Looking for some advice (Savannah Monitor)

ddhhdd · 04-09-13, 01:06 AM

Hi everyone! I'm posting this thread to hopefully get some info. I recently acquired a little hatchling savannah monitor. I wanted to build a 8x4x4 or possibly slightly smaller..I was looking to use melamine as my wood and figured it would be easier to build a 12" base with an extra 3/4" reinforcement where my substrate will be. Then I figured build 7x3x3 top and fasten that to the bottom. Figuring it will make it easier to break down and move it if needed. I've built an enclosure for my monitor about 17-18 years ago but was constructed different I lived in FL and his cage was outside because I had a very large screened porch and the environment was more fitting for him(humidity temp etc). Now I live in Las Vegas and this would be an inside enclosure. It's been a while and (around 17 years since I've built an enclosure. If there was anyone who had good cage building plans to offer it would be great. I want to keep it affordable and not too complicated as lots of times simple is better. I have bearded dragons and uromastyx as well and have big enough tanks that are extra to last 2-months while I build my monitor his perm home. If anyone could help me out with some building advice I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

infernalis · 04-09-13, 02:22 AM

Savannahmonitor.net

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/varan...on-thread.html Have a look! This thread has some nice cage builds.

My channel - YouTube

Why improper housing is just plain bad- Quick link

Lankyrob · 04-09-13, 07:48 AM

Personally 8x4x4 would be the smallest i would use

Toothless · 04-09-13, 07:50 AM

You're going to want about 24 inches of substrate, so you may want to make the base two feet tall

.
Also, from personal experience, melamine is AWFUL to use for monitors. I built my raise up enclosure out of it, and it started rotting within a few months from the humidity and soil. Your best bet is to use plywood with 2 x 4 reinforcements, and either seal it with something, or line the part where the soil will be with frp or similar.
The links Wayne posted are very informative, so I suggest you give them a good read. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 8 x 4 x4 though and bigger is always better.

DeadlyDesires · 04-09-13, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Personally 8x4x4 would be the smallest i would use

this is the Minimum you should have for a sav, if its smaller they wont have the room they need.

infernalis · 04-09-13, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Personally 8x4x4 would be the smallest i would use

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

this is the Minimum you should have for a sav, if its smaller they wont have the room they need.

Agreed. I started out with an 8x4x4 as my choice, and now that my lizards are almost 3 feet long, it only leaves 5 additional feet to run.

DeadlyDesires · 04-09-13, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Agreed. I started out with an 8x4x4 as my choice, and now that my lizards are almost 3 feet long, it only leaves 5 additional feet to run.

and you still need to make a bigger one eventually, they will use all the room they get :P

infernalis · 04-09-13, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

and you still need to make a bigger one eventually, they will use all the room they get :P

Thanks, that was the point I was trying to make.

DeadlyDesires · 04-09-13, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

Thanks, that was the point I was trying to make.

lol sorry