Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have a male rhino about 2 years old and 3' long. I am going to be getting a 2 1/2 year old 30" female and possibly a 1 1/2 year old about 2' long. After the quarantine period of 90 days, what do you think is the best housing arrangements. Should they all be together? Housed seperately and placed together only for breeding? Start with the 2 older ones and add the younger one later?

How do you know when they are ready to breed. Do you go by size? age?

All thoughts and suggestions welcome.
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Bennett

www.beardiedragon.com

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEASRCH CENTER (LCRC)

Most Definately, separate them until ready to breed. Both males and females (when not ready to breed) can tear each other up. They are usually solitary in the wild. The males roam up to a mile a day and are thought to have a territory of 10 miles! Also, since they are Saxicolous and not arboreal like their Green Ig cousins, horizontal space is the most important dimension. You should go VERY large in your enclosure dimensions- well over 10' in size.

Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

You don't necessarily have to house them separately. I know that there are always exceptions and my situation may be one of them but my 5 year old female and 4 year old male live very harmoniously together. They eat together and sleep together (side by side, not one on top of the other) and roam together most of the time. They were not raised together but I started housing them together 2 years ago. I suggest that, after your quarantine period, you introduce them frequently on neutral ground and see how it goes.

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