Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Nelson]

Is it safe to use with monitors as a nesting substrate?

RE toxins

[arborgoanna]

Looking at your collection there, at the bottom of the page, I assume you're talking about V. acanthurus? From what I have seen with the several species I keep/have kept, different species/varanid groups tend to prefer different nesting media.

I found my V. glauerti and V. tristis(tristis and orientalis) to prefer sandy, inorganic soils to nest in, whereas my V. prasinus complex animals(V. prasinus and V. macraei) tend to prefer rich, organic substrata. It all has to do with the conditions that each species has evolved/adapted to use out in the wild. From what i have been able to gather, the majority of the natural range of V. acanthurus is of rather poor soil composition- in other words, relatively inorganic soils-sands, silts, clays, loam, etc.

In many forested/tropical rainforest areas, the ground is prone to seasonal flooding and may be constantly saturated, whereby most reptiles are forced to nest up above the ground, in tree hollows/cavities, termitaria, or even epiphyic plant clumps/stands. These areas are usually high in organic material, which have a completely different range of pH's, temperature flucutations, etc, when compared to the 'ground nesters', as you typically see in many of the arid/dry forested australian monitors.

Also, what works in one person's collection, with a few particular individuals, may not necessarily work for yours. I would experiment, offering several different nesting choices, until you get a feel for what your particular animals prefer, rather than forcing them to use a single medium.

Good luck!

Bob

[Nelson]

Thank you for you reply.

Yes I am refering to V. acanthurus.

I was really only thinking of anything that could be harmful to the litte guy.

I should of explained myself more as I was going to add "play sand" to the mix in an approx ratio of 1.2

So the soil would affectivly be present to hold moistour and prevent cave ins.

Any thoughts?

[Scott W]

I use moss peat mixed with play sand, others I know use just the play sand. The mix I use holds tunneling very well and so far I have had ackies lay and tonight glauerti.

Attached are tonights glauerti eggs.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Thomas Shanta]

Awesome,put me down for 3 of them.

[Jas]

Well done, good luck with them.

[arborgoanna]

Well done Scott!

Have you hatched glauerti before? This is as close as I ever got to hatching V. glauerti... I think I am plagued....


Congrats on the eggs, and keep up the great work!!!

Cheers,

Bob

[Scott W]

thanks guys,


Bob, These are my first glauerti eggs, only hatched ackies so far, with a 50% hatch rate. The ackies took over 150 days to hatch too.

Thanks for sharing the photos, it's a shame looks like a case of 'so near, yet so far!' What are your theories as to why they are failing to hatch?
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[Nelson]

Well after trying the Orchid/sand mix out last night, I can confirm that its a waste off time. It wouldnt hold a cave at all.

Trouble is I cant find anywere that sells moss peat.

[Cornuta]

try a local garden center, I use one near me that sells an Irish moss peat called 'ERIN'

Most of the B&Qs etc dont sell it now because it is environmentally unfriendly. I tracked it down for my carnivorous plants.

Is it not safe to say that any sort of houseplant compost would work as well as peat moss? After all, peat moss is very acidic, does that not affect the eggs?