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This is the young "tailstading" DI I got from " Po-Te LuZ" a while back. I almost bought a hamster wheel for him to run in ( kidding!!)! I'm glad his back was not that damaged!! He decided to dig his tunnels right under some Echinocereus fasciculatus ( Arizona hedgehog cactus) just like they do in habitat. (Some of ) Their tunnels seem to be only a couple of inches deep with openings right at the base of plants/ cactus/ scrub etc. The opening is barely the size of my thumb and is a tight squeeze for the lizard. They "close up house" every evening from the inside out by kicking soil toward the surface. I sure would like to be able to see the extent of tunnel systems they make without destroying it. He is also slowing down lately and will soon be out for the winter. The other 2 DI's have not been seen for 2 or 3 weeks ( at least)

Later

David
DI

Oh and always love the Mutt, ALL the Mutts ! Eve

in some areas only 1/4 inch thick. Sometimes the roof of the
tunnel is only a dried sand crust that sometimes breaks in.
When this happens they immediatly repair it. I assume they do this
by getting moist sand from elsewhere in the tunnel and shoving
it up into the hole to repair it.

In my viv there is plenty of subterranian area with the
lower areas kept damp. I think they create their
own underground temperature and humidity gradient by
positioning the tunnels close to the surface right under a
spotlight for a warmer and drier area of the tunnel. For more
humidity and a cooler retreat they dig them deeper and in
damper sand. I make sure I keep the lower areas of the viv
watered every week or 2.

John Styner