Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HERE ARE PICS OF MY UPDATED WATER MONITOR SETUP.

Do you want a critique of your cage or are you just showing it???

You should include what you plan to do with your water, you know, reasons for keeping it. As that has a lot to do with the cage. Cheers

I AM USING A 150W CERAMIC HEAT EMMITER AND THE CAGE TEMERATURE IS SET AT 84 DEGREES AMBIENT.. WITH A HERPSTAT THERMOSTAT. JUST WANTED YOUR INSIGHT ABOUT IT SO CRITIQUE IT PLEASE SETUP.

THANK YOU FRANK

Where is your basking bulb and/or spot?

If you look on the right side of the cage. Inside the black basket hanging from the ceiling is a ceramic heat bulb (non light).

From the times Ive used them, I noticed that it just makes the whole cage hot and doesn't really create and focused basking type area. I can't imagine a CME creating a 130 degree basking spot and being able to keep the ambient temps suitable for the monitor as well. Hope he knows that water monitor will outgrow that cage in a matter of months.

Looks like you are off to a good start. There are a few things that you will, or rather your monitor will adjust in the cage(causing you to), but that will all be part of the learning process. Check your basking area temperatures because they should be between 120-140F. Would love to see pics of the lizard too. Best to you- Mike

I WILL POST PICS TONIGHT. OF THE WATER BUT MY OTHER QUESTION IN SHOULD I JUNK THE THERMOSTAT AND CME FOR A BASKING BULB?

yeah. ditch the ceramic bulb for now. get a $4.00 incandescent flood bulb or two and position it/them over an elevated thick basking branch or a stone. elevate it up so you don't have to use a 100 watt and heat the entire cage. the wattage will need tinkering (or you could buy a dimmer/rheostat). usually about 50 watts works. if you have access to them, get the bottom of the cage deeply filled with oak or maple leaves or cypress mulch to add hiding and humidity producing substrate. water's will appreciate this vs. just sand and logs. little water monitors will hide a lot and appreciate the 140*F surface temp's under the basking area and high humidity. the cage is a good size to start, but like someone stated above, he will outgrow it quickly. good luck.

OK SO USE A 100 WATT INCANDESCENT FLOOD BULB ON A THERMOSTAT.
THAT MAKES SENSE AND I RAN OUT OF THE SUBSTRATE BUT I AM GOING TO PUT MORE IN. IT IS DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND IT HOLDS MOISTURE GOOD AND HE CAN BURROW IN IT. YEAH I NEED TO AD A COUPLE OF BRANCHES AND I AM GOING TO STACK THE BARK IN A RETES STACK FORMATION AND SCREW THEM TOGETHER.

I DITCHED THE CERAMIC FOR A 90 WATT HALOGEN FLOOD LIGHT I HAD IN THE GARAGE. THE BASKING IS NOW BETWEEN 120 AND 135 DEPENDANT ON THE AMBIENT TEMP IN THE CAGE I HAVE A HERPSTAT PROPORTIONAL THERMOSTAT. SET AT 84 DEGREES AMBIENT.

very nice looking cage . I dont have a water monitor just came here to post something that might be of interest to some but the cage is great looking .

Not bad, just some adjustments... salvators do it all- climb, swim, and burrow so add logs in various heights and inclines. your water tub is ok. as for substrate depth, you cage is a bit shallow. I would add more leaves and dirt if you wish.

cybersalvator.com

more.... well kept salvators grow very fast- usually too fast for the keeper to keep up with the enclosure. alll my salvators grew between 3- 5 feet in 12 months. some grow larger (FR- 6' in 1 year) so think about building larger enclosure. as the other guys said about using floods, thats important. do add more logs and substrate to the enclosure. and post some pics. regards,--john

cybersalvator.com

Nice roomy enclosure kinda reminds me of a horse stall .