Our new Argus monitors.

[mbayless]

Hi Ryan,
I agree with JonK on his remarks about the females - he is right on the money on that...and as far as crosses go in nature, yes it is possible as their ranges do overlap, but not always their niche/ecology specifics....
good luck,
markb

[crocdoc]

Sorry, Mark, I think you may be mistaken on this, as the range of V panoptes horni doesn't overlap with other members of the group (V panoptes horni comes from PNG, the others in the group come from Oz).

By the way, that article on the osteoderms in Megalania was a great read! Thanks again for sending that.

[Scales Zoo]

Thanks for the info Jon and others.

As far as naturally occuring crosses - I've read everything I can find on the net - and I do remember reading about speculation that some of the complex other than V. p. horni may live in southern PNG. I have read so much I can't remember where or what it was exactly that I read that - but since then I have read that only V. p. horni live off of Oz, as crocdoc has said.

The gouldi and panoptes changes and holotype information did have me confused for a bit, as I was reading a mix of old and new information. I read so much so fast, I want to read everything over again.

I am ordering some more monitor books very soon - and that Megalania one, I see it is out now.

Ryan

[Gregg M]

Clean out your mail box guys..... Ryan I am trying to send you something.....LOL

[CDN COLDBLOOD]

Just about the trio situation.
The dominant female will not only control her own breeding cycle, but will control the breeding cycle of the other female cagemates. I always have one female that's really BIG, BOSSY and PRODUCTIVE, while the others tend to be more submissive and reproduce less.
Brandon

[CDN COLDBLOOD]

By the way. They look great! Very nice patterning and colour. Good luck!
Brandon

[Linds]

Very cool! That's looks like a great enclosure as well

[reptiguy123]

So cool man. Nice job Ryan. I'm sure hauling all that sand was well worth it. Am I right?

[Scales Zoo]

Thanks Brandon, Linds and Matt.

It was worth hauling all of the sand in. I might bring in some more, and make it deeper on one side. They are burrowing, but the burrows usually collapse in a day, and then they make new holes and burrows. I've been adding a lot of water to part of the sand - and it seems to be holding better, but I might try making it deeper as well.

I would take pictures of them again now that they are settled in to the new enclosure - but my digital camera was stolen a week ago.

Ryan