Yeah, I have been a member of the cham forum for the last year (1.0 Sambava) and I find much of the husbandry is like what I see on this forum. There are many safe ways to care for a reptile that can lead to a long and healthy life. I quickly found that the cham forums had many "hard and fast" rules that posters chanted, that people who had kept the animals healthy for years and had the honesty to admit their techniques were flamed. This forum can be the same way.
I find there are many who have decided there is a "10 Commandments" to keeping a dragon and blast people for questions and husbandry choices. I tend to go with the currents of the forum on some issues because I believe that a uniform message keeps some people from following the advice of *****s. I am accountable for the health and growth of my dragons, and that makes me careful to state ideas that go against the flow of the forum. I don't want to be blamed for someone trying a substrate/temp/feeder/pairing that will be blamed on my bad advice. So I help tow the line.
All that being said, the explanation of belly heat vs. basking for babies was legitimate considering the temp gradient he described. Basking lights can dehydrate hatchlings very easy, and I can see this belly heat method being very efficient since the newer UTHs have better temp control like he mentioned.
Furthermore UVB is most important in the first 6 months. He didn't say you didn't need it after that. I have males that brumate at 8 months of age and get NO UVB for 2-3 months with no adverse affects, or slowed growth. Some even grow during brumation.
As far as cohabitation is concerned, breeders have more experience in this than most and it is not condoned since most people try it with no regard for size, sex, and temperament. It is always an experiment that can lead to disaster for the average dragon owner.
And I'll pass on the sand debate for now lol
I really don't want to argue husbandry with people who clearly love dragons and do their best to give good advice, and I feel similarly about the chameleon people.
People must be responsible to use google, forums, books, friends, and breeders for husbandry techniques. I have found what works best is somewhere in between all of those resources.
Please don't take what I have written as a challenge, I know what works and, I know you know what works for you. And yes I wouldn't go to a nursery for car parts, the correct forum is a step in the right direction.
Jeff Crider
