Monitor enclosure discussion thread

[simpleyork]

Was looking through a Lizard keeping book I bought 12 or so years back, It has one paragraph on Savannah Monitor care and I quote "If the humidity is kept low, plenty of sunshine is provided, and the correct diet is fed to this lizard ,it should prove to be very hardy." end quote
Poor savs that are kept because of this book, My first sav was one of them.

[infernalis]

Don't feel bad..

I have an issue of "Reptiles" magazine from 1998 that has an article about Savannah Monitors in it, says about the same thing, recommends "chicken coop" type enclosures with an inverted ice chest for a hide.

This was read by thousands of lizard enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by Daniel Bennett

He used this to suggest a rethink of savannah monitor husbandry that should have landed him in prison.

[Lobretto]

This is my first post here. I came here because of you Wayne, everywhere I look I see your name as a top notch savannah keeper. I have kept a lot of reptiles in my life, some easy some tougher. I have a pair columbian red tail boas that I've had for 11 years, a 3 year old Brazilian rainbow boa, several bearded dragons ranging from a year old to 5. I felt like I was ready to take care of my favorite of all, MONITORS. I've read and read and then read more then finally I got my first, my lovely Ridex, destroyer of roaches, worms, and all things that creep and crawl.

Ridex is about 6 months old and roughly 12-14 inches. I have her in a custom built 6x3x3 enclosure. I there is minimal venting which keeps the day time ambient temp around 85 with a cool area around 78. Night time temp is always around 75 with just 1 ceramic heat emitter. Humidity is kept between 65-75% although near her large water tub for swimming its near 100%. I keep heat tape under the swimming tub to help with the all around humidity and she loves swimming in the 80-85 degree water. There is a ramp that goes up to her basking spot that is 130-150 degrees. There is 12 inches of soil now but when she gets bigger she will be moved into the 8x4x4 with 24 inches. She has a smaller water dish that she uses for drinking, it's amazing how smart she is. I have several hides for her made up of logs and plants on the ground level and one near her basking spot just incase she needs to hide while up top.

I would like to know if this sounds like the road to a happy healthy monitor free from the terrors of slowly dieing to gout. Any advise will be greatly appreciated or just letting me know that all is well is even better! Thanks much!

[infernalis]

From the sounds of what you describe, you have a lucky lizard.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Lobretto]

Awesome, I pray that she gets to be in that small group that make it well past 5.

[Pirarucu]

That sounds like a lucky lizard to have you as an owner. Far luckier than most, she should live past five with no problems whatsoever.

[Lobretto]

I went ahead and sealed the vent between the glass and the top with weather striping to better hold heat and humidity, the Nevada winter is fast approaching and it can get cold even in doors.

[infernalis]

Insulate the enclosure, put a layer of foam board and build outer walls, like a house or a room would be built.

Went without power for 24 hours once, and my monitor enclosure never dropped below 80 degrees.(F)

[Lobretto]

Sounds like a great idea. I knew coming here was a great idea! Here is a pic of Ridex for everyone to enjoy.

[Wyldrose]

Here is my girl, Raptor, I have had her 3.5 months now, I had her in a 6'x2'x2' expecting that to last long enough to build her a larger home. I was amazed at the rate of her growth and she has now moved into her 8'x4'x4'.
Here is the almost finished(I need to get some paint for the outside) home
Hubby brought home a bunch of his late step dad's tools and he figured he'd store them in my way lol!

Pretty much everything I used to build it was 2nd hand, minus the plywood. I paid $10 each for the windows. I took out the screens, extra panes and turned them around so it locks on the outside.
She seems very happy and content in there, she ate the day after moving in there.
She has pretty much trampled and killed that pothos... oops

Basking

[infernalis]

Another really cool cage.. Thanks for posting.

[Pirarucu]

Very nice cage and Sav you have there.

[Wyldrose]

Tossed in some leaf litter and more branches


Where's Waldo?

I think Raptors enjoying the leaves! Got lots of bugs in with it too (glad her home is sealed) we saw some spiders, black beetles and lots of lady bugs.

[Kaetlinv]

Originally Posted by Wyldrose

Where's Waldo?

He doesnt play very well. :P Need to teach him better hide 'n seek skills!

[BarelyBreathing]

Awesome enclosure, Wyld!