Breeding Bosc's monitors (hold thumbs)

[Buck Rogers]

Jeff and myself decided to try breed our bosc's and see if we could be (as far as we know) the first in South Africa to actually breed them in captivity - and if anyone has done this I want proof of it with pics.

So on Saturday I took my what we believe to be a female bosc's to Jeff's house. Jeff has a really amazing set-up which we "borrowing" for the breeding project. I got there and Jeff's male was already in the cage and we introduced my female, straight away she tried to escape but then went and did some exploring. She rested near the spot lights and the male suddenly took interest and went over to check her out, straight away she hissed at him and then walked away and then he started perusing her with mad tongue flicking. He followed her around for a while and was smelling the scent organs around the legs and base of the tail and then he started mounting her. This is where I was blown away because he started courting her and scratching the back of her neck and did some head bobbing (in the beginning she also head bobbed), I never knew this species courted but it was right there in front of us happening. He would gently rub his head against the back of the neck (which is also submission of the female) and stroking her sides and base of neck. This carried on for a while and then after a bit he started mounting her properly and with the back legs he started scratching at the base of the tail and encouraging her to lift her tail which did not happen. This carried on for most of the time I was there and every time he tried to lift her tail she would wriggle away (like most woman ). She probably was still uncomfortable with the new surroundings or she is not ovulating but we will keep them together for a while and see if we have any success.

But this is what intrigued me (and Jeff can confirm the details) she dug herself a burrow to escape his advancements and then he joined her in the burrow for the night. That fascinates me because they are know to be solitary animals and are not too keen to have other monitors share their space, nor has their been records of adult pairs found together been recorded (that I know of) could this be some sort of monogamy that happens during the courting period like the shingle backs. Could the male court the female for days even weeks until she is fertile or is it a chance encounter in the wild

We'll keep every one posted on our progress and keep your fingers and toes crossed for us.

Jeff please add to this your observations as well as those pics you told me about with the head shape, I also have some video footage of the courting which I'll figure out how to post and add those up.

[Wolf777]

Keeping my fingers crossed for you guys.

[fredsmith]

Awesome!
Keeping fingers crossed for you both. Good luck.

[top dog]

play some barry white and get candles
Good luck

[Cerberus]

Lol frisky little guy. He needs to work a little harder with the flirting, hope he charms her right. Fingers crossed for you guys.

[JeffG]

Hi Guys,

Sorry to keep you waiting, I've been sick and busy at the same time. As Buck said he came over and we put the Bosc's together and there was quite abit of interest, the behaviour mentioned above lasted from 15 mins after we put them together, roughly 10:30 until about 2:30 that afternoon. They then proceeded to share a burrow, odd for sloitery animals if you ask me but hey let them have it their way. I thought the enclosure was getting a bit bland so i added more soil and some straw over the soil, i also stuffed the back of the waterfall full of straw, and thats were they have made their burrow, i also dragged a log up from the bottom of our garden, not fun with just a skateboard underneath (wheel barrow kept tipping). It makes for a good basking spot though as you will see in the pictures.

Buck, you will read more about the breeding of wild Bosc monitors in the book i lent you, if the female isn't fertile its off to find another one.

Here is the enclosure with the new log,




Here is Bucks Bosc heading fo the Burrow,


Here is the comparison picture i did on photoshop (took me forever that application is impossible),


And here is one of the King of the World lol,


I'll keep you posted,
Jeff

[Wolf777]

Still keeping fingers crossed for you guys.

[Buck Rogers]

See the difference in the snout, Jeff's male has a bubble (don't know if the correct word for this is bolus?) shape above the nostril and is stouty and chunky in comparison to the sharp shape of my females snout. Also if you compare from the top you can see how broad the head of the male is in comparison to the female. Its such a rush to ACTUALLY know that she is a female for sure Jeff. When I was reading the book last night I read through the section about when the female is fertile and thinking back she was lethargic and "bloated" a few weeks back when I found those egg shells, but not knowing it at the time I wouldn't have even noticed it.

Jeff- is she eating comfortably with you, I never really thought about that when dropping her off? You spoiling her too much in that set-up when I take her home she's ganna be sulking for days to go back to her holiday resort but that is an awesome job you've done on the cage I really want to try figure out a way to do something similar at my place.

p.s. Her name is makoko

[top dog]

Man I am excited for you, good luck

[JeffG]

Hi Guys,

Buck she is eating like a demon. . .which is normal lol.

I still have some plans for the cage but i just have to find time before i can do anymore, they have earthworms living in the soil and all sorts. My goal is to make my setups as natural as possible, i mean after all they breed in nature so giving them nature should entice breeding. Oh and Buck i think the term you were looking for is a "bulbus'' snout.

Holding thumbs, hopefully in the next few weeks she will cycle and we will get to see them elusive Varanus Exanthematicus pearly whites. I havent had coffee in days, who needs caffiene when you have such an awesome project going on LOL.

Thanks,
Jeff