Temps are just one factor, of course temps are important, We have have successful nestings from the high 70's to the low 90's.

But temps are only a part. Humidity is also a part. But lets look at those two as a set. That is, they need to be in a certain range.

That could be supplied in the cage with no nesting what so ever. Hmmmmmmm does not work so well.

So what does work well. Simply put, varanid eggs take long times to hatch. From 70 days with caudolineatus. To over a year for Lacies and gouldi types(all recorded here)

So what does conditions have to be like to take a year to hatch????? Thats the question. And each species have learned what it takes to allow their eggs to hatch and more, the neonates to survive. Its those conditions that are inhereted and utilized by each species and each female.

With monitors, if you do not supply something that gravid excepts, she will hold the eggs and suffer complications, to the point of death.

Those conditions are way past temps, how does a nest hold the same temps for a YEAR??????? Six months(very common with varanids, 3 months, common with smaller types?????????? And something the animal recognizes.

Which means, if they do not use it, it frankly does not matter what you call it or what it is.

So what superceeds temps and humidity is, soil/substrate types, depths, mass, consistancy. Which is security. The females must nest where a one legged woodpecker will not dig the eggs up. Which seems to be very important.

Also timing is important. Most non varanid keepers have some recipe value like put the box in at X time. Which kinda works.

With varanids, not so much. Normally, they dig or locate a nesting area, at the time of copulation, they stay in that area, then redig it up and lay when ready. This occurs in 8 to 30 days, successfully, after then, success drops. The longer they hold the eggs the more complications can occur, until death of the female. Which is very very very common.

Some species like torts(we breed them too) can and do hold viable eggs without problem. Varanids do not show that ability.

Monitors are so very generalized, yet very particular when it comes to nesting. Monitors are by far the easist type of reptile to get eggs from, they can lay like pez despencers, but amoung the hardest to get hatchlings from.

You will see far more success with such species as ackies as there is commonly nesting areas in their cages that are say, 2Ft by 3feet. Which is larger then the ackies. But that changes with larger species. When do folks offer a six foot monitor a nest box thats 12 feet long. Actually when do they offer a cage that big?

While some naive folks talk about boxes, the cage is a box, and a box inside the cage is another box, etc. They are all nest boxes. The problem is size. Monitors often burrow then create a chamber. If not allowed to burrow, it hinders the ability to nest.

Theres more, monitors have inherent knowledge on nesting, which includes a range of nest types, then learn from successful experience. So if you start with a first year female, and shes successful, she will attempt to repeat that nesting throughout her life.

So these are some of the problems with varanids. Thanks

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