Why isn't he burrowing??

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

it be a little cooler than your cool side which should be around 82 my hot side stays at 95 usually so he can always go down to the cool borrow if he wishes... thats on my cool side by the way, soil temp on the warm side is mid 80's

Hi, the coolest parts need to be around 24c (75f), the warm side ambient isn`t important as such, it`s the suface temp at the basking site that`s critical (unless the whole of the "warm side" gets too warm). The idea is to create conditions similar to the somewhat cooler rainy season when they are most active (in the wild).

[Donnie]

Originally Posted by nepoez

Unless you all start to be more like me, a person who has outstanding communications skills, this sort of stuff will keep happening! Come to Canada to learn some real English!

Have a look at the flag on toothless's profile

Originally Posted by murrindindi

If you want to learn real English you need to come to Oz sport, no flies on us, cobber ......

You all use a bastardised version of our language, just remember that

[DeadlyDesires]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi, the coolest parts need to be around 24c (75f), the warm side ambient isn`t important as such, it`s the suface temp at the basking site that`s critical (unless the whole of the "warm side" gets too warm). The idea is to create conditions similar to the somewhat cooler rainy season when they are most active (in the wild).

im talking about the soil temp.

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by RyanReptile

This is just a thought but Perhaps he does not like the sand and soil ratios assuming that is what you use. Maybe try adding more soil or vice virsa.

Its the same ratio that was in his last enclosure, and he didn't mind burrowing there, so I'm doubtful that is the problem- most of the soil is the same stuff as in the old enclosure, I just added a bit more with the same ratio as last time (same products too). It holds a burrow quite nicely as well as I've already dug him one, but he ignores it.

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

If you have a female monitor the substrate needs to be heated to the very high 70`s to mid eighties F, with a male it`s not so critical, obviously down in the 60`s is not warm enough, mid 70`s is o.k.

Try Ebay for the ceramic fixture, I`ve seen them on the U.K site sold with the electric flex and plug already in place, maybe someone does that where you are, otherwise you could ask a friend/neighbour.

He's a male which I love because I don't have to worry about him becoming gravid. I can't reach the bottom of the soil to check the temps, but I'm assuming its in the low 70s, it wouldn't be lower though I would guess as the house temp is around 70.

[nepoez]

Originally Posted by Donnie

Have a look at the flag on toothless's profile



You all use a bastardised version of our language, just remember that

hahaha that's funny.

[jarich]

Originally Posted by Toothless

Its the same ratio that was in his last enclosure, and he didn't mind burrowing there, so I'm doubtful that is the problem- most of the soil is the same stuff as in the old enclosure, I just added a bit more with the same ratio as last time (same products too). It holds a burrow quite nicely as well as I've already dug him one, but he ignores it.

I think it maybe that the soil has to settle a bit. Ive noticed the same with many other keepers, as well as my own, especially if it isnt packed down hard.

[Toothless]

Originally Posted by jarich

I think it maybe that the soil has to settle a bit. Ive noticed the same with many other keepers, as well as my own, especially if it isnt packed down hard.

Could be, but its packed down pretty hard. I actually got into the enclosure and walked on it multiple times while I was adding the dirt since I made the mistake of not packing it down in the old enclosure and had to spend hours re-wetting and packing down the dirt- NOT fun.

[Toothless]

I just added another 45 watts to the enclosure- so will have to see if that helps a bit. The ambient temps have been dropping too low this past week so I plan to add another few light fixtures to the enclosure which will enable me to turn off and on lights depending on what the ambient temp in the room is. Since the enclosure isn't insulated, I figure this will be an easy way to adjust the temps at any given time if need be. Then I can just play with turning the lights off/ on, or rotating between different wattages to achieve the proper temps. The cage is extremely well sealed, so the extra wattage if need be shouldn't affect the humidity too much. He has a gradient right now of 60-95% and it maintains itself very well with little maintenance.
On a funny note, I realized my guy is an acrobat! This morning he did a front flip off his shelf like it was no big deal to get a roach that was on the bottom level. It terrified me for a minute until I realized that he new exactly what he was doing and was fine. It was almost like watching a cat fall. Pretty amazing how flexible this dude is.
I'm seriously debating putting a camera in the enclosure to catch all this on video as of course I'm never filming him when he does anything interesting. Is there some cheap way to set up a video-recorder in the enclosure? I'm not very techo savy so have no idea how people do it or what they use.