Metabolic Bone Disease in Captive Reptiles

[Catherine]

We might find that anything that chooses to bask does so because it needs the UVB. Basking can make a reptile vulnerable.
They would need a good reason for doing it.

Still, things have come a long way. UVB lights are actually available. Vitamin supplements are available. We may not be doing the absolute best for some reptiles, but we are miles ahead of what we were able to do in the past.

I think it is not so much multiple sources that are needed. It is reliable sources that are needed. The water dragon was purchased from a good reptile store that set the lizard up properly. The owner made changes based on internet research that gave wrong information. If the owner had asked the reptile store they would have set her straight. This was a case of  multiple information sources proving fatal.

The chameleon was set up properly as a baby. The owner did some internet research and was told that adult chameleons don't need UVB light so when the lizard matured he  stopped the UVB light. He only realized his mistake when the chameleon could no longer walk or climb. If he had just stayed with what he had originally been told and kept the same set up the lizard would have been fine. If he had asked for advice from the place he would have been okay. They set him up with proper lighting.

There is a lot of nonsense out there on the internet about reptiles. Too many people don't know how to judge the value of what they are reading. They don't know how to look at a source and know if it is sound or not.

Maybe there should be courses on how to use the internet that explain which sources are good and which are not.