Quote Originally Posted by mr~python
Frank told me about when he was camping in Mexico a while back and there were spiny lizards basking around his campfire. they knew it wasnt the sun but they were using it to bask.

thats what i understand and have been told about using a 24/7 light cycle.
Yes - I read that same post (yesterday after posting) - it all sounds very plausible when you hear that (i never realized who FR was until yesterday LOL!) Yesterday evening instead of switching his lights off at the normal time I switched them to red ones - and my husband (who stays up till early hours of morning) switched them off then. He stayed buried in all that time and didn't come out to investigate - but maybe he will when he gets used to the idea. He doesn't have a problem with people milling round him all the time as the house is empty from 8.30 till about 2.00 when I get home.

There's so much information and misinformation about monitors out there it seems to be one long uphill struggle to find out what is best for them. Forums vary in what they advise re handling (NOT "taming"). TBH I often feel large monitors shouldn't be so easily available (I got mine because my 19 yr old decided she had no time or money!!) I want to give him what's best for him so haven't been handling him so much. I want him to come to trust me as the human he cohabits with (as advised by crocdoc and others) and not just a large predator that keeps hauling him out his viv and stressing him out.

Anyway, enough rambling by me.

~Sue