Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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what do the b.r.r.r. baby look like? what dirt are you useing in that cage? anyway those babies look really happy snd healthy.

Alex Oliver

Thanks, Alex. All these guys have excellent temperaments and are very healthy. The latest one that I got directly from Jeremy is the one with its head sticking out( I told you he owned all the good burrows, hehe). He stands apart and has lots of colors throughout and is scrappy as hell. Trust me, you'll be happy with them. I now have my own giant ant farm, woops I mean "monitor" farm.

As far as dirt goes I looked all throughout my property for good dirt and found some decent spots and dug that out and used that, but some of the burrows were collapsing. I also read Bushners post about using composte and decided to give it a try since I had a couple of bags already. Took the guys out and started mixing it in with water and mixed, and mixed, and mixed some more till it felt good. The burrows are holding much better now, but its still a work in progress.Good luck and let me know when you get them.

about me thinking it was too wet, for argus and goulds.

From what I've seen peachies do burrow, but the burrows tend to be very shallow compared to argus or goulds. The deeper you went in this, the colder and wetter it got. The argus and gouldiis shedding did not look quite right, but they did grow fast, and I had no real problems, so it did actually work, but I doubt I would use it again for any gouldii complex.

I would suggest if you see any shedding problems or anything that could be caused by excessive moisture, you switch it out for something else.

Here is a goulds on my latest test dirt.

Crosses are neat, have fun with them!

--Robert

Thanks Robert, I think Im having too much fun with them. I did read where you had some moisture problems but I figured it would be a step forward. The dirt I dug up was being used by them to burrow but they were collapsing IMO because of lack of moisture. It wouldnt hold water well either. Adding the premoistened composte to the already existing dirt and mixing it together then adding some more water accordingly gave them a more useable dirt . The burrows now arent collapsing and holding moisture better. I have them now in a 4x2x2 since they are babies and it makes it easier for me to expirement with dirt until I build there future enclosure. Good tips, I'll keep my out for shedding problems as I noticed too the cool dampness close to the bottom

The use of decomposing vegetation, came from what I thought might be suitable in their(jobiensis) native environments. It is what is usually found underneath leaf litter. But it has not worked as well as I would like.

Keep having fun,

--Robert

Thanks, I learn something new everyday. I thought you'd just thrown it into the mix for a reason. Had no idea it was comparable to your peachies native dirt.Food for thought.

That looks a lot like my latest "test dirt". I have a good feeling about the stuff. But we shall see...

Nice looking lizard you have there. I have a couple of those coming to me in the near future here. I'll post some pics when I get 'em. Hope all of you are well.

Ian

you don't get ripped off, I have seen questionable goulds listed in the classifieds. Get them from somebody you trust.

You will have fun with them, but watch them closely, they seem to think things through more than acting on impulse (argus). I have taken more feeding response bites from goulds than argus (because they sneak up on you, without seeming interested). I have yet to get any defensive bites from either, I really think both of them are mostly bluff, and you really have to piss them off alot to get bit.

That dirt does look very similiar, we shall see how it works.

Good Luck, have fun

--Robert

n/p