Asian water monitor enclosure.

[stephanbakir]

Hey, I'm starting to make plans for my enclosure for the water monitor and I'm coming up with a few issues.
1: If i want the terrarium in my bedroom like I do, the max size i can get is 16 feet by 4, or maybe 6 if i move my bed, by 5 high. I would have preferred getting it to be 20 long by 8 wide. (these heights are not including 1 foot of substrate)
2: It would be against an outside wall, and in the winter the walls get chilly (the ambient temp stays at 24degrees)
3: I'm trying to figure out what material to use, im thinking of using plywood with a layer of pond armor on the inside.

Any ideas?

Edit: I could build it larger in my basement, but I'd prefer it being in my bedroom.

[Max713]

Jesus thats huge enclosure for a bedroom... definitely required for a water though!

[marvelfreak]

Hey, I'm starting to make plans for my enclosure for the water monitor and I'm coming up with a few issues.
1: If i want the terrarium in my bedroom like I do, the max size i can get is 16 feet by 4, or maybe 6 if i move my bed, by 5 high. I would have preferred getting it to be 20 long by 8 wide. (these heights are not including 1 foot of substrate)
:confused: I am confused on what you mean on the sizes. Easiest way for me to understand is width x depth and height. Or a drawing for the slow guy. lol

[stephanbakir]

the largest i can fit in my bedroom without moving anything is 16 feet long 6 wide 4 high, will this be enough?

I would have preferred 20 long 8 wide 4 high.
Any ideas regarding materials?

[Dehlida]

Honestly I wouldn't go 20 long and 4/6 wide or whatever, go 10x6 or something in my opinion. As for the outside wall, frame it, plywood on the outside, insulate the walls, and plywood the inside of it along the outside wall so that it keeps the heat in, and cold out. You can also seal it well and it should maintain temps just fine.

[stephanbakir]

Why 10X6? the monitors get 6-7 feet long full grown.

[Dehlida]

Why 10X6? the monitors get 6-7 feet long full grown.
The depth you are providing for the monitor isn't going to be enough for a full grown animal regardless. 16x4 or 16x6 is flat out not big enough for an adult male water monitor, just by making it 16 foot isn't enough to make it "viable" for an adult animal regardless. Build a cage for it to grow up in, and move him to a different room that can house something like a 10x12x6 as an adult.

[stephanbakir]

KK, If im gona build something 10X12X6 i might aswell reinforce it and stack my other terrariums on top

[Dehlida]

KK, If im gona build something 10X12X6 i might aswell reinforce it and stack my other terrariums on top
Reinforce with 2x4s all around, and across the top, and you can indeed keep plenty on top of the cages. I stack all sorts of crap on top of my cages, its just a big shelf to me ;)

[stephanbakir]

Starting to think i should also put it in the middle of the basement, all sides will be accessible as a shelf, not sure how im not gona make it look weird lol.

[Dehlida]

Starting to think i should also put it in the middle of the basement, all sides will be accessible as a shelf, not sure how im not gona make it look weird lol.
Make it visible on all sides with plexiglass/glass, polish and paint it real nice, you could even make some sort of table top to it, it would make a great centerpiece/display if made right.

[bighog85]

You will need to put it in your basement. The dimensions that you would be limited to in your bedroom are not sufficient. The 16' is great but 6' deep is not. An absolute minimum that I recommend is 12'x12' and make it as tall as possible. They won't necessarily climb but it needs to be as open an area as possible. I would not put it in the middle of the room with glass on all sides. First, a basement wall is underground which is one of the most stable environments on the planet. An outside wall will not be a problem there. Second, you don't want the animal to feel like it is exposed all the time. You can provide hides and whatnot but if every time it comes out it feels surrounded by a place it can't get to then it could very well stress it out. If you do build it in the middle, make it solid on all sides except for one where it would be the sliding display doors or however you decide to do it. It is not about making it visually appealing for you. It is about making it as safe as possible for the animal.

[bighog85]

Reinforce with 2x4s all around, and across the top, and you can indeed keep plenty on top of the cages. I stack all sorts of crap on top of my cages, its just a big shelf to me ;)

You want to be careful doing this because banging and bumping around on the top of the enclosure is sure to be stressful for the animal. Another cage is fine as long as it is not being moved a lot. It needs to be a stable environment.

[stephanbakir]

You will need to put it in your basement. The dimensions that you would be limited to in your bedroom are not sufficient. The 16' is great but 6' deep is not. An absolute minimum that I recommend is 12'x12' and make it as tall as possible. They won't necessarily climb but it needs to be as open an area as possible. I would not put it in the middle of the room with glass on all sides. First, a basement wall is underground which is one of the most stable environments on the planet. An outside wall will not be a problem there. Second, you don't want the animal to feel like it is exposed all the time. You can provide hides and whatnot but if every time it comes out it feels surrounded by a place it can't get to then it could very well stress it out. If you do build it in the middle, make it solid on all sides except for one where it would be the sliding display doors or however you decide to do it. It is not about making it visually appealing for you. It is about making it as safe as possible for the animal.

Thanks, given me allot to think about, im still at least a month away from building i just want to work as many of the kinks in my plan out as possible.

[Dehlida]

You will need to put it in your basement. The dimensions that you would be limited to in your bedroom are not sufficient. The 16' is great but 6' deep is not. An absolute minimum that I recommend is 12'x12' and make it as tall as possible. They won't necessarily climb but it needs to be as open an area as possible. I would not put it in the middle of the room with glass on all sides. First, a basement wall is underground which is one of the most stable environments on the planet. An outside wall will not be a problem there. Second, you don't want the animal to feel like it is exposed all the time. You can provide hides and whatnot but if every time it comes out it feels surrounded by a place it can't get to then it could very well stress it out. If you do build it in the middle, make it solid on all sides except for one where it would be the sliding display doors or however you decide to do it. It is not about making it visually appealing for you. It is about making it as safe as possible for the animal.
If your water monitor is shy and whatnot sure, but most waters I've seen do fine around people and adapt very well to a human environment.

You want to be careful doing this because banging and bumping around on the top of the enclosure is sure to be stressful for the animal. Another cage is fine as long as it is not being moved a lot. It needs to be a stable environment.
I put myriads of things on top of all my cages, and have never had problems, then again my monitors are tame and don't care about it.

[stephanbakir]

I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to make the top ceiling thicker so i can attach "I bolts" to it and hang toys, my cousins monitor doesn't play with toys but he was gotten as an adult as a rescue (its original enclosure was 8 by 4 with concrete walls and a water dish) it probably just doesn't know how to play.
If you place objects in your terrariums like rope/wood/balls etc does your monitor do anything with them or just ignore them?

[bighog85]

I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to make the top ceiling thicker so i can attach "I bolts" to it and hang toys, my cousins monitor doesn't play with toys but he was gotten as an adult as a rescue (its original enclosure was 8 by 4 with concrete walls and a water dish) it probably just doesn't know how to play.
If you place objects in your terrariums like rope/wood/balls etc does your monitor do anything with them or just ignore them?

None of mine pay any attention to anything unless it looks and smells like food. Then they go crazy as usual. Inanimate objects don't seem to interest them but I have seen animals that will play with certain stuff. It is all about the individual animal. That's what makes monitors great, no two are alike.

[stephanbakir]

For some reason what you said made me think of greyhounds chasing the fake rabbit, and i saw monitors instead of greyhounds:

Edit: Anyone takes this to the bank and makes money gives me a cut :)