Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so no matter how much or what type of dirt I give to my Savs they just dont burrow, they only will use the hides I supply them. What can be dont to get them to burrow like they should?

They were both rescues, and their previous owners had no idea on proper husbandry, could this be why they dont burrow? I have had my male over 2 years now and he was approx a year when i got him and the female I rescued a few monthes ago and I'm not sure on her age I'm guessing close to 2 yrs.

When it warms up they are going to be moved out into my barn into their larger trough enclosure that this time I'm going to try and use the same dirt I use in my horse stalls, its a pinkish/brown color and i believe it is a type of crushed granite.
And hopefully I will be out of the state of CO before next winter and I wont have to move them into their smaller winter quarters ever again!!
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"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

My guy would dig himself a burrow from the day I got him as a w.c. hatchling till around 8 months or so old. After that (he is now over 16 months old) he always preferred to wedge himself under the boards in his enclosure rather then dig in.


It could just be that the hides your providing are meeting their securty needs. Got pics of your setup?

I would look at overall husbandry details, most specifically temps, and look at the temp of the substrate as well.

If you have access to that pink/orange DG, try mixing it 50/50 with topsoil, that works pretty well also.
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robyn@proexotics.com

ShipYourReptiles.com
Pro Exotics Reptiles

OK thank you!
-----
"If you talk to animals,
they will talk with you
and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,
you will not know them,
and what you do not know
you will fear.

What one fears,
one destroys."
.

-Chief Dan George

Dirt is really only nessesary for gravid females. In the wild monitors dig to hide from daytime temps,predators and excavate rodent dens in search for food. In captivity they do not need dirt which makes general husbandry easier and cleaner, we have kept and bred dwarf monitors and helodermas for over a decade now and only use cypress mulch or 1/4 inch pee gravel mixed with cypress, the important thing about any substrate is it absorbs some water and holds a bit of humidity. Dirt makes a mess and is a big reason many people shy away from keeping monitors. Dirt is extremley important only for gravid females to excavate a nest, for basic monitor husbandry dirt is a choice not a requirment for over all health and well being. Just my 0.2
Bob