Matt,

Frank got it, that is exactly what I meant, I've tried for years to keep live plants with jobiensis, and the result is always a very quick death to the plant. With a larger outdoor cage I'd like to try a tree, but I have a feeling this is more about me than what the monitors need or want.

Not only digging, I've never had a live plant last more than a week with a healthy peachie, even a small juvenile. If the plant is small, they will trample it, if it's large they will climb on it and tear it to shreds.

I've found most young monitors to be incredibly active when there is no one around, but stay hidden if they sense anyone (and they are real good at picking up movement and sounds). When they get older things seem to typically change, they care much less about my presence, except when they are hungry.

I highly doubt there is any one thing that you could change, it was probably a number of factors. Since some people seem confused by what I meant with mixing species, I only meant it will complicate matters, and an inexperienced keeper should not be making anything complicated that doesn't need to be. I got the impression from your post that you have had them for a couple months, and peachies don't stay small for long. I wouldn't keep two in that size cage for much longer than a month.

You do seem to be taking this better than you initial posts. That's good, no one is being judgemental, and accepting fault is much better than ignorance.

--Robert

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