Started the Varanid Enclosure

[sirtalis]

Iv'e started building the cage for my new Monitor Lizard, the cage will be 4 ft long 2 ft tall and 18 in deep. I'm planing on putting tile on all the walls and floor so it can get wet without rotting. After its finished i'm going to cover the floor with a bio active substrate and fill it up with tons of live plants & i'm trying to figure out how to work in a pond atm. Here's my current progress. Tomorrow i'll finish all the woodwork and glass work and hopefully start with the tile.
Cheers,
Richard
34250

[chairman]

What kind of dwarf monitor are you going to put in there?

You might be better off sealing the portion that will contain substrate with FRP, sealing the edges with silicone. It'll hold up better than tile. The part you have to look at could still be tile.

I'd also forego the pond or make it easily removable. One way or another a monitor will find a way to make you change the water daily.

[sirtalis]

A peacock monitor, they're usually sold as blue spot timors though. Actually any monitor that repeatedly poops or soils his water is most likely dehydrated, I'd leave you the link that talks about it but varanustalk isnt active any more :( When I say pond I mean something like a 12 in x 12 in bowl/tub that ill put a few plastic plants in.

[sirtalis]

Double post

[chairman]

I'm familiar with the dehydration link that you are referencing. I was thinking more of a combination of factors... crickets that drown, loads of substrate from lizard activity, and of course urates/feces. Even an occasional mess would be difficult to clean if a pond were built in.

Looking forward to seeing the end result. It will also be interesting to see whether the plants can withstand the monitor.

[Bandit]

I don't have much experience with monitors, but when I was caring for a young black throat I took a large Tupperware container and put it in the substrate up to the outer edge. That way it hid the container but was very easy to take out and change when I needed to. I also put a thin layer of fine gravel at the bottom of it to absorb some of the dirt that would fall in and look better.

[reptiledude987]

When I built the enclosure for my nile monitor I had around 1/3 of the floor as a water section for him to swim in. I dont have pics now but will see if I can find some.

Ill try to explain how I did it best as I can without the pictures. Along the bottom I used a vertical piece of plywood cut to the height I wanted the water section which was 9" deep. I then used a piece of pond liner to line the entire bottom of the enclosure that came up approx 1-1.5" above the water line. To attach the liner I lined the floor with silicone to keep the liner in place. To secure the liner to the wall I used a staple gun and tacked it along the edges. Once stapeled I covered the staples and seam at the top of the liner with silicone as well to make it water tight. The silicone I used was the aquarium grade so that it was non toxic.

Hopefully this helps or gives some ideas. if you have any questions feel free to ask Ill do my best to answer. Also I will see if I can dig up some of those pictures.

[reptiledude987]

I found a couple. Not really the ones I was looking for but the waterfall was a fun addition that he liked and really added to the aesthetics of the terrarium.

[Akuma223]

As far as water dishes go you should absolutely build a drain in for easy water changes. What species are you getting? My Rudi soils his water extremely fast and finally having a drain built in is the best thing I've ever done. Believe me when I say having to pick up a large water dish and emptying it sometimes twice a day and then rinsing it out of mud and poo gets tiring really fast and getting complacent with it all too easy. I'll post a pic of Olivers sink and drain when I'm done re-doing my rock bass (shyguys) tank.

[Akuma223]

A peacock monitor, they're usually sold as blue spot timors though. Actually any monitor that repeatedly poops or soils his water is most likely dehydrated, I'd leave you the link that talks about it but varanustalk isnt active any more :( When I say pond I mean something like a 12 in x 12 in bowl/tub that ill put a few plastic plants in.

Can you link me this please? My monitor does this all the time and humidity has always been a huge issue for him in his old cage which he was in for three years, I've always been worried about dehydration though he shows no other signs physically or behaviorally from what I've noticed.

[reptiledude987]

In mine I put in a turtle filter and still did regular water changes as well.

[murrindindi]

A peacock monitor, they're usually sold as blue spot timors though. Actually any monitor that repeatedly poops or soils his water is most likely dehydrated, I'd leave you the link that talks about it but varanustalk isnt active any more :( When I say pond I mean something like a 12 in x 12 in bowl/tub that ill put a few plastic plants in.

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.

[reptiledude987]

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.

I would agree on the size issue. for my juvinile nile the enclosure I built was 6' wide 4' high and 30" deep. This still wouldnt have been big enough once he reached adult size

[Akuma223]

I would agree on the size issue. for my juvinile nile the enclosure I built was 6' wide 4' high and 30" deep. This still wouldnt have been big enough once he reached adult size

I think he's getting a dwarf species, still would have it bigger myself but that's just me.

[sirtalis]

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.


Hi, im actually getting an adult, its only about 18 inches at the moment and most sheets that I have read say that this cage will work fine, im cutting the bottom out and putting a sterlite beneath it, so he'll have 2 feet of cage space plus 12ish inches of substrate beneath the cage

[sirtalis]

I'm getting a peacock monitor and i've read they max at about 2 feet maybe a bit bigger

[sirtalis]

Can you link me this please? My monitor does this all the time and humidity has always been a huge issue for him in his old cage which he was in for three years, I've always been worried about dehydration though he shows no other signs physically or behaviorally from what I've noticed.


I read this on vatanustalk.com about a year ago but it seems that that site is no longer active. If im wrong please let me know, i only want the best for my pets. Iv'e handled that guy im buying and hes actually only 16 inches hes much smaller than a bearded dragon so I think this cage would be sufficient as far as size goes

[sirtalis]

In mine I put in a turtle filter and still did regular water changes as well.

I was planning on using some kind of filter but Iv'e been thinking and I'm probably going to get a sterlite or tupperware and just change the water daily or every other day

[murrindindi]

Hi, im actually getting an adult, its only about 18 inches at the moment and most sheets that I have read say that this cage will work fine, im cutting the bottom out and putting a sterlite beneath it, so he'll have 2 feet of cage space plus 12ish inches of substrate beneath the cage

Hi, o.k with a substrate tub underneath it offers a little more space, but these animals grow quite quickly when properly supported, which means you would need to rehouse in a short space of time, that can cause much stress (not to mention more expense and work building again), far better to start with the "adult sized" enclosure from the beginning.
If the monitor is already 18 inches in size its quite likely to be a sexually mature young adult.
Anyone can write a "caresheet", many of them are complete nonsense it some respects...

[sirtalis]

Hi, o.k with a substrate tub underneath it offers a little more space, but these animals grow quite quickly when properly supported, which means you would need to rehouse in a short space of time, that can cause much stress (not to mention more expense and work building again), far better to start with the "adult sized" enclosure from the beginning.
If the monitor is already 18 inches in size its quite likely to be a sexually mature young adult.
Anyone can write a "caresheet", many of them are complete nonsense it some respects...

cool, that makes sense, I can add about 12-18 inches in height, would this work, he/she would then have 36 inches of climbing space.

[Akuma223]

I've taken the pics of my rudis' water set up, now I just need to get them on my computer.

[murrindindi]

cool, that makes sense, I can add about 12-18 inches in height, would this work, he/she would then have 36 inches of climbing space.

Again, you`re talking of a TINY space, obviously none of us can give them the room they use in the wild, but consider they will be spending possibly 15 to 20 years in the "matchboxes" we provide, it`s best to go as big as possible. I would recommend a size for an adult of around 6H x 5L x 3W (feet), they will use all that and more.

[sirtalis]

Again, you`re talking of a TINY space, obviously none of us can give them the room they use in the wild, but consider they will be spending possibly 15 to 20 years in the "matchboxes" we provide, it`s best to go as big as possible. I would recommend a size for an adult of around 6H x 5L x 3W (feet), they will use all that and more.


Thank you, i'm pretty sure I could get that length and height, Ill have to move a shelf though, as far as width Ill have to max out at 2.5. During the summer I'm planning on an outdoor screened enclosure, something like 8Lx4Wx6H, the climate were I live could support most varanids march through october

[murrindindi]

Thank you, i'm pretty sure I could get that length and height, Ill have to move a shelf though, as far as width Ill have to max out at 2.5. During the summer I'm planning on an outdoor screened enclosure, something like 8Lx4Wx6H, the climate were I live could support most varanids march through october

That sounds good, and lucky you!

[sirtalis]

Awesome! I really appreciate the help, im certainly glad I started this thread before I bought the monitor :p