Started the Varanid Enclosure

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

A peacock monitor, they're usually sold as blue spot timors though. Actually any monitor that repeatedly poops or soils his water is most likely dehydrated, I'd leave you the link that talks about it but varanustalk isnt active any more When I say pond I mean something like a 12 in x 12 in bowl/tub that ill put a few plastic plants in.

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.

I would agree on the size issue. for my juvinile nile the enclosure I built was 6' wide 4' high and 30" deep. This still wouldnt have been big enough once he reached adult size

[Akuma223]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

I would agree on the size issue. for my juvinile nile the enclosure I built was 6' wide 4' high and 30" deep. This still wouldnt have been big enough once he reached adult size

I think he's getting a dwarf species, still would have it bigger myself but that's just me.

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Most semi aquatic species defaecate in the water container/pool, it does NOT necessarily indicate dehydration.
By the way, the enclosure is much too small for an adult (these animals are semi arborial), clearly not enough height once you add substrate.

Hi, im actually getting an adult, its only about 18 inches at the moment and most sheets that I have read say that this cage will work fine, im cutting the bottom out and putting a sterlite beneath it, so he'll have 2 feet of cage space plus 12ish inches of substrate beneath the cage

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

Hi, im actually getting an adult, its only about 18 inches at the moment and most sheets that I have read say that this cage will work fine, im cutting the bottom out and putting a sterlite beneath it, so he'll have 2 feet of cage space plus 12ish inches of substrate beneath the cage

Hi, o.k with a substrate tub underneath it offers a little more space, but these animals grow quite quickly when properly supported, which means you would need to rehouse in a short space of time, that can cause much stress (not to mention more expense and work building again), far better to start with the "adult sized" enclosure from the beginning.
If the monitor is already 18 inches in size its quite likely to be a sexually mature young adult.
Anyone can write a "caresheet", many of them are complete nonsense it some respects...

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi, o.k with a substrate tub underneath it offers a little more space, but these animals grow quite quickly when properly supported, which means you would need to rehouse in a short space of time, that can cause much stress (not to mention more expense and work building again), far better to start with the "adult sized" enclosure from the beginning.
If the monitor is already 18 inches in size its quite likely to be a sexually mature young adult.
Anyone can write a "caresheet", many of them are complete nonsense it some respects...

cool, that makes sense, I can add about 12-18 inches in height, would this work, he/she would then have 36 inches of climbing space.

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

cool, that makes sense, I can add about 12-18 inches in height, would this work, he/she would then have 36 inches of climbing space.

Again, you`re talking of a TINY space, obviously none of us can give them the room they use in the wild, but consider they will be spending possibly 15 to 20 years in the "matchboxes" we provide, it`s best to go as big as possible. I would recommend a size for an adult of around 6H x 5L x 3W (feet), they will use all that and more.

[sirtalis]

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Again, you`re talking of a TINY space, obviously none of us can give them the room they use in the wild, but consider they will be spending possibly 15 to 20 years in the "matchboxes" we provide, it`s best to go as big as possible. I would recommend a size for an adult of around 6H x 5L x 3W (feet), they will use all that and more.

Thank you, i'm pretty sure I could get that length and height, Ill have to move a shelf though, as far as width Ill have to max out at 2.5. During the summer I'm planning on an outdoor screened enclosure, something like 8Lx4Wx6H, the climate were I live could support most varanids march through october

[murrindindi]

Originally Posted by sirtalis

Thank you, i'm pretty sure I could get that length and height, Ill have to move a shelf though, as far as width Ill have to max out at 2.5. During the summer I'm planning on an outdoor screened enclosure, something like 8Lx4Wx6H, the climate were I live could support most varanids march through october

That sounds good, and lucky you!