Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since tanks are a bad choice for housing for Timors and monitors in general, is there any other commercial cage brands that anyone can recommend for Timors? Thanks.

Most available reptile enclosures are made for snakes or lizards that do not require a deep soil bed. I have never seen 'reptile enclosure' available that would work well for monitors.

Building a custom enclosure or using other things such as troughs is about all you are going to be able to do to keep a monitor.

thanks for the response. quick question tho, is a water trough basically those big fish ponds? also, how would you cover the top tho so that they can't escape? thanks again.

There is nothing wrong with glass tanks. Except the tops, you would have to build your own top(very easy to do). And they are usually not big enough for any active lizard. The tanks that are big enough are very very heavy and very expensive and break. Althought, leakers are cheap or free.

Its much easier and cheaper to buy something like a Cattle watering trough and modify it. They are not so heavy and fragile as a large glass tank. You can buy both plastic watering troughs and metal ones. Both are fine. The mental ones do not last as long, but I like their shape better. The plastic ones taper inward and make it hard to dig up eggs. On the otherhand, if eggs are not in the picture, then plastic is great.

Consider, if your going to keep monitors, your going to have to learn to use your hands(they are hands on) building(modifying) cages is part of keeping monitors. Heck, it use to be required with all reptiles, not you can go buy average junk cages.(boxes without use, oh they work, but for what?)

Sir, its all about common sense, which does not appear so common. You can keep monitors in a trashcan if its set up right. I ask, what the heck is different about a glass tank(holds water) and plastic tank(also holds water) and a metal tank(again also holds water)????????? a trashcan does too. and after you get rid of your monitor, you can use it for a trashcan. All require building a decent top.

The problem is size and weight. They make all sizes(small, medium, large, larger, giant) watering troughs. They are not heavy and do not break like glass.

So use common sense(if you can find it) If you do use common sense, you do not have to ask questions here. At least ones where common sense is required.

Consider, I started the cattle trough FAD here, but I also use glass tanks and an assortment of other cages.

The reason(see below, thinking) tanks and troughts and trashcans work well is. They hold deep substrate(as mentioned) They hold crickets(from getting all over your house) They hold jet quick monitors from also hanging out in your house. All in one nice container. Oh, don't forget, they hold mice and rats too. All from sleeping with you. They hold water too.

They have not made a side opening door that does not get mucked up with dirt and leaves and such. And they don't hold crickets or other WORSE(roaches) insects from using your kitchen for a home.

Reasons, you know, reasons are good. You ough to ask why, then reasons will help you understand. The above are reasons(reason, to reason, reasoning) hmmmm kinda like thinking. Cheers

What kind of material can be used to build tops for glass tanks and water troughs? I can only think of using the typical screens but as I can see from the responses...that isnt a good idea. Thanks again.

Plexi-glass/plywood

What is the best place to find those cattle troughs in southern california? And how do you secure the wood onto the top?

I want to still use a tank since I am housing a Timor Monitor. You guys mentioned above that I can make a tank cover with plexiglass/wood? How does this work? I am just kind of confused. And how will I secure this to the top of the tank? Also, where can you find plexiglass? Thanks again.

You cut the plexi/wood to fit the top of the trough.....bolt hinges to the tub and the plexi/wood....and presto....you have a monitor enclosure....not complicated at all....

...the ackie enclosure picture that I posted above has a plexi top...can't take credit for it though....the guy I got then ackies from made it...great stuff though.