Quote:
Originally Posted by murrindindi
Hi, you asked for opinions so here`s mine; I think the tub is an awful way to keep the monitor in at an age (basically it`s a closed coffin). You mention the animal is now close to 2 feet long and there`s 12 inches of substrate in there, so in effect the monitor`s head would almost be touching the top (there`s only 10 inches "air space" and it looks like nothing much else in there), how is that remotely adequate in size or structure?
What type of heating/lighting are you using?
As far as which sex it is, can you crop the tail base pic and zoom in, also a few more in profile (as in the tail from the side but not resting on anything), and also the head from above?
I truly hope this is not female because at this size more than likely sexually mature with absolutely nowhere to deposit eggs (is the substrate heated to the high 70`s to mid 80`sF and tamped down as firmly as if you`d walked on it)?
No offense, I`m seriously trying to help, you need a proper enclosure as of right now....
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I'm working on his final enclosure as we speak, but I must say, your guesstimations are a little off. The Sav has plenty of air space (more than 10 inches because the top curves, and the mesh/holes drilled into the tub allows proper airflow anyways)
The highest point in the enclosure is the hot spot, and that is still 7-8 inches below the mesh, and when the Sav is on it, he does not touch the top at all, not even close. Again, I should get a birds eye view of him now (the pic where his tail is sticking out is when he was first put in the tub at 5-6 inches)
I use three lamps, with 65 watt flood lights in each one. The tub works better than tanks in terms of a grow out enclosure because it conforms to the soil, whereas in a tank it's completely rectangular and harder to hold/make a burrow. The tub is almost perfectly round, which eliminates that issue. Also, the tub holds heat/moisture better, while allowing you to customize it by drilling air holes to let out more heat/humidity, eventually, hitting a balance where it's not an oven in there, yet you have a hotspot of 130-140f and a cool side of 80, and every temp in between.
I don't see the problem here, I know so many knowledgeable/respectful herpers that grow their Savs out this way, or, more often in tanks/4x2x2 wooden enclosures. Once their Sav hits the 20-25 inch mark, it's time for an 8x4x4.
I'm doing nothing different, and all those people have healthy happy Savs.
I have to go to work for a few hours, but I'll be back to address everyone as I hoped to.
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