Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone, has anyone ever used a Boaphile to house a Varanus acanthurus, Spiny-Tailed Monitor? I have been thinking of getting this species of monitor but would like to get a nice cage for it, any recommendations? Thanks.

Boaphiles are not suitable for ackies at all. Boaphiles don't support any of the needs of a monitor, and I can guarantee that a monitor would destroy that type of caging very quickly.

You'd be better off building your own enclosures, as I'm not aware of any caging available that is suitable for monitors.

Jon

Thanks Jon for the info, I was just trying to think of a "Nicer" cage than a homeade wooden one, good point though. Thanks.

A lot of people use cattle water troughs for ackie enclosures. Personally I think that a well build wooden enclosure looks better than anything else.
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Ed

n/p

I have a need to say, what does looks have to do with it????? I am afraid that wood has nothing to do with looks or keeping monitors.

First off, this person was told Boaphile cages did not WORK, there was no arguement there, from you or others. To not work, means those cages did not meet function. Then you mention wooden cages over tub style cages for reasons of looks. What happened to reasons of function? How do the cages function? Both for the keeper and the kept? Ed, function superceeds looks as a place to start. Of course if you can meet the needs of a monitor, then looks is next.

Without question, the best part of tub style cages(cattle troughs, large plastic tubs, etc) is, they hold deep substrate, are water resistant and most importantly, they hold insects. These are base functions of a varanid cage. They are also easy to modify for many different varanid needs. Again all about function. Also being readily availible at feed stores and Lowes/home depots/Ace hardware and such places makes it handy.

Ed you should understand by now, one of the biggest problems with varanid husbandry is "looks/appearance" over function. We as varanid keepers must first supply need/function, then approach looks.

As a long time keeper of varanids, I for one truly understand, front opening wooden cages, are a pain in the bottomside. The monitors constantly throw out cage materials and the insects get out and have free run of your bedroom/house/garage etc. Also the moisture needs of varanids turns wood into rotten termite food. No matter how hard you try to stop it. Cheers

Frank,
You have no arguement from me about tub style enclosures. For Ackies I would follow your advise on troughs. The next one I build will probably be built over a trough. I like wooden cages, or wooden built over troughs because it can add height. Two of my enclosures in the house are 7 feet tall. When I built them I knew they would only last a few years. It gives me another excuse for buying plywood. HAHA

I do not have any ackies, and I never have. If you could sell me a pair or trio of australian monitors (ackies, glauerti, gilleni, etc)I would be happy to build a tub style enclosure for them.
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Ed

Its not about this or that type of monitor. To me, that is a very weak excuse. The principles are the same across the range of varanid species. Size differs. Larger monitors need the exact same things, but larger and at times, much larger.

About the only difference is, larger monitors do not require insects. But their babies do. That old escape thing.

The problem with wood is simple, its a short term fix. It will eventually cause problems. Plastics, metal, resin based(frp board/fiberglass) or even FRC(fiber reinforced concrete) is very good. When I went to europe, I saw the use of FRC board for varanid cages.

In the past wood products were less expensive, that is not such a difference anymore. In europe, wood is at a premium. Cheers

" To me, that is a very weak excuse."

I was not aware that I made an excuse. I even stated that my wood enclosures will only last a few years. I did not say that my enclosures have 4 to 6 coats of polyurothane on them. Wood is a lot more work, more upkeep, and doesn't last many years, but it looks nice.

I responded to someone that wanted an "Nicer" enclosure than a homeade wooden one. I stated that my opinion is that a well build wooden enclosure looks better than anything else. To me wood looks better than galvanized steel. You may not care how things look, the montors don't care, but wives do when the enclosure is in the home.

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Ed

clear. I really did think it was clear, but after reading it, I missed a few paragraphs. hahahahahahahahaha

People are constantly saying such things about this species or that species. As if, changing species makes a difference. You know, you mention ackies as what I do, and other species you do that seem to not have the same needs. I totally disagree with that. Ackies and odatriads and varanids, have the same needs.

You equated ackies with troughts or tub type cages. The truth is, they work for ackies and other odatria, but they work BETTER for other species as well. Like Dums and peachies, and other such species. They offer the same advantages, like deep substrate(species specific) and being water resistant, and good at keeping prey in the cage, etc.

Cages that open from the bottom, hmmmm, at floor or substrate level, do not work for monitors, any species.

I remember when I kept varanid species in snake type cages, while I could get them to work(have the monitors do ok or lay eggs, horribly), they were and are a pain in the bottom. It was work to keep them in those type cages, not fun. It was work for me and for the monitors. So why not keep monitors in something they(and by association, me) actually like and use, and not old snake cages.

The major difference is, snakes live in holes, so their cages are nothing more then a large hole. While some cages fake out the keeper, it never fakes out the snakes. They know they are in something and not outside.

Monitors, live in things much like snakes, but they also live outside too. Much like snake species people do not like to keep, like racers and such. You know, species that require more then a hole.

In my humble opinion, its this concept that allows me to be successfull, I address both the "in" and the "out" equally. Cheers

We agree that snake cages are wrong for monitors. Now...

Correct me if I am wrong, but most troughs that I have seen that people use is approximately 4X2X2. Some are larger such as a 10 foot radius, but they are still 2 feet tall. I am sure they work fine for odatria like ackies and such. Don't you use enclosure that is taller than 2 feet for your larger monitors? We all know you do.

My enclosures’ doors are over 2 feet from the bottom of the enclosure. The enclosure is solid except for small vents. There is silicone in every corner top to bottom. There is FRP where the substrate is. It seems like we are in total agreement, so I am very unsure what this discussion is about.
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Ed

First, its not about right or wrong, is it? Its more about better options. There is no question, I can keep monitors healthy in a trashcan with a lite in the lid. Is that the question?

of course with larger monitors a tub or trough makes a great base to work from, that is, to build up from. Troughs are still water resistant/proof. no matter what you do to wood, it does not hold substrate well. Oh unless you fiberboard or fiberglass it. Then you have a trough, at twice or three times the price.

Also, cattle troughs come is a zillion sizes, from 2 foot circles on up to very large.

The point is very simple, Its much easier to provide the needs of varanids with a waterproof base that holds deep substrate then it is to build it out of wood. I understand ease should have little to do with it, but it does.

As with working with most things, its good to have a headstart. If you consider, no matter what species the cage encloses, a trough or tub is a great headstart.

You asked if I had cages taller then two feet. Of course I do. I build large concrete troughs then build the cages up from them. Sure would have been easier to start with a trough. cheers

Again, we are in complete agreement.

Nice looking room. My wife and I have been talking about building a building and doing something similier.
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Ed

well said.