Pics and Updates

[Akuma223]

Some pics and updates. The cage is finished and he's very happy with it. He has three water bowls one in the middle and one on each side. His basking spot is at 104 average and the rest of his enclosure is at 80. Its nice and humid in there too. He is very happy with how many hiding spots he has and loves to dig.
He is still as active and friendly as ever and is even more rambunctious (sp?) come feeding time. I took him outside today because its nice and warm and my migrane is gone, he enjoyed climbing his tree and I got some awesome pictures. I honestly don't think I have ever had an animal I love as much as this one. He is completely amazing and surprises me constantly with how surprisingly tame he is.

[infernalis]

wow, those pictures are stunning!!

[BarelyBreathing]

Are you sure that's a black rough neck and not a dumeril? He's gorgeous. I think I love him!!!

You're basking spot is about 30F too low, though. They need a surface temperature of about 130F.

[exwizard]

Very nice. :)

[Akuma223]

Yeah based on some other pics I found online he looks more like a roughneck then a dumeril monitor. I'll try to get his basking spot up a bit more though it might take awhile, I really don't want to ask for anything else from my dad. He's done so much for me and I want to get a job and start paying for stuff myself.
infernalis- Thanks a lot for the complement, I took a ton of pictures so that I would at least get a few good ones. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to anything involving my animals. Heres some pics of his new enclosure. I know it looks rather dull, amateur, and crappy but its working for now. I will improve upon it whenever possible. Any tips are helpful as always. Feel free to point out any little thing that needs changing or improving. I soak up advice like oxygen. :nerd:

[infernalis]

Raising the temps is as easy as lowering that bulb a few inches. ;)

[alessia55]

Wow those are some beautiful photos!! Thanks for sharing those :D

[Akuma223]

infernalis- I don't want to lower the bulbs any more because I'm worried he'll get burned if he climbs his log. alessia55- Thanks, I work hard to do his beauty justice.

[BarelyBreathing]

That's a really great start. It needs a whole lot more clutter, though. You have all this verticle space that he can't use because it's empty. Also, if you remove the dome from your heat source, he can't grab it and cling to it.

[Akuma223]

I think I might try removing the dome. I'm going to be putting more things in there like plants and maybe build him some ledges to sit on high up. I want it to look a bit better then it does so I will try to get some fake plants soon.

[GarterPython]

I don't know much about these type of lizards but I am pretty sure that most bigger monitors and bigger lizards will totally destroy live plants. BTW That is some amazing pictures for an amazing animal.

[Akuma223]

:D Thanks very much I love how the pics turned out, and Amusei is very amazing. I know he will probably dig the plants up but I'm not worried, my mom is just cutting pieces off of her plants.

[mo9e64]

That is definitely a Blackroughnecked Monitor.If you use lower wattage floodlight bulbs without the dome,50w or lower you won't have problems with burning.And loving your monitor is no substitute for propercare-there is an awesome post on Varanus by Krusty called 'read this folks' that addresses the path Akuma223 and others have taken.

[millertime89]

My 2 cents, ditch the hood, get a higher wattage spot lightbulb that directs the light onto the hot spot without the hood.

[infernalis]

My 2 cents, ditch the hood, get a higher wattage spot lightbulb that directs the light onto the hot spot without the hood.

Here is you penny refund;)

Yes ditch the hood.

NO - do not exceed a 50 watt flood light bulb.

1. Risk of skin burns.
2. higher wattage bulbs dry the air quickly, robbing precious humidity.

[mo9e64]

The system developed for monitors, one contributor actually started this method on snakes.The only difference being snakes have a different range of operating temps.But the same method using as low a wattage bulb as close to the substrate as possible.Wayne is right about why,lower wattage bulbs heat less air,less dehydrating effects.When you combine it with limited ventilation,you don't get as much airflow that causes dehydration.I still get confused with this,but the way i was explained to it's not so much about humidity but the animal being able to conserve moisture-this is where deep appropriate substrate comes in as well.

[millertime89]

Here is you penny refund;)

Yes ditch the hood.

NO - do not exceed a 50 watt flood light bulb.

1. Risk of skin burns.
2. higher wattage bulbs dry the air quickly, robbing precious humidity.

I think I missed where he said what wattage the bulb was.
Yay, I'm not centless now.

[Akuma223]

I'm currently feeding Amusei 3 pinkies every other day. Does anyone have any suggestions as to if I should include other things or increase the amount of mice he gets? I'm starting to think three isn't enough. He isn't really big enough for chicks yet I think, and I don't know where to get eggs small enough for him. If anyone could point me to a website where I could get more food options for him at a good price let me know. I'm ready to ask dad to get more stuff for him if its a good price.

[infernalis]

Roaches, grasshoppers, Jumbo night crawlers (worms) slugs, snails, locusts, crickets, beetles, organic shrimp (be very careful, supermarket shrimp have phosphates in them)

[Gregg M]

Are you sure that's a black rough neck and not a dumeril?

That is 100% a black roughneck. Cant mistake one for the other.

[mo9e64]

If you have him at the right temps just let the monitor eat what he needs-hoppers are bigger mice,roaches,smaller items but more.Remember they are reptiles,their biology is more dictated by external conditions-yours is a young monitor in the proper environment needs lots of food.If feeding him eight different things is important to you that fine they'll eat till they're not hungry.

[jarich]

Roaches, grasshoppers, Jumbo night crawlers (worms) slugs, snails, locusts, crickets, beetles, organic shrimp (be very careful, supermarket shrimp have phosphates in them)

And live crayfish! The more I study them, the more I think they may be almost a perfect food. Plus they are cheap and easy to breed. Here in the States you can find them at almost any pet/fish store for a dollar or two each, full grown. They get quite big, around 4 inches long.

[infernalis]

And live crayfish! The more I study them, the more I think they may be almost a perfect food. Plus they are cheap and easy to breed. Here in the States you can find them at almost any pet/fish store for a dollar or two each, full grown. They get quite big, around 4 inches long.

Not sure how I forgot those, Chomper used to flip rocks in the creek to hunt for them.

He ate them claws and all. (crunchy)

[jarich]

That would be awesome to watch. Really jealous of your 'backyard'