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9.../prasinus2.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...entreeviv3.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d9...entreeviv1.jpg

:)

Beautiful monitor and welcome to the site bro :salute:

Nice looking prasinus!
Personally I've been using 24/7 light/heat for a few years now and have seen no I'll effects with my charges. If given access to plenty of dark areas/ hides my Ackies will make their own day/night cycle that's for sure
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/100_1683.jpg

He is beautiful, there is one in a store near me I am considering :) I don't know what you paid but up here they are very expensive. Are you able to handle him at all?

Thank you everyone, and thanks for the referral to the forum boanerges, seems like a great place!

Good to hear about the 24/7 cycle on your ackies slayer, really good to hear, as it'd be a pain to install another recessed light with a heat emitter (ok not THAT difficult but im incompetent in that stuff!)

Big Dave - this guy was expensive, he is actually CBB and the owner got him for $900 5 months ago, but since he's been going through tough times and rehomed him to me for $300, so i got a crazy deal out of this! Every penny i saved is going towards his well-being though haha.

He is rather docile, can be flightly when you take him out of the cage just because he is little still but overall once hes on you he just sits or crawls around on your arms/head, overall he's very nice, im not touching him however for weeks just gonna let him settle in.

Beautiful prasinus! Nice enclosure as well! Congrats on your acquisition.

Chris

hm im a tiny bit worried.. he doesnt flick his tongue at all! I thought that's typical behavior for them. He might be stressed out however. I saw him open his mouth in a yawn like fashion but nothing more. Now im just gonna be the paranoid keeper :rolleye2:

Oh man sorry for being off topic a lil tree monitors are my favorite lizard but there illegal here & the wife says no,no.but i wish you lots of luck with the lil fella & keep the pictures coming!!!Thankyou for posting & welcome to the site!!