Django the Nile Monitor - Page 2

**Aaron_S** · 01-30-13, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Even if it`s only a temporary enclosure the conditions must fully support the monitor, their health suffers from day one if those aren`t all in place. The surface temp is too low, you need between approx 50 to 60c (120 to 140f), glass is actually a very bad insulator (I mention that not just for your info but for others who may think it`s a good option),
How long before he/she goes in the bigger tank?
I think it`s great that you`re trying to do your best even though you say you`re not keeping it, well done!

Actually, someone posted the insulation value of materials and glass was proven to one of the best, if not THE best insulator. Food for thought.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Actually, someone posted the insulation value of materials and glass was proven to one of the best, if not THE best insulator. Food for thought.

I've seen this in practice, to be honest. This aquarium is something like 240 gallons, each gallon weighing about 10 lbs... yeah, that glass is THICK. And air tight because of the sealant. It's working great as far as insulation goes.

I know that 99% of keepers will never have access to a custom tank like this, so I would also still say 'glass is not best for a monitor lizard'. Don't need people going out and buying 40 gallon tanks thinking that it will be fine!

I think that in my case he's good in here for now, and I know that an enclosure made of plywood, even insulated, would not insulate as well. I work with glass a lot and even his larger (not adult, just larger) build will have plenty of glass along with insulated plywood. Too expensive to do the whole thing glass, but I'm really thinking of a way to do a wood base to hold the substrate and making the 'living' area above it glass on the front and sides. Of course, I don't want to go busting through my floors, so I'm going to have to do a lot of math before I make that decision.

infernalis · 01-30-13, 07:08 PM

I never brought this up with you before Sarah.

I worried the same, so as a precautionary measure, I installed additional support columns in my basement.

I oriented the cage so that one end is very close to my foundation, and the other end to the house center, and along a load bearing wall.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 07:12 PM

I don't have a basement, so I am thinking that it will be okay? I have cement floors and I installed my own laminate 'wood' flooring so I'm not too worried about that. I don't know much about the foundation of the house, but I think it's just right on the ground? We have weird soil here that's like clay so it's not like we have a gap under the house or anything like that. And I don't really know how to find out how much the floor can take... Don't really know who to ask to be honest lol

infernalis · 01-30-13, 07:28 PM

Sounds like you have poured slab floors.

That's awesome, it can probably take more than you can imagine.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 07:49 PM

Sweet! I was thinking the same thing, I couldn't really see how it would be able to smoosh concrete lol.

I'm just still really not sure what dimensions I'm going to make this thing. This may sound odd, but I was going to build this enclosure to where I could separate it into separate enclosures later on after Django moves out. Like I was thinking if I made the bottom half plywood to hold the substrate, the top half three sided glass, then I could empty out the substrate, cut holes in the front to install sliding glass doors, then put a new floor between the two levels. And probably divide it down the middle one more time to make 4 bluey cages.

Orrrr I could just keep it as is and wait for a smaller monitor like a red tegu for after I graduate college hahaha. Oh man, my fiancé would kill me! >.<

infernalis · 01-30-13, 07:52 PM

Just a note, Tegus are not monitors.

There are very distinct differences.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Even if it`s only a temporary enclosure the conditions must fully support the monitor, their health suffers from day one if those aren`t all in place. The surface temp is too low, you need between approx 50 to 60c (120 to 140f), glass is actually a very bad insulator (I mention that not just for your info but for others who may think it`s a good option),
How long before he/she goes in the bigger tank?
I think it`s great that you`re trying to do your best even though you say you`re not keeping it, well done!

I agree with the temp being a bit too low, I was going to remedy this by building a brick basking platform that would bring the basking point closer to the light and therefore get it at the right temp. That bulb, when places 8-10 inches away from the basking spot, will produce no less than a 122 F spot. Plus I think Django would like to have something to climb around on. He has two available hides, the green one he has never used, so I think I'll take that out and build a little brick tower/ stairs thing instead. He seems to much prefer his burrows and sometimes his tube hide.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Just a note, Tegus are not monitors.

There are very distinct differences.

Oh, well, I meant something that would be better suited to the enclosure I'm building. Something big that would use the space and burrow in the substrate, that kind of thing.

infernalis · 01-30-13, 08:01 PM

Be very careful with bricks / stone.

Monitors in general love to burrow under things.

a safety rule of thumb is to only put in what you can bolt down or secure in place.

Otherwise you stand the risk of things getting knocked over or dug under and falling.

infernalis · 01-30-13, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

Oh, well, I meant something that would be better suited to the enclosure I'm building. Something big that would use the space and burrow in the substrate, that kind of thing.

Rescue a Savannah Monitor. They need someone like you.

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Be very careful with bricks / stone.

Monitors in general love to burrow under things.

a safety rule of thumb is to only put in what you can bolt down or secure in place.

Otherwise you stand the risk of things getting knocked over or dug under and falling.

I was thinking of starting the base of this thing at the ground, no substrate under it, and then building a staggered tower. I could put some grout between the bricks, there would be no way he could knock it over then.

I'm betting he's going to be too destructive for polystyrene fake rocks covered in grout, yeah? That's what I do in my other enclosures. I'm a sucker for aesthetics, I like everything to look awesome

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Rescue a Savannah Monitor. They need someone like you.

A Sav in a 6.5 long, 4 wide, 4.5 tall? I would feel like that wouldn't be big enough. And the wall I'm building it against is only 7 feet long, I can't go any longer than that :/

**Aaron_S** · 01-30-13, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasarah

A Sav in a 6.5 long, 4 wide, 4.5 tall? I would feel like that wouldn't be big enough. And the wall I'm building it against is only 7 feet long, I can't go any longer than that :/

Get cool awesome dwarf species like ackies or storrs!

Vegasarah · 01-30-13, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Get cool awesome dwarf species like ackies or storrs!

Ackies are so cool, when I lived in AUS my friend's brother had one as a pet. Such a neat little guy, so active and crazy. But their price tag here in the states makes me want to die. I couldn't justify spending that much, no matter how awesome they might be!