I think your want to do the right thing, but everybody here is beating around the bush with you.



You seem to have a concept of what the cage looks like, based on your needs, not the monitors needs.



They do not need it to look like something, they need it to work like something.



When you know what works for them, then you can fix that to make in nice for you too.



So in a nutshell, a raise up cage is a cage that TEACHES you what the monitor will need.



Sadly, your overall idea is going to be a challange as well, which means its been done a million times before and failed a million times. If you really want a japanese stream thing, then do not put monitors in it. put coy or shubukins or something.



Monitors are bulldozers, no matter what you make, they will ruin it. So your Japanese stream pond thing will instead look like that sunami(sp) As thats what they do. Particularly niles.



You like others, want to put in a lot of effort and if you do, you really do not understand what the outcome will be.



If you keep a nile well, you make a giant killing machine, they get big and they will tear the cage apart to find food. They naturally shelter by MAKING BURROWS, so they will tear the cage apart in that quest. Sadly, they do not make one burrow, or stop at one, their daily task is to model and remodel their home. They even do that in nature.



In the meantime, look at the cage as if its for the monitor. Look at what the monitors do, then set it up for what they do.



A home shelter is most important, followed by basking, After that, the ability to walk and climb, then water to swim in, water to drink is mandatory. Swimming water is what you will not be able to provide. Its normally the death of a cage. Like the substrate, they will not leave it alone, and will destory it. It really is that simple.



As mentioned, get anywhere close to good and your monitor will outgrow that cage in a month or so. Which is why all that decoration is for nothing.



Sad, so many of you guys want monitors because you can set up neat cages. Monitors are anything but neat. hahahahahahahaha they make hogs look neat. They are little monsters I tell you and niles become big monsters.

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