Monitors

Hi all

I was reading up about captive monitor care, not out wanting to get one, just out of curiosity for these lizards. I've seen numerous Nile Monitors or as we call them, Leguaans, in the wild and I even came across a bunch of babies at a lagoon once. I caught one and took some pics then let it go. Sadly a pc crash resulted in me losing the pictures.

Whilst reading the various posts and care sheets, I noticed that people mention basking spots of 150 deg F wich is about 65 deg C. I was wondering why they need such high temps, because I just can't see a Leguaan ever finding temps like that in the South African bush. Is it for digestion, or is it to compensate for something missing in captivity. I'm not trying to say that you guys are wrong, from what I've seen it works, I was just curious why they need such really high temps.

As a side note, I can't wait for summer so I can do some herping, hopefully I'll be able to get some pics of wild Monitors, Puff Adders, and my main goal a wild Afroc!

Your confusing basking SURFACE temps with ambient AIR temps.
130f+ surface temps are very common
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/DSC05244.jpg
They bask for all the reasons any other heliothermic lizard does. No "special" reasons behind it.

Here's a pic of an Ackie basking on a 200f surface temp (though I normally never let them run much higher then 175f)
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/100_2563.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/100_2619.jpg

Slayer is right.There is a big difference between surface temps and air temps.If you go outside with a temp gun and start measuring the temps you will see how hot it really gets.Here is a picture of the temps in my old outdoor enclosure,of my Niles favorite basking spot.


http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/u...sett/002-2.jpg



Greg

Ya figured it wasn't ambient temps, I was just wondering why they needed such hot stuff, but I guess a rock that sits in the sun the whole day might get pretty hot too. Thanks guys I was just curious.