Transcript: Robyn Markland of ProExotics Monitors February 21, 2009 PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at kingsnake.com, I am pleased to welcome Robyn Markland to our 11th annual Chat Month.. PHFaust: Robyn Markland of Pro Exotics will be joining us to talk all things monitor. Listing the Ackie as his favorite lizard, Robyn always has a little monitor on his mind. PHFaust: Having been a major part and driving force behind Pro Exotics since 1993 both Robyn and Chad have become some of the biggest names in the monitor world. PHFaust: Pro Exotics has also expanded again to add another company to it's realm. Along with Monitors, Robyn is open to answering questions on the new reptile shipping program in partnership with UPS set to launch in March. And lets not forget the ever needed Temp Gun. Robyn will be glad to help with those as well! PHFaust: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls I present Robyn Markland! robyn@ProExotics: Tada! robyn@ProExotics: Favorite all time band- Van Halen. Is that off topic? PHFaust: HELL NO! My beloved glam is always on topic! robyn@ProExotics: I listened to some Hysteria today as well. PHFaust: i will chilling to cinderella today... PHFaust: and a little GNR before it became bizarre dqreps_nr: LOL. What can you tell us about the black throats, this up coming year etc? robyn@ProExotics: The Blackthroats/Ionides/Albigs/Whitethroats are all coming along. robyn@ProExotics: We have some really terrific animals, I would love to start seeing clutches from them. dqreps_nr: You always have great stuff. I am hoping to get another black from you soon down the road!:) robyn@ProExotics: It is challenging with the larger species just from te space perspective. Ackies breed and lay eggs on the regular. We are even getting eggs from Green Tree Monitors, but the larger species, it has been MUCH more challenging. robyn@ProExotics: It is also an issue of time. We have a LOT of stuff going on. I had really started to focus well, trimming down some of the groups, but once my partner Chad Brown started back full time, he used his quasi-omnipotence to expand other groups, so it can be tough to give full attention to every single group. Kevin_nr: How do you set up a self cleaning soil habitat. I have been interested in this for my savy, but it seems highly daunting to me robyn@ProExotics: Lots of talk on the Bearded forum about soil recently... robyn@ProExotics: The soil we use is NOT the Philipe de Vosjoli live bio-active soil... robyn@ProExotics: His goal for a bio-soil is to have a lot of life in it, growing plants and such. What I want in a soil is just a good "dirt" that the lizards recognize and will use, burrow in, lay eggs in, be successful in... robyn@ProExotics: There are any number of good soils. Backyard soil, creek bed soil, forest soil, store bought soil, like the Home Depot mix described on our FAQ. robyn@ProExotics: That is a good mix to start with- topsoil/sand/vermiculite in a 50/25/25 mix. Easy to mix, easy to play with, and most lizard species will use it well. robyn@ProExotics: It really isn't hard at all, just get a rubbermaid tub and start mixing it, playing with a bit, get a feel for it, literally. And I am always happy to talk about soil in depth, with more detail, by phone :-) GA Brutus_nr: What is a good starting monitor? They all seem to be HUGE animals robyn@ProExotics: Ackies are hands down the best starter monitor, and I think the best starter LIZARD species, period. Really a rewarding experience. They are all captive bred, they average 2 ft as adults, they socialize well, have TONS of personality, and given a basic monitor setup, they are easy to keep... robyn@ProExotics: Keeping a small species, over the long term, is MUCH less expensive, especially for caging and food, than it is for a large species. Really, I can't recommend the Ackies/Acanthurus any more highly, an awesome experience! GA Kevin_nr: can you tell me a little bit about prevention of fatty liver? I hear its a big problem in savys robyn@ProExotics: Those types of organ failure issues have much more to do with proper husbandry. It all comes down to temperature gradients, and proper basking spot access... robyn@ProExotics: Years ago basking temps were recommended to be 95F, 100F, or even 105F. Actually, a recent Reptiles Magazine Sav article recommended the same thing. Ycuk. robyn@ProExotics: Yuck... robyn@ProExotics: We know that lizards need basking temps of 130F, surface temperatures, not air temps, and given access to higher temps, lizard species will use much higher temps as well... robyn@ProExotics: Reptiles, being cold blooded, rely on outside sources to run their "motors". When you only offer a mid level, mediocre temp of 105F, the animal can't even get its "RPM's" up, it can't even get its metabolism running at an ideal rate, the body and systems are just chronically sluggish... robyn@ProExotics: With poor temps, metabolism is sluggish, you start to see fat animals, fat deposits, and within just a few years, organ failure... robyn@ProExotics: the organs get loaded down with fat, or poisons, and it becomes catastrophic. Give your lizards the temp gradient they need, and these issues, like gout, fatty deposits, organ failure, are never seen. Just strong healthy lizards. GA robyn@ProExotics: Temps are another husbandry issue that I am glad to discuss, in depth, by phone, just about anytime. I love discussing husbandry theory, and application! PHFaust: That is one thing, Robyn is ALWAYS there to help if he can! Sulfurboy1o3: I'd like to know how the sav project is going? robyn@ProExotics: 130F temp for a basking spot, surface temp, is my recommended minimum target. For our breeding groups, they have access to higher temps as well. But when talking to lizard folks, 130F is my target minimum for basking. Ambient cage temp target is low 80's :-) GA robyn@ProExotics: Savs are tough... robyn@ProExotics: We have a group of Albino Savannah monitors. Two Albinos, and a number of het Albino females... robyn@ProExotics: We got the group from Brian at BHB, and they were already juvies. Ideally, I would rather start with babies. Socializing and husbandry from the start can be so important... robyn@ProExotics: We only have one Albino male, and until recently, he has been a reluctant breeder. That has really made it difficult... robyn@ProExotics: In the last month though, we have seen some solid cops though, and combined with the good follicle development in the females, I think it is a great step. GA SilentHouse: Robyn, I've read your rave reviews of the ackie, and I want to know what exactly about their personality endears them to you? robyn@ProExotics: They are interactive, with each other, and with people... robyn@ProExotics: A lot of monitor species are very stand offish. The Ackies are not, they are curious, and playfull. They will actually goof around like a group of puppies, especially as babies and juvies. Lots of fun to watch. They are also very hardy, making them more accessible to a wide range of keepers. GA ryan_m: Robyn, I know you are a firm believer in a HUGE temp gradient. I was wondering where you draw the line? With monitors and other lizards (Bearded Dragons, Uromastyx), are temps as high as 145-150 degrees useful? robyn@ProExotics: Yes, they are... robyn@ProExotics: But it is a big puzzle, and temps are just one big piece... robyn@ProExotics: You can't have high temps without a great moisture gradient as well. You don't want it HOT and DRY. You have to offer choices... robyn@ProExotics: But offering the choices, you can read your animals and adjust accordingly. What are the temp ranges that they WILL use? What is the moisture gradient that they WILL use?... robyn@ProExotics: Certainly lizard specieslike monitors, beardeds and uros wll use temps of 150F+. robyn@ProExotics: Again, 130F is my target for a basic setup, but I am not afraid of those higher temps. They monitors may not use them on a daily basis, but they will use them when they need. Especially females that are cycling with eggs... robyn@ProExotics: 130F to 160F is a range that you will see used a lot. Higher than that is much rarer. Given a temp gradient down to 82F, I am not afraid of 160F for a top basking spot, not afraid AT ALL, because in a good setup, the lizard can choose 160F, or 140F, or 130F, or 110F, whatever they currently need. The Retes wood basking stacks make it easy to provide sch a gradient. GA Bucca_nr: What is the percentage of monitors in the pet trade that are WC? Is there a way to determine if a monitor is WC before purchase? robyn@ProExotics: I would say 98% of the monitors for sale are wild caught, unfortunately... robyn@ProExotics: You should assume any for sale monitor is wild caught, unless you are working with a breeder that has a captive breeding history, or can provide pics of eggs :-) GA PHLdyPayne: In your soil/sand/vermiculate mix, I am concerned at risks of smaller lizards eating the vermiculate and getting blockages and other problems from it. Have you had any problems with smaller lizards eating it? I have heard of crested geckos eating it from egg laying cups, both adults and babies. robyn@ProExotics: I have never had a problem. Lots of keepers use just a soil and sand mix. The verm just makes it easier to achieve a balance that digs and burrows well. It helps to stick it :-) GA Sulfurboy1o3: Im sure you use a varied diet for your monitors but what do u feed your savs regularly?more insects or rodents ? robyn@ProExotics: Our varied diet consists of feeder insects, and rodents, that is it... robyn@ProExotics: For small and medium species, including Savs, they really don't vary from our baby lizard diet, which is two thirds insects, and one third rodents. Adult monitors just don't eat as often as babies. Even our 6 ft Blackthroats still really enjoy chasing and eating roaches. Insects provide a lifetime of nutrition, as well as great mental and physical exercise. GA robyn@ProExotics: No questions about crazy political bills or reptile bans? PHFaust: LOL PHFaust: you may be safe on that one! iggirl1: with the tree monitors how offen would you feed mice to rodents and the use of uvb with the trees because of them beinging a secretive monitor robyn@ProExotics: We don't use full spectrum bulbs with any of our reptiles. What a can of worms that is :-) robyn@ProExotics: We use a good calcium supplement, with D3, with our insects, but no fancy bulbs... robyn@ProExotics: To me, calcium placement issues, MDB, that stuff is again related to temperatures. With access to proper basking temps, for lizards, they can use and place the calcium in their diets just fine. We don't use any bulbs, and our lizards, monitors, uros, whatever, have great growth and strong healthy bone structure... robyn@ProExotics: Back to the question, we offer the Tree Monitors primarily insects, with rodents at least once a week. GA Cleobear_nr: It seems a lot of monitor folks deal with the extreme temps gradients. Is this something other keepers should be looking at? robyn@ProExotics: The smartest lizard keeper I know doesn't use any full spectrum lighting either.... PHFaust: would that be Frank? robyn@ProExotics: Frank Retes indeed. He can be different socially, especially on the forums, but he just doesn't come across well that way sometimes. In person he is awesome, SUPER PASSIONATE about reptiles and husbandry, and if you catch him at a trade show, he will talk to you for 4 hours about temps, moisture, diet, husbandry, etc. And he must be the most prolific lizard breeder in the country (world?). A really great guy, in person, and an amazing asset to the reptile world. robyn@ProExotics: Temp gradients are important across the spectrum of species, sure... robyn@ProExotics: Temp gradients, we use them for snakes too... robyn@ProExotics: But snakes don't bask like lizards, at least most don't, so the actual range is different... robyn@ProExotics: For our ratsnakes, the Coxi and stuff that we breed, females will lay eggs well into the cooling season. Cooling is 55F. At that temp, any eggs that are laid are bad, the female doesn't have the tools (temps) to achieve healthy eggs. We have offered a basking spot to cycling females, so the gradient is 55F to 86F or so, and those females that continue to cycle, they lay healthy, hatching eggs... robyn@ProExotics: For the Boelen's python, from the 8000+ ft elevations in Indo, they naturally see a wide temp gradient, as it gets very cool at night, yet on the rock outcroppings that they bask on (a basking snake) it gets quite warm. We offer a temp gradient that may be as wide as 55F to 120F in a multi tiered cage, and I think a good temp gradient is going to be the key to breeding that high elevation species. I hope... robyn@ProExotics: Do Balls need a temp gradient? I haven't seen a significant need, outside of "normal" cycling. But yes, you can think outside the box, temp wise, for LOTS of species, legs or no legs. GA robyn@ProExotics: BTW, I would call "extreme" temps 40F to 250F. That is extreme. I can pull 140F basking spot surface temps from our parking lot here in Colorado on a 78F day. That temp is not extreme, you just have to change your reference point. And surface temps are MUCH different than air temps :-) dqreps_nr: Do you think that supplementation is neccessary for boas? robyn@ProExotics: If you are offering high quality rodents, I wouldn't think so. We have never done it. The strength of offering whole foods, to lizards or snakes, is that they are a complete nutritional meal, well balanced. What kind of supplementation are you talking about? GA robyn@ProExotics: Is that Dallas? dqreps_nr: YUP:) dqreps_nr: Hey bro dqreps_nr: Long time no talk:) ryan_m: Thanks Robyn...gotta go. See you in the forums! robyn@ProExotics: What's up dude, I trust you are well. Still in reptiles I see. Glad to hear it :-) robyn@ProExotics: See you Ryan, keep thinking outside the box! ryan_m: thanks dude dqreps_nr: Thanks:) robyn@ProExotics: The never ending quest to improve husbandry and the quality of our animals :-) dqreps_nr: by the way, the het female boa i got from you a few years ago has been breeding like crazy:) yellowfang: I wanted to know what would be a good starter moniter (besides a savanna) because I really like the green tree moniters, but don't think itd be a good starter. I only own a bunch (13) of snakes now robyn@ProExotics: Green Tree Monitors are very challenging, for sure. Very pretty, but challenging. Good choice as a third or fourth species... robyn@ProExotics: I covered the Ackies earlier in the chat, you can check out that info, but they are my overall favorite monitor, and simply make the best choice as a starter monitor, or for a monitor breeding project. GA pooter: robyn - hope this isn't against tos, but can you give me a quick answer on a non-lizard species that you work with (and just mentioned). I am breeding coxi for the first time this year (hopefully), can you give me some incubation advice? mainly incubation temps and incubation medium - finding these details has proven to be difficult, thanks in advanced robyn@ProExotics: Sure... robyn@ProExotics: We use perlite in our boxes, cook at 78F, and see hatching in the late 50 day range. The thing about Coxi is how prolific they can be. Be sure to have good weight on your females, which isn't hard because they typically eat so well... robyn@ProExotics: I have seen females breed ONE TIME, and then lay three successful, hatching clutches over the next 4 months. Dr. Klingenburg, vet and reptile book author, has had the same thing happen... robyn@ProExotics: That is why we started to offer temp gradients to the females as we headed into cooling, inevitably some females would lay clutches in December, January, February, and without being paired. If they are cycling, strongly consider offering them a heat tape basking spot so they can get the temps they need. Egg incubation is straight forward, and they aren't tricky, although egg size varies WIDELY... robyn@ProExotics: I have a picture I can email you of Coxi eggs ranging from one inch long to nearly 5 inches long. Fun species, but sometimes, just WEIRD :-) GA PHFaust: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at kingsnake.com, Thank You for taking your time to chat with us. Transcripts will be posted with in a few days. Once again, Thank you Robyn! pooter: I will email you tomorrow for a pic... thanks! PHFaust: Please visit the base of Pro Exotics, which will give you access to all their companies www.proexotics.com robyn@ProExotics: Thanks for everyone for stopping by, some very interesting questions! And thanks for having me! Have a great weekend! Oh, and check out ShipYourReptiles.com Cheap plug!!!! : -)
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