Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I am planning on adding a Malaysian water monitor to my collection. I have plenty of room, so that is not an issue. I have a storage room that is perfect size for an adult, and it has a bathtub on one end, so that's perfect.

But the thing is, I don't know how I will go about setting up the lighting and stuff like that and all the electric stuff. I know those guys are curious guys and they will poke their nose at and explore everything. All my other herps are in cages, and the lights are all outside the cage, where a hole is cut out from the top of the cage, and wire mesh over it, and light above it. I just have no idea how I am going to manage to get lights in a room where the darn thing is free roaming, but can not reach the lights by climbing without building a "roof", which would make it virtually impossible for me to get in the room without crawling.

I guess I can make the lights far away. However, there is a debate still about whether monitors need UVB or not. If they do, then man, the MVBs are gonna have to be like what, 20 inches from the lizard...

If anyone can reply, with photos, that would be great!

By the way, I am not sure if I want to dangle the bulbs. Because I know that if they jump on it, they won't stay there and thus won't burn the lizard. But if the bulb or the lampshade hits a wall, and it shatters, that can start a fire.

And how do you protect the wires and electrical sockets in the room from being "Explored"?

With large animals it is a lot easier and I must admit the idea works for small animals as well. But utilizing a number of smaller wattage bulbs vs one high wattage bulb for a basking area will give better results. Just think one bulb only serves a given surface area with large animals they have much more surface area so having 6 bulbs on a grid for example placed a few inches to a foot apart will give a better basking area.

These lower wattage bulbs will also have lower surface temps so in case of contact wil not result in a very bad burn. In fact most lizards only attempt to touch the bulb when proper basking temps are not reached, they just want to get warmer.

It is possible to hang these from the ceiling over raised basking areas. However it is possible to mount these under logs. Producing muiltiple basking areas.

Just remember to produce a good gradient and lots of options with hides and basking areas.

This is actually Frank Retes idea and all credit is his.

Best of Luck
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Yeah ok I am understanding the idea that monitors usually dont attack bulbs when the temps are right. BUT, given that these are such big, powerful and curious lizards, I just don't like the idea of putting a bulb where he can access it... I could be the first...

How would one make them unreachable?

Its kinda 6 in one half dozen the other. In order to make the bulbs usefull far away they need to be very high wattage. When made closer they can be lower wattage. Lower wattage bulbs don't really burn, lizards are tough. Like I said the more lower wattage bulbs the closer they can be and the better the basking area. Obviously mounting them on the ceiling will make them inaccessable to the lizards but they will need to be high wattage andd then there goes the power bill.

I use MVB's within 12" of my 4' Iguana's and have yet to get a burn. I also use them within 8" of my Bearded dragon's and have also never gotten a burn. I have gotten a few myself though!

I devised an experiment to collect data on the different lumen and heat factor's of a variety of bulbs placed and different distances from a given point. Unfortunatly with my schedule I never began the experiment. However experiments can only prove science not Nature, Frank's lighting techniques have proved nature in his success of breeding and growth. All on 60 watt bulbs.

This question would probally serve you better when posted on the monitor forum.

Good Luck
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

I think what you need is a bulb cage.

Is that bathtub in working order with hot and cold water controlled by standard knobs? I can envision a big exploring lizard getting the water flowing with bad consequences, especially if it's the hot water.

Most people who have left a giant snake to soak in a bathtub know that is not just a hypothetical situation.

-Joan