Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey guys,

i have bred rhinos before but in a enclsoure with cement floors and just gave them a really big box to lay eggs in, this year is the first free roam breeding season meaning first year that these rhinos have actually ever Dug in the ground, now heres where my question starts, the tunnel is about 4 feet deep and then turns left and god knows how far it goes from there, i will post pics tonite dont want to disturb them during the day .... now my question is - will they eventually dig back up surface level outside of there cage??? and or will the ground collapse in on the tunnel??

my second question is , why is my male digging in the same tunnel as my female???? will the male dig the hole and then the female will lay her eggs in there later??? should i seperate them for a month or so later on ???

thanks

mike

If you don't have the bottom secured they will DEFINITELY escape. The female will dig a nest chamber off the main burrow and deposit her eggs. I used to have welded wire with 2' of sand over it when I let them dig burrows. It is much more simple to provide nest boxes however. Again if they can dig out they eventually will!!!!...TC

is it ALWAYS better to secure the bottom of the outdoor cages/pens? Letting them the chance to dig burrows how deep the sand substrate has to be in order to lay eggs?
Thanks for reply
Cheers
Stef

they will dig out even if not laying eggs, always have just as thick screen on bottom as sides and top unless u want a escape?. let them lay in big box with sand dirt mix.

thanks guys,

well there tunnel is established and it just keeps getting deep and deeper, and doesnt seem to be getting closer to the surface, but i will block off the tunnel to promote them to dig into the cage instead of out , thanks for the info guys...

possibility for them to dig out they will. Blocking the tunnel will NOT be sufficient....TC