Sorry, now I realize that my post below about nesting soils is very vague. I am sure that there are numerous answers to that question, and varying levels of correctiveness in answers.
Perhaps I should have asked, how can you tell if your substrate is acceptable to the monitors to nest and burrow in? If they nest in it (as mine did), does that mean it is acceptable? Or is it one of those "better to nest in a bad substrate than to not nest at all" type of situations?
In the soil that I was using when she laid (topsoil/sand mixture), there was very little day-to-day digging and burrowing. They dug one burrow in a single spot and whenever they did actually dig, it was extending (and often ruining it, making it collapse or digging another hole into it) that only burrow. In fact, the nest chamber was just an extension off of that burrow. That burrow was actually quite long, but after I dug the eggs up and ruined it, they didn't dig much more.
Anyway, I was just a bit questionative of whether or not they were telling me that they accepted the substrate. Although, I would like to try it again, as it was WAY too moist throughout most of the cage. I've dumped it outside to let it dry out, and will most likely be trying it again unless I can find a more suitable source. I'm gonna check out a load of topsoil my dad is ordering tomorrow for some landscaping.
Also, I'm still up for suggestions on soils or soil mixes that people have successfully used, although that is a vague request. Ideally, I could go out and dig up some natural desert soil, but there are unfourtunately no deserts in Arkansas. Oh, and this is for yellow ackies, if that matters.
By the way Frank, I know you have said that you have acceptable soils in every state (except way up north, I believe). How about Arkansas?
Sorry for asking such a newbie-sounding question, but proper soils and such are still something I don't understand very well at all.
Cheers,
Ryan
