Not burrowing

[nepoez]

My sav used to burrow when it was at the old cage with 70% soil and 30% sand.. but the new cage with 2 feet of the same stuff he has never burrowed. I tried starting holes for him several times but never will he even attempt to burrow. If I give him a hide he will just hide under it and not burrow.

What's the deal here?

Oh my cage is pretty humid and sealed tight like at least 70+% humidity in the middle of the cage and the glass foggy and dripping wet as when the cage is close for an hour or 2, so humidity is there. The heat is great I got 2 90 watt halo mounted up that produces a large basking spot of 160+ F and he uses it to bask, then roam and bask. So he likes it, and it's not so weak that he need to stay under for very long time except when he first wakes up.

So I can't figure out what is wrong.... I tried adding some clay to the top part of the soil so it's more clayish but that didn't encourage any burrowing still

[infernalis]

have a photo of the dirt? usually if their is no digging, it winds up being unsuitable dirt.

[nepoez]

Here is a video, it's not new but my dirt hasn't changed:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/search/%23AutoBackup?pid=5966531272218762930&oid=103641022791999749733

Please help me with this because I think it is a big issue, without digging he's just not going to have enough exercising. I see you feed mice, chicks, etc(plural) to your savs daily and your guys are fit. For my guy to stay in shape I have to feed him every few days, 1 mouse only, or just some insects. It shows he's not using enough calories.

Thank you in advanced!

[mdfmonitor]

Could also be a cold floor causing the dirt lower down to be cold, they won't dig into cold dirt unless it's really hot on top & even then they dig into the top layer only.

[nepoez]

Hm.. but he hasn't even tried to dig so how would he know how cold it is down there?

[jarich]

What sort of stuff do you have on top of the substrate? Are there things like rocks, logs, etc?

[nepoez]

It's all in the video.

[murrindindi]

It's all in the video.

Hi, which video?
If there are logs, rocks, etc in the enclosure the monitor may well use those as hides, it doesn`t necessarily mean the soil isn`t suitable. What are the substrate temps throughout the enclosure, both deeper and nearer the surface? When you say the animal isn`t using enough calories, enough calories for what?
You also mention that when the enclosure is closed for an hour or two the humidity range is o.k, are you saying you often leave the door/window open for periods of time?

[murrindindi]

Hm.. but he hasn't even tried to dig so how would he know how cold it is down there?



I believe they may well be able to check substrate temps with their snout, if that is the case they would know whether the temps were suitable.

[nepoez]

Hi I'll answer in more detail later.

I don't leave the door open, but when I interact with him the door is open and the water on the door evaporates. Once I close the door within an hour or so the door becomes foggy, then dripping, and wet due to humidity. I stated that so that humidity doesn't need to be asked again.

The video link I posted in this thread above ^

Yes there are small logs and rocks but not big enough for him to burrow.

How do you measure the substrate temp? So dar I have only measures air temp in the above ground, and basking spot.

Not burning enough calories as in, infernelis's savs can eat a few mice a day and look skinny, while mine has to eat a lot less food to stay skinny(or at least not fat). Which means his savs are burning more calories, and I 'm guessing via digging, because my guys is although active now, walking around all day, but that doesn't seem to burn much calories.

[nepoez]

interesting... I just noticed a hole in substrate, I didn't dig that so he must have, but it doesn't look like he would fit in it.. maybe the soil is not holding shape good enough so he gave up... let me take a photo and post it.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_C30LujAqhE/UxTjzahJa_I/AAAAAAAAXLs/50YsWBqi700/w720-h540/IMG_20140303_130755%257E2.jpg

[murrindindi]

Hi I'll answer in more detail later.

I don't leave the door open, but when I interact with him the door is open and the water on the door evaporates. Once I close the door within an hour or so the door becomes foggy, then dripping, and wet due to humidity. I stated that so that humidity doesn't need to be asked again.

The video link I posted in this thread above ^

Yes there are small logs and rocks but not big enough for him to burrow.

How do you measure the substrate temp? So dar I have only measures air temp in the above ground, and basking spot.

Not burning enough calories as in, infernelis's savs can eat a few mice a day and look skinny, while mine has to eat a lot less food to stay skinny(or at least not fat). Which means his savs are burning more calories, and I 'm guessing via digging, because my guys is although active now, walking around all day, but that doesn't seem to burn much calories.

The video link isn`t working, at least not for me?
You cannot judge your monitor by looking at Wayne`s, he has never fed his two to satiation from what I`ve seen, in fact for a time they were positively underfed in my opinion. However, over the last few months he seems to have increased their food input and they now look like relatively healthy captives (at least on the outside), but after only 23 months it`s a little early to claim success!
If your animal is eating, active, and properly supported as far as all the necessary parameters are being met you`re doing o.k.
Take a few photos or make a new video and we can make a judgement on the monitor`s body condition on the outside.

[jarich]

Sorry, it looks like you linked to a google plus account for the video, so the link would likely only work for someone signed in. Can you post one on a more accessible site?

It's hard to tell from just the picture, but if I had to guess, I'd say your soil may not be packed enough. I asked about furniture because it seems like often they will start digging at the base of a large object. Whether this is due to that object packing the dirt a bit more or it just making them feel safer from predators, I couldn't say. Could be some other completely different reason. Just seems like they often prefer it.

[nepoez]

Hi I'll have to try to move my video to a different place then.
Yes he would sleep under large objects, but he would never burrow, he'd make the soil where he sleeps a little dip, but not a burrow. Perhaps my soil is just not holding shape so he can't do much with it...

[jarich]

Possible, yes. It looks a little 'fluffy' from that one picture. Can you make a ball with it and it stays? As in, grab a handful and squeeze it into a ball like you would a snowball. If it falls apart right away then the mix needs to be adjusted.

[nepoez]

I need to test it.. I think I remember that it doesn't fall apart, but how tight it forms or how stable I don't know.

If it falls apart what is the way to make it correct?

[Pirarucu]

Unless it's too dry, usually that would mean it needs more sand.

[mdfmonitor]

i think some more sand in there!

[nepoez]

Going to home depot to get some today.
Do I mix it all the way to bottom of tank? That would be pretty tough to dig up 2 feet of soil to mix.. pls advice. thx

[jarich]

Unfortunately yes. If you dont then the burrows will collapse lower down, and you dont want that.

[infernalis]

a good example....

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/103202-dirt-freshening-tilling-soil.html

we just did this a few months ago..

[mdfmonitor]

a good example....

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varanid/103202-dirt-freshening-tilling-soil.html

we just did this a few months ago..

you can see the difference in dirt colour & texture! try more sand work in with your hands.

[nepoez]

ok I added 75kg of sand today and mixed it all up.. it's a lot more sandy now, then I packed it down but stepping all over the place.. let's see what happens.