Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For the last year I've raised up 2 female yellow ackies, the two of them are 14 months old, and have been raised together since they were hatchlings. They are both 18 inches now, and it seems that their growth rate has slowed down tremendously since they hit about 12 months, so I don't know how much growing they have left to do. Recently, I purchased a male yellow to hopefully breed with them, it's been terribly difficult finding one and this one is a really beautiful monitor. He's five years old but was still a strong breeder for the guy I bought him from right up until this summer when his mate died in egg laying. He's 20 inches long though, making him 2 inches longer than my females. I put him into the tank with the two females yesterday, and a few times a day I've witnessed him mounting them, but I don't know whether it is to mate or to assert dominance, as sometimes he's not even on top of the right part of their bodies, and he twitches all over when he gets on top of them. I also saw him bite one of the females on the base of her tail, though it appeared to be very lightly, rather than something aimed at harming her. Neither the male nor the females have been eating their crickets in the 24 hours since introducing them. Should I separate them again and assume that they're incompatible or is this normal/requiring more time? I've enclosed pictures of the adults for size comparison. Thanks!

Evelyn

First ackies attain lenghts up to and slighly over 3 feet. Yours have most likely stopped growing not because they are full grown, but as a reflection of your support. In otherwords, thats has big as your support will allow them to get.

Second, female ackies start laying eggs at as small as 11 inches, total lenght, normally they are 13 to 15 inches when they start to lay. If yours are 18 inches, you should have seen evidence of them cycling.

Also, females must cycle, that is form eggs, or males have no reason to breed, at this time they emitt pheromones. Monitors are like dogs, not humans. They do not copulate for the heck of it. Copulation, associated with biting is not for reasons of reproduction, but instead to dominate/harass eachother, of any sex. Or not as serious, more like fiddle farting around and will get over it soon.

Before you start your process of introduction, you must "know" only a couple of things. Like what "sex" they are. If you do not know, or are in error, all your assumptions are in error. So your assuming anything may be premature.

Lastly, post pics, as most of us humans cannot explain their way out of a paper bag, when it comes to monitors. You give no real evidence of what is actually happening. You give information you think is important, but your not experienced enough to include the "usable information". You know, are they really opposite sex(#1 problem for most) is the female/s cycled(#2) are they even the same kind(the other #2)

Last lastly, keeping animals is often referred to as working with. Working means, the continuance of work, To keep working. As, with living animals, the work is never done. Living animals are a challange because, the work is never done. If they succeed, they cause more work and more problems to solve. If they fail, they cause more work and more problems to solve. This is why working with animals is good, it exercises your brain. It causes you to think. So think. Cheers

At the moment, I'm pretty certain that they're both female, they've laid several clutches of infertile eggs over the fall, starting around August, and the two females mount each other for a few days at a time every month or so, which I'd posted about here during the summer as it started when they were about six months old and you'd responded to my message confirming that that was probably the case, unless they were sparring for a particular spot in the cage. I can post pictures of them mounting each other which I took back when they were far smaller if you'd like. I did not say the females had finished growing, rather, that they had slowed down, from an inch a month previously now to about a quarter of an inch a month for the last two months. I don't know why that is, I'm not an expert on these lizards, I've heard of ackies growing to three feet long but I've never seen it, rather, the largest I've seen were a few reds slightly over 2 feet. The parents of the ones I have were around 20 inches, whether that was a reflection on how their parents were raised or something genetic I have no idea, I don't think my females' parents were complete yellows, as mine look like they have a bit of red and yellow in them. The male I acquired is a solid yellow, and the difference between him and my two originals is striking.
I posted on here because I wanted to get an idea of whether my females are compatible with the male I purchased, I don't see why you aren't willing to trust my judgment on the sex and then assume that I said they were done growing and had never laid before. I also did post three pictures of them, whether they showed on your computer or not I have no idea, but I took several pics of all three this morning so hopefully that can help. I've also had them checked out by several breeders, including the guy I purchased the male from, and they agreed they were females during the summer, before I'd actually had them lay infertiles. Included below are pics of all three of the adults, body shot and then of the head and neck for each below it. Hopefully this helps, I really want to know whether it is going to work to have these three together,

Evelyn

Rest of pics:

Please understand, I do not keep track of other peoples monitors(or even other people)(to many and they keep coming).

Also, you need to include all important info. If you want some kind of educated answer. But low and behold, There is only one answer for you. You have to test it and see. As, no one can predict what your monitors are going to do in the future. That is why I mentioned "working" with monitors, YOU have to do the work. I cannot tell you, what your work will turn out like. It kinda depends on how well you do the work. I know, I have no problems keeping groups and even pairs and groups of males together. But I am not you.

I admit, I often fail to understand keepers. Particularly overly caring ones(not sure thats the right words). You must understand, monitors have a huge ability to work things out. IF you have ever seen wild monitors, they are nicked and marked and even scared. They are because, they worked things out, all on their own. Those are from rough things, not all things worked out are rough.

If your thinking you can have them act in a natural way, and not have natural nicks and marks and scares(of life) I am not sure what to tell you. They are not kids in a bubble. They want to live their lifes. Cheers