Posted by:
FR
at Sat Jan 29 09:57:20 2011 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by FR ]
Your best bet is Right here. The problems with monitors and it doesn't matter what kind is a bit different then other reptiles. Which is why you do not see everyone having success.
They are behavioral, that is, behavior is more important then conditions. With many reptiles you can follow a care sheet and expect success. You may have to make a couple of decisions.
With varanids, You set up the enclosure PERFECTLY, and you as the keeper become a key player if what kind of success you will recieve.
Its kinda interactive reptile keeping.
From your reply, you sort of expect something, you do this and they do this or that. Hmmmmmmmmmm not the case with varanids.
First off, varanids are egg laying machines. You feed them, and they throw eggs all over the place, but sadly they die doing that if you do not GET IT RIGHT. They also DIE getting them to pair up.
The common practice and it leads to a common result is, I will get one and if it does good, I will pair it up. Hmmmmmmmmmm That is the exact wrong way to do this. THESE ANIMALS ARE BEHAVIORAL. That is, they form bonds with their mates, not just screw them. I say it that way on purpose, thats not what they do, and people expect them to just copulate.
Well monitors are a bit like torts, they copulate, EVERYTHING, other males, non reproductive females, water bowls, sticks. YOU!
But do not fertilize everything.
So, its a series of behaviors that lead to success. Not put A in with B. Well to be honest, you can get lucky and have that work, but not often and not for long. Which is why you see, one clutch wonders.
With a working pair, you can see many many many clutches, Our record for one female is over 80 clutches in her lifetime.
But, you must have a working pair, not just one screwing the other. Again I say it that way, because what usually ends up is, one normally gets screwed and dies.
Males attend the female, they protect the female, they can and do help dig and prepare a nest, they also guard the nest while shes laying and afterwards. And do it over and over.
How much they do is based on how well they bond. So you can see all of that and more, or none. I have pics of all of that.
The problem is, varanids require space, in that space, you must include areas to support all these things. Which is sort of impossible. So you have to change the cage to fit what they are doing. Or move them to different cages. See, it really does envolve you the keeper.
Most folks that breed reptiles, want to put them in a box and then they are done. Ain't going to happen with varanids.
Like with anything difficult, once you see success, its very rewarding. But its work. Sadly, most folks do not want to work.
Which leads to this, most snake keepers like snakes over other animals, because they are NOT WORK. Sadly, snake keepers often suck at varanids. So if you like work and like great rewards, then go for it.
But your approach would better be served by keeping your sav as a pet, it looks female by the way. And getting babies and raising them together. They then naturally form bonds. Or you can get lucky and find a male that will not abuse her. Sounds familiar to humans huh.
I do recomend, do it as soon as you can. The older they get, the less they are good canidates for pairing up. again like humans. I am serious, if you have any intentions about breeding them, get them grouped up NOW.
About sexing them, once they are mature, they are easy, but when immature. A flip of a coin is better then any vet. Vets suck by the way(at that)
So I will end this with a tag line I use on another forum.
Well, I am going to go get drunk and sex monitors for fun. Why do I say that? cause it doesn't matter what we say, they know how to figure it out..
So off I go, sexing monitors for fun, and getting drunk.
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RE: Savannah Monitor Breeding - FR, Sat Jan 29 09:57:20 2011