Several months ago some of my females seem way past due time, obviously retaining.
Usually females do this because they don’t recognise nesting options, however sins my other acanthosaura species nested well in moss, I assumed there must be an other problem. At the time I kept 1.3 in one cage and an other 1.1 in an other cage, the female of the 1.1 pair did not appear gravid but both females in the 1.3 cage look exactly like yours (very big with eggs) I discovered there needs by accident, I was attempting to trigger copulation with the 1.1 cage by leaving the light on 24/7, this resulted in the female nesting before both other females, she appeared only half the size. When I saw this, I simply left the light in my other cage on 24/7 and both females nested simultaneously after 3 days.

The only problems with higher heat is keeping the cage hydrated and feeding, drinking more often. The problem with light being on 24/7 is coloration, other then this lizards aren’t affected in anyway.

I am now playing with different nesting mediums, I have picture of wild armata nesting in sandy loam, this female looks similar to yours.

Therefore I now provide moss in half my cage and sand-dirt mix other side, will see how it works soon. The mix is regular 60% play sand and 40% top soil, this have proven to work well with many species.

I see no reason why this shouldn’t work with your captives, in any case you will see how they progress or regress before anything turns ugly.

Ps. Males should not be kept with gravid female, these lizards stress out easily, they need calm safe retreats, my nesting cages have small doors and opaque walls reducing the stress of them seeing me.

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