I don't want to be the barer of bad tidings but why are you purchasing 4 of something that you seem to not know much about??
A 4ft x 2ft x 2ft (720 square mm floor space) enclosure 2 hatchies will out grow in 4-6 months depending on feeding regime so you can imagine how long it will last for 4.
Why not research first, maybe add a few books to your collection??
Every newbie that comes onto this site looking at buying a herp for the first time is told to research first, Ackies and Sandies are completely different reps and should be treated as such.
If Reptilian66 has managed to breed his wild permit caught adults maybe you should have untilised APS before purchasing...
Just My 2 cents worth
Katshirt, you are spot on about researching or seeking as much information on what ever species of Reptile you want before you rush out buying 1 or more of them.
l got my very 1st Sand Monitor in 1979 from a Pet Shop here in Melbourne, then l got my 2nd Sand Monitor from Bredl's Wonderworld of Wildlife in Renmark South Australia in 1992, then l got my 3rd Sand Monitor from a Pet Shop in Goodwood South Australia, then l got 2 on permit from the wild in 2002, and another 4 on permit from the wild in 2003.
Before l got into keeping Sand Monitor's, l would go and visit Zoo's that had them as part of their Reptile Exhibit, to see what size enclosure they kept them in, and l would take into account how many they had on display and where they came from natually in the wild.
l even built up a large collection of books to further my research in different sub-species, where they accured in the wild how big they grow to what they eat and what their temperament was like for when it comes to handling them
So has you all can see l know alot about Sand Monitor's, and l did my homework before l started to keep them, l did not rush out and buy 1 or a few without first doing my research first up, those who don't do any research on what they want to keep, have far more trouble in handling-keeping-husbandry-diets-sexing-health issues than those who do their research first,
Don;t bother with red sand, is discolours them terribly. Keep them on white sand and you will apreciate their colours and patterns all the more.
PhilK, l don't agree with what your saying here in regards to using only white sand to keep the Sand Monitor's clean, so you can see their colours and patterns, its not good for their eye sight to have the bright sun or heat lamps to reflect of the white sand into their eyes.
How would you like it if you were stuck in a room painted white, with the sun or bright likes reflecting of the white walls into your eyes.
You should only use sand that matches the color of their natuall surrounding in the wild, such as red dersert sand not white beach sand, thats is much harder to set ot go hard so they can dig burrows in it.
l have been to places since the mid 80's and seen how they live in the wild, such as Mildura-Broken Hill-Alice Springs-Renmark-Flinders Rangers-Murray Bridge-Swanhill.
if you take note of what color sand l use with my Desert Sand Monitor's and what color l have painted the walls of their enclosures, you will notice it matches their natual surroundings from the wild.
Please don't come on here giving advice on what color sand to use in enclosures, without first doing your research on what your keeping in that enclosure, and where they come from in the wild, and what their natual habitat looks like.
katsh,it,
just because i have asked a question, doesn't mean i haven't already asked some other experienced keeper the same question
, which i have done
or that i haven'tread through every monitor based thread in the history of this site.,
which i have aslo done
it's because i want to see what someone elses view is on the subject.
so i can makea more informed decision
keep your 2 cents thanks,
TWENTY B, l would do your research before you rush into getting more than one Sand Monitor, by first finding out where the Sand Monitor's your getting come from natually in the wild, and once you know that find out what the temperature is like 24hours a day all year around, so you know what heat to provide to them, and what the area looks like natually, so you can provide a artificail habitat as close as possible to their natual surroundings, if you don't do this research first up, they will only suffer and live a very short life in captivity and wont ever breed for you.
As you can see here in these photos my wild caught Desert Sand Monitor's, have all breed for me in captivity, because l provided them with a good outdoor enclosure with red and bricky sand mixed together, and l also took into account what the weather is like in Alice Springs NT and my local area Melbourne Victoria all year around, so l could make sure they are getting the same heat and dry conditions as they do back in Alice Springs NT.
l've notice you have not bother to ask me for any advice on keeping Sand Monitor's, as you said in a post on my thread about my Olive Python's you would do, l no there is not many others out there, that would no much about Sand Monitor's than myself Les, there is 2 other Reptile's keepers that l know can give good advice on keepin a variety of Monitor's including Sand Monitor's, if you want to know PM me and l will give you there names.
Good luck in rasing your 4 juvenile Sand Monitor's Varanus Gouldii Gouldii.
