Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im getting my water monitor.
Its still a baby.
Would it be too soon to set him up with a large enclosure?
The one im thinking about making is 4' wide 8' long and 4' tall.
Wooden sides and back..plexiglass doors on the front.
What do I use to seal the wood?
Im thinking about making a custom cement pool or some sort of tub with a plug in the bottom so i can just drain the water out instead of having to go in and get the tub and dump it.
Sound like a good idea or no?
Substrate is going to be clean dirt.
What would you reccomend for ventillation?

Lighting????

Main heat source is going to come from basking lamps.
Should I also supply and undertank heater?

Cage furnishing are going to be sturdy rock piles and logs.

Anything else I need to know or anything else that will be helpful?

Thanks
---Cody

I need some advice in the post above!

Sorry for being impatient, im just really excited to start on this project.

Thanks
--Cody

I have my young water monitors(2 feet) in an enclosure that is 7'x4'x2' tall. Plexi doors work(I have plexi windows in my doors), but just know they will get very scratched up and cloudy.
I just got a wood sealer from home depot. Go there and ask them what they've got. Make sure you let it air out for a while(until completely dry and fumes are gone) before putting your monitor in there.
Go for the tub if you think thats a good idea. I just use cat litter boxes as water tubs for now. You can get them pretty cheap and they get pretty large. Maybe start with something simple and add the cement tub later if you think that will work?
Dirt sounds good.
For ventilation I just drilled holes in a pattern on the side of the cage. You can make a cutout and cover it with screen, or whatever you want. You have endless possibilities.
As far as lighting, just make sure you offer him ranges of temps from high 70's to high 80's ambient and a basking spot of around 135 or more. Use whatever works for you. You can put a cluster of smaller wattage light bulbs or one really high wattage one. Whatever creates the temps you are looking for. And the undertank heater is up to you. I don't use one, but if you need it to keep temps up, then go for it. If you use a really really hot bulb, I suggest getting a guard or something so your monitor doesnt burn himself.
Make sure he has deep substrate to burrow and lots of water. Stuff to climb on is nice.
Good luck, mate.

Thanks for the great advice.
I really appreciate it.

--Cody

it's pretty cheap to use a plastic sink for a drainable pool

to seal your wood i would recommend lining tha walls with FRP.you can use silicon for the corners. for ventilation i use vents like these pictured below, and place them low on the cage so my heat and humidity doesn't escape. i have a small fan on the other side for climate control. (you can see the FRP in this picture as well)

i would also suggest making the cage a little taller so you have room for deep substrate.
to light up the cage i have found those energy saver lights (all curled up shape) to work very well.
as far as your doors go you need to keep in mind the amount of humidity that's required for this species. i like using windows because no air can escape. that insures my heat and humidity stays in the cage. here's one of mine that's in its final stage of construction.

hope all goes well. cheers

wow, thats a gorgeous set up.
I am very jealous.
What are the dimensions of the cage?
Whats on the inside walls? I dont know what that abbreviation means.

Thanks alot.
Is that set up for a water monitor?

-Cody

this cage is 8x4x7 FRP = fibre reinforced plastic. you can get it at homedepot. i have garden lattice on the walls so the monitors can easily climb. this cage isn't necessarily set up for water monitors but a lot of the husbandry techniques can be used with many different monitors. this cage would work very well for a small to medium sized water monitor. i use these cages to keep argus monitors.

Please Shay, remind him that that cage, while very nice, is far to small for a Water monitor. Its too small for even a half grown water monitor. Heck its too small for the smaller species of water monitor. Cheers

very true, i should have added that. however i did state that it would work for a small to medium water. of course if you're gonna spend the time and money to build a cage like the one i have pictured it would be a waste considering the water monitor could out grow the cage in little over 1 year. i think it's better to go with an inexpensive cage while it's a juvi and save your money for the permenant enclosure that should be at least 2 or 3 times the size of cage pictured.

very cool lizards but very few have the room or money to care for them properly. good luck.

yeah...I realize this but I love their personalities.
I love watching them in the water and stuff.
Is there a similar monitor that would be in the water alot and chase fish and what not?
Im not getting this monitor to watch it chase fish...lol.
I just love their personalities.
Any monitor have the same character but would do well in a cage about the same size of yours?

Thanks
--Cody

possibly something in the indicus complex. mangrove monitors, peach throats, bue tails. quince monitor perhaps.

keep in mind that even though my cages are 8x4x7 and are considered large by many new keepers standards i feel guilty keeping one adult argus monitor in there for all the cool/cold months of the year. they really deserve more. and when i sell my house and buy another one with more land i'll provide much more room for them. until then i'll do the best i can with what i have.

cheers

yeah...
Im just going to start out with a 4X8X4 cage.
And when it comes time im just gunna have to step it up.
I have my heart set on water monitors.
I love their personalitys.

Would a monitor do good outside in the summer months if I provided proper habitat for it?

I live in lower michigan so it gets pretty toastie.

Thanks
--Cody