Monitor enclosure discussion thread - Page 23

Pirarucu · 03-21-13, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitorlizard

That's huge!
How are did you attack the branches?

Probably with a saw.

War Machine · 03-22-13, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitorlizard

That's huge!
How are did you attack the branches?

Attack or attach?

I scoped around my area for a while for people cutting down trees, asked if I could have a few braches, tossed em $5 for his effort, he cut some stuff up for me.

They're attached by lag bolts and brackets.

monitorlizard · 03-24-13, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by War Machine

Attack or attach?

I scoped around my area for a while for people cutting down trees, asked if I could have a few braches, tossed em $5 for his effort, he cut some stuff up for me.

They're attached by lag bolts and brackets.

Woops,
I meant attach...

Do you think those will last when your Black Throat is an adult?

War Machine · 03-30-13, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitorlizard

Woops,
I meant attach...

Do you think those will last when your Black Throat is an adult?

The logs? Absolutely.

The enclosure, far too small for an adult. This is a "grow up" tank for him. And will be my "adult enclosure" for my V.A. Microstictus. once I have a bigger setup for the V.A.Ionidesi.

cparker · 05-05-13, 06:23 PM

Would 1/8 plywood work for the sides of an adult Savannah monitor enclosure? I have a bunch already and would like to use it if possible. Would it be to thin for the weight of the dirt pushing on it from the sides?

smy_749 · 05-05-13, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cparker

Would 1/8 plywood work for the sides of an adult Savannah monitor enclosure? I have a bunch already and would like to use it if possible. Would it be to thin for the weight of the dirt pushing on it from the sides?

Not sure if 1/8 is thick enough for this idea but I'll say it anyways. Make a better supported / reinforced dirt box, and then another one with your 1/8 to set on top of it.

Or make a insulated cage, have thicker board, then insulation, and the 1/8th on the outside away from contact with the sav.

cparker · 05-05-13, 07:08 PM

I was thinking of putting the 1/8th over the insulation on the outside. I'm using 3/4 plywood for the base and framing the whole thing really well. do you think the 1/8th work for the sides if it was just the 1/8th?

infernalis · 05-06-13, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cparker

I was thinking of putting the 1/8th over the insulation on the outside. I'm using 3/4 plywood for the base and framing the whole thing really well. do you think the 1/8th work for the sides if it was just the 1/8th?

Good idea, 1/8 is way too thin for anything on the inside, except maybe the ceiling.

On the exterior you should be fine.

Pirarucu · 05-06-13, 04:32 PM

I tried to respond yesterday, but my computer must have messed up. You should be fine using it for the exterior sides and top, but I would use something thicker for the bottom because of the frame pushing down on it with the weight of everything in the cage. You would probably still be fine, but just for the sake of being thorough I would personally use something thicker.

infernalis · 05-30-13, 05:55 PM

Savannahmonitor.net

My channel - YouTube

Why improper housing kills monitors!- Quick link

formica · 05-30-13, 06:03 PM

thanks for the reply, no its not a glass tank, i dont use those for reptiles, its a wooden enclosure fully sealed with glass sliding doors, humidity is kept high, as i know this is a major issue for monitors, and i do understand the need for a good tempreture gradient. I have another similar enclosure that is 4x3x2, so i'll use that instead when the time comes, i know the current setup is a very small tank for a monitor, it wont be for long while I work on the design for its final enclosure.

thanks for the info, I've now changed the heating light (which was not directional) to a ceramic heater, and moved the basking area a little closer to the heater which is now providing a 56C spot with a spread of about 48C near by, changing the bulb to cermaic has also had the effect of bringing down the lower end to 24C

I have also added a significant amount of soil-sand mix (3 inches across the base, with a bank of upto 6 inches on one side, compacted down and moist so it will hold up to digging holes) to help keep the humidity up and for it to dig, the area it likes to sleep has so far kept at a constant 90-100% any way

my reason for posting here is because I am currently trying to decide the best approach to building its final home, I've layed out my basic plans in the initial post, and any feedback would be gratefully appreciated

that said, i suspect that many of the designs I've come accross on this thread will heavily influence my final design

if he's likley to reach 60cm at 6months then I may well begin building his final home now and skip the intermediate stage, so I think I need to rethink my current ideas and make the setup a little more portable!

pics will follow at some point soon!

murrindindi · 05-31-13, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

thanks for the info, I've now changed the heating light (which was not directional) to a ceramic heater, and moved the basking area a little closer to the heater which is now providing a 56C spot with a spread of about 48C near by, changing the bulb to cermaic has also had the effect of bringing down the lower end to 24C

I have also added a significant amount of soil-sand mix (3 inches across the base, with a bank of upto 6 inches on one side, compacted down and moist so it will hold up to digging holes) to help keep the humidity up and for it to dig, the area it likes to sleep has so far kept at a constant 90-100% any way

my reason for posting here is because I am currently trying to decide the best approach to building its final home, I've layed out my basic plans in the initial post, and any feedback would be gratefully appreciated

that said, i suspect that many of the designs I've come accross on this thread will heavily influence my final design

if he's likley to reach 60cm at 6months then I may well begin building his final home now and skip the intermediate stage, so I think I need to rethink my current ideas and make the setup a little more portable!

pics will follow at some point soon!

Hi again, the ceramic heat emitters are good for maintaining ambient (air) temps, not good at all for creating a basking site surface temp because they direct heat all around rather than downwards. Much better to use relatively low wattage halogen bulbs (flood, not spot) @ between approx. 40 to 60w+, raise or lower them or the basking object `til you get the desired surface temp @ between approx. 50 to 60c (120 to 140f), or simply fit a dimmer switch.
I usually pay around £5 each for my halogens and they can last up to 3,000 hours, I get them from the following website: thelightbulb.co.uk
This is my Asian Water monitor`s basking site to give you an idea, I need to use more bulbs because of his size, you might well only need 2 x 40w at the present time.

TarantulaSteve · 10-01-13, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murrindindi

Hi again, the ceramic heat emitters are good for maintaining ambient (air) temps, not good at all for creating a basking site surface temp because they direct heat all around rather than downwards.

Ummmmm,

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

thanks for the info, I've now changed the heating light (which was not directional) to a ceramic heater, and moved the basking area a little closer to the heater which is now providing a 56C spot with a spread of about 48C near by....

Im not trying to knitpick anyone. I understand that Halogens are the prefered option for monitor lizards, and a lot of that has to do with Wayne and his amazing website, but as long as the basking site gets to the proper temperature, does it truly matter what you use?

I know Im not going to make any friends saying this, but after formica says his CHE gets the basking spot hot enough, someone else comes along to instinctually say CHEs arent good. Im not a fan of the idea that there is only one way to do things.

infernalis · 10-01-13, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarantulaSteve

Ummmmm,

Im not trying to knitpick anyone. I understand that Halogens are the prefered option for monitor lizards, and a lot of that has to do with Wayne and his amazing website, but as long as the basking site gets to the proper temperature, does it truly matter what you use?

I know Im not going to make any friends saying this, but after formica says his CHE gets the basking spot hot enough, someone else comes along to instinctually say CHEs arent good. Im not a fan of the idea that there is only one way to do things.

No it does not. I have and still use dollar store (non halogen) floods with great results. In fact I have been endurance testing them before I really "go public" with suggesting them.

So far, so good.

The lizards have yet to make them fail.

murrindindi · 10-01-13, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarantulaSteve

Ummmmm,

Im not trying to knitpick anyone. I understand that Halogens are the prefered option for monitor lizards, and a lot of that has to do with Wayne and his amazing website, but as long as the basking site gets to the proper temperature, does it truly matter what you use?

I know Im not going to make any friends saying this, but after formica says his CHE gets the basking spot hot enough, someone else comes along to instinctually say CHEs arent good. Im not a fan of the idea that there is only one way to do things.

Hi, can you give some details of how you keep your captive Varanids?
I agree with you that there`s more than one way to do things, but surely something that`s been proven to work very efficiently (helps to offer the animals supportive conditions) is the way to go. Halogen bulbs were being recommended and used long before Wayne came into the hobby!