Monitor enclosure discussion thread - Page 19

EmbraceCalamity · 10-12-12, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

I guess you could say that..

Welcome.

THAT'S AWESOME. I'm not sure why I'm so excited by that, but it still is.

~Maggot

Danimal · 10-11-12, 07:22 AM

Thank you Wayne

fldaddy2 · 02-19-13, 11:19 AM

No doubt I'll catch hell for this but......
When we got our baby Sav, Zilla we had done a lot of research online and in books and 1 popular theme was not giving them any sand, soil or wood substrate as they can injest (even the reptisand) the sand or soil and get compaction and the wood substrates could prodce splinters and chips that could get in their eyes and nose. We decided to go with newspaper for the flooring (which we understood is quite common) in his cage as it posed no dangers. Being a pet who is handled, played with and cuddled EVERY day, we found he enjoyed laying on and wrapped in a wash cloth when he was out. That was when he was 4" long, about 8 months ago. He has taken to not using his enclosure as a toilet and is puppy pad trained, so I put some loopless outdoor carpet in and did away with the newspaper. At 28" he has outgrown every kind of hide we put in his enclosure. We tried to go ahead with some substrate but he seemed to get very agitated and pretty much NEVER dug into it. We decided we didn't like the mess, as he is taken out every day and it was becoming a mess. We removed the substrate and proceded to experiment with different things for a hide. A box....he flipped it over and beat it up, a wooden box, he hissed at it, slapped it with his tail then spent 2 days laying outside of it pouting. I built a nice stone hide which he promptly snubbed then pouted for 2 more days. In frustration I threw a semi-wadded up towel in there and told him he could have that until I figured something else out. Immediately he slipped under the towel, turned around so his head was sticking out, laid down, I swear if he could smile, smiled at me. He has been a happy little cookie since. Unless his towel is removed to be washed then it's mister pissy until it comes back. Just my experience with our little monster. Zilla is not the norm, he craves attention and loves to cuddle in our laps and gives "kisses". That's where he will flick our mouth with his tongue then rest his chin on our lips and totally relax.

murrindindi · 02-19-13, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fldaddy2

No doubt I'll catch hell for this but......
When we got our baby Sav, Zilla we had done a lot of research online and in books and 1 popular theme was not giving them any sand, soil or wood substrate as they can injest (even the reptisand) the sand or soil and get compaction and the wood substrates could prodce splinters and chips that could get in their eyes and nose. We decided to go with newspaper for the flooring (which we understood is quite common) in his cage as it posed no dangers. Being a pet who is handled, played with and cuddled EVERY day, we found he enjoyed laying on and wrapped in a wash cloth when he was out. That was when he was 4" long, about 8 months ago. He has taken to not using his enclosure as a toilet and is puppy pad trained, so I put some loopless outdoor carpet in and did away with the newspaper. At 28" he has outgrown every kind of hide we put in his enclosure. We tried to go ahead with some substrate but he seemed to get very agitated and pretty much NEVER dug into it. We decided we didn't like the mess, as he is taken out every day and it was becoming a mess. We removed the substrate and proceded to experiment with different things for a hide. A box....he flipped it over and beat it up, a wooden box, he hissed at it, slapped it with his tail then spent 2 days laying outside of it pouting. I built a nice stone hide which he promptly snubbed then pouted for 2 more days. In frustration I threw a semi-wadded up towel in there and told him he could have that until I figured something else out. Immediately he slipped under the towel, turned around so his head was sticking out, laid down, I swear if he could smile, smiled at me. He has been a happy little cookie since. Unless his towel is removed to be washed then it's mister pissy until it comes back. Just my experience with our little monster. Zilla is not the norm, he craves attention and loves to cuddle in our laps and gives "kisses". That's where he will flick our mouth with his tongue then rest his chin on our lips and totally relax.

Hi, can you put a few photos up of the monitor and the enclosure? Thanks!

**Aaron_S** · 02-19-13, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fldaddy2

No doubt I'll catch hell for this but......
When we got our baby Sav, Zilla we had done a lot of research online and in books and 1 popular theme was not giving them any sand, soil or wood substrate as they can injest (even the reptisand) the sand or soil and get compaction and the wood substrates could prodce splinters and chips that could get in their eyes and nose. We decided to go with newspaper for the flooring (which we understood is quite common) in his cage as it posed no dangers. Being a pet who is handled, played with and cuddled EVERY day, we found he enjoyed laying on and wrapped in a wash cloth when he was out. That was when he was 4" long, about 8 months ago. He has taken to not using his enclosure as a toilet and is puppy pad trained, so I put some loopless outdoor carpet in and did away with the newspaper. At 28" he has outgrown every kind of hide we put in his enclosure. We tried to go ahead with some substrate but he seemed to get very agitated and pretty much NEVER dug into it. We decided we didn't like the mess, as he is taken out every day and it was becoming a mess. We removed the substrate and proceded to experiment with different things for a hide. A box....he flipped it over and beat it up, a wooden box, he hissed at it, slapped it with his tail then spent 2 days laying outside of it pouting. I built a nice stone hide which he promptly snubbed then pouted for 2 more days. In frustration I threw a semi-wadded up towel in there and told him he could have that until I figured something else out. Immediately he slipped under the towel, turned around so his head was sticking out, laid down, I swear if he could smile, smiled at me. He has been a happy little cookie since. Unless his towel is removed to be washed then it's mister pissy until it comes back. Just my experience with our little monster. Zilla is not the norm, he craves attention and loves to cuddle in our laps and gives "kisses". That's where he will flick our mouth with his tongue then rest his chin on our lips and totally relax.

I'm going to attempt at being nice.

I hate to say, I doubt you're the person who has the magically completely "not the norm" monitor as a pet. Who pouts and shows affection like no other reptile ever has. You'd win a nobel prize if you could prove it beyond any doubt.

Lankyrob · 02-19-13, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fldaddy2

No doubt I'll catch hell for this but......
When we got our baby Sav, Zilla we had done a lot of research online and in books and 1 popular theme was not giving them any sand, soil or wood substrate as they can injest (even the reptisand) the sand or soil and get compaction and the wood substrates could prodce splinters and chips that could get in their eyes and nose. We decided to go with newspaper for the flooring (which we understood is quite common) in his cage as it posed no dangers. Being a pet who is handled, played with and cuddled EVERY day, we found he enjoyed laying on and wrapped in a wash cloth when he was out. That was when he was 4" long, about 8 months ago. He has taken to not using his enclosure as a toilet and is puppy pad trained, so I put some loopless outdoor carpet in and did away with the newspaper. At 28" he has outgrown every kind of hide we put in his enclosure. We tried to go ahead with some substrate but he seemed to get very agitated and pretty much NEVER dug into it. We decided we didn't like the mess, as he is taken out every day and it was becoming a mess. We removed the substrate and proceded to experiment with different things for a hide. A box....he flipped it over and beat it up, a wooden box, he hissed at it, slapped it with his tail then spent 2 days laying outside of it pouting. I built a nice stone hide which he promptly snubbed then pouted for 2 more days. In frustration I threw a semi-wadded up towel in there and told him he could have that until I figured something else out. Immediately he slipped under the towel, turned around so his head was sticking out, laid down, I swear if he could smile, smiled at me. He has been a happy little cookie since. Unless his towel is removed to be washed then it's mister pissy until it comes back. Just my experience with our little monster. Zilla is not the norm, he craves attention and loves to cuddle in our laps and gives "kisses". That's where he will flick our mouth with his tongue then rest his chin on our lips and totally relax.

crocdoc · 02-19-13, 09:01 PM

fldaddy, I've been keeping monitors and hanging around monitor forums for around 12 years. In that time I've seen many, many people come and go that think that their monitor is the exception to the norm. Doesn't need substrate, doesn't need assorted other husbandry 'requirements' as instructed by other monitor keepers. Is affectionate etc.

In all cases, without exception, the monitor has died after a few short years. Nowhere near the life expectancy in captivity of the species in question. Invariably, the vet's analysis (given that vets usually know little about monitor husbandry and would be disinclined to scare off customers by saying 'your husbandry sucks', anyway) is 'must have been something congenital'. It's a strange coincidence that these congenital abnormalities only occur in monitors kept a certain way but, hey, who am I to argue. Perhaps the savannahs of Africa are littered with the carcasses of congenitally abnormal monitors. I've never been there.

No, I'm not giving you the flak you expected and am not going to tell you how to look after your monitor, for it's your monitor and they are your choices. I just think it's important that you know the stats going in and that you keep in mind that there's a reason certain types of husbandry are recommended.

infernalis · 02-19-13, 11:23 AM

I felt exactly that way about Chomper once.... He expired at age five.

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 12:19 PM

can someone link me to an Enclosure section? im not sure if im over looking it or what?!? lol.. i wanted to post pix of my sav enclosure as i built it but can't find the thread :-/ must be blind or something.

infernalis · 02-23-13, 12:40 PM

post it here, this is a popular thread.

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 01:08 PM

ok, thanks.

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 01:47 PM

Ok, so i was told to post my monitor enclosure here.. to show everyone what kind of tank Demon is in

The monitor you see in the first picture was the one i was making this tank for but, sadly, she died before i could finish the tank, im not certain on how she died if anyone is curious could have been a number of things. But here is how i built my enclosure.. If anyone has any questions feel free to ask

..
Also, its already finished so if you have suggestions on how to tweak things please make them easily done suggestions lol tearing down and rebuilding is not an option..

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 01:48 PM

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 01:49 PM

Now the top of the enclosure is being built..

This is the window..

DeadlyDesires · 02-23-13, 01:50 PM