Burrow but no entrance

[pheonix]

My sav has made two burrows this week that have either caved in or has covered up behind him. Do they sometime cover up their burrows or is it caving in behind him.

need to know asap don't want to bug him again if it's a normal thing.


thanks

[Ravi]

They do not cover their burrow entrance like some other monitor species do.

--Ravi--

[bear24]

What substrate is it on? I have tried many different types of soil combinations and what you use really makes a difference on the durability of a burrow.

[reptiguy123]

What is the best mixture for a sav?

[pheonix]

I have him on a mixture of 65% top soil, 10% vermiculate, 25% play sand. I know a few shovel fulls from the back yard works best. But wouldn't mind trying decompossed granite. Does anyone now where to get some in the london or kitchener area?

[bear24]

You can buy crusher dust at any landscape supply store. It is the waste product of rock cutting mostly granite. It also comes in three practical colours grey, tan, and red. It packs down nicely so the burrows don't cave in. I'am also going to be trying a new soil mixture 1p peat moss, 1p sand, 1p back yard dirt, and enough sphagnum moss and tree bark(non toxic) to give it that just decomposed feel. I might substitute the moss and bark for chemical free hay. All this is mixed 1-1 by weight and I will use it for my female Albig to dig a burrow and lay eggs.

[crocdoc]

Careful with that hay, if it gets damp it will start to heat up as it rots and can get dangerously hot. If used carefully, you may give your female a good temperature gradient from which to choose a nest site, but if you aren't constantly checking the temperature (I suggest you buy a non-contact temperature gun if you haven't already got one) it can get very hot very quickly.

How's that female doing? Looking very gravid?