Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There's alot of info in the old forums, but it takes forever to find decent stuff.
I recently bought a 2 1/2' female and a 3 1/2' male Argus monitors. I put them together a few days ago and they started breeding within 2 hours. I looks like the female might already have eggs in her from before I got her. She is very fat. Anyways, I need help with the following.

1. The female was with a 18" male before, is it possible for her eggs to be fertile?

2. Any tips on how to build a nest box so that the male won't eat the eggs?

3. How should I encubate the eggs? Ive read that perlite is good. I need all the info. How deep should I bury the eggs? Do I need to rotate them? What is the best way to keep them humid? How long until they hatch? What temperature should they be incubated at?
3a. What container should I use for incubation? How should I get the desired heat (light bulb, heating pad, ceramic heat lamp, etc).

Thank you to anyone who took the time to read all of this. Im just trying to get complete step-by-step instructions. Please answer anything that you can.

Thanks again,
Brian

if you don't already have a cage full of decent nesting (deep dirt, etc) then a nesting box might be your only solution. just give her something large that has dirt or something in it that is humid. the male probably won't eat the eggs.

she is probably not gravid yet, but i don't know.

put the eggs in an incubator or something at 86 degrees with a 1:1 perilite/water ratio.

don't ever turn them.

without more info that is all i can give you.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

I have about 4" of dirt right now. I have about another 2-3" to add yet. I thought a nest box would be a good idea because I have a feeling that my male will eat the eggs. He has a ferocious appetite, even for an Argus.
Could you recommend any good (dependable) incubators that are reasonable in cost?

Thanks

no, there are none that are really affordable that are also good. i don't know what you define as affordable though, ours was about 600 dollars. you can spend less if you make your own.

you can proabably use just a hovabator, not good, but useable.

andrew
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VARANUS CREATIONS

Breeders and Hobbyists of Pilbara Rock Monitors, Kimberly Rock Monitors, Red Ackies, Argus, Argus x Flavi crosses, Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Argus x Gouldi x Flavi crosses, Jungle Carpet Pythons, Bredl's Pythons, Dunn's Pythons, Western Hognose Snakes, South American Boas, Atheris Squamiger, Leopard Geckos and rare Spiders.

In the past I have used rubbermaid storage bins as nest boxes with a hole drilled in the side large enough to admit the female. Females are usually sufficiently smaller than males that they can squeeze through holes that the males cannot. Unfortunately, a heavily gravid female requires a hole large enough that a male can get his head and neck in. The only reliable option is to remove the male when the female starts nesting.

I have used vermiculite to incubate argus eggs. I mix in just enough water that it is just barely damp to the touch, kind of like what you would expect from turning over a spadefull of dirt. Too much water kills the eggs. If the vermiculite is obviouly damp, it is too much. Don't bury the eggs, just nestle them down into the substrate a bit. Don't ever water them. If necessary, add water to the vermiculite if is starts to feel bone dry, but not directly to the eggs. I incubated my eggs in a hovabator, placing the eggs and vermiculite in a sealed tupperware container. Lift the lid every few days to make sure the eggs are okay and allow air exchange. Do not turn them.

Best of luck,

Luke

Cool.
Thanks for the info.