Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I still live with my parents until I finish my college studies (another two years for the bachelor's and who knows how long for the master's degree), and they are planning a move to a smaller house with a larger basement, and have given me the go ahead to build a designated reptile room in the basement of the new house.

I figured I would ask here first because I know some of you guys have designated reptile rooms due to the nature of monitors. I have a lot of resources to help out with building the room itself and making sure that it is all up to code, but I was just wondering if anyone here has suggestions on electricity, ventilation, heating/air conditioning, etc. I plan on using the room to hold my two cattle trough enclosures, a stack of 4'x2' caging, and four tanks I use for smaller reptiles that range from 30 gallons to 75 gallons. I feel like having them all in one room will make it easier to heat each individual enclosure, but should I insulate the walls? I feel a little bit like insulating the walls might cause way too much heat to build up. I'm also a little concerned about providing for the reptiles' electrical needs.

So if anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

Hey

Just thought I'd post because I'm in a similar situation ('cept I've only got 1 year left), and was wondering what part of the country you're in. I'm in California, and have recently built a 12ft by 12ft outdoor enclosure for 1.1 Blackthroats. If you're in a suitable climate, you may consider building an outdoor enclosure, and using the designated reptile room as a winter/cold living area for the monitors. It is really cool to watch them outdoors in the sun, roaming around and hunting prey. Earlier in May, it was getting to be about 100 degrees outside, and the basking areas were getting around 130 degrees .

For the indoor enclosure, I kept it simple and just wedged a piece of wood about 5ft high in the room, creating a 10x4 ft enclosure. The way I drilled it in allows for the board to be slid in and out, allowing for easy removal of dirt. I use 24 hour Kane heating mats for them (I like them because the lizards can spread their entire bodies out on them) and keep there lights on a timer (to cycle them and get them in the mood for breeding).

If you want pictures of anything, I can send them. Hope some of this helps.

Thanks for the input. I actually don't currently own any monitors, but I come here because I apply all of the monitor husbandry to my tortoises. For the tortoises I do have outdoor enclosures as well as the indoor enclosures, but I live in upstate new york so there is a very limited window of opportunity as far as allowing the tortoises to live in the outdoor pens. I usually just put them out in the morning and bring them in in the evening, since there is a lot of wildlife that would enjoy a free snack, and since the nights are notoriously cold even when the days are hot.

I intend to keep my enclosures, I'm just looking for ideas for building a room to put all of the enclosures in, along with possibly a fridge/freezer to store veggies and mice, and maybe a sink and counter for food preparation (so I don't have to get the kitchen dirty every morning and have to deal with cleaning all the counters).

Thanks again for the input. I'm more or less just looking for construction details though.

Hello Ryan,

It sounds like you have a decent idea and plan. I recently tried something similar and the high temps(heat build-up) has been far more trivial than guarding against a cool winter. I am in SW FL so we are pushing the 90's now but we have touched the twenties here a few times. I would only insulate if you plan to air condition the area to keep the ambient room temp down. I have talked with you before about your torts and know that you understand humidity and dehydration very well, so no need to go there. Also check the recent posts as FR and herpsltd(Tom Crutchfield) have put up some great posts recently. Best to you- Mike

Here a picture of my reptile room to give you and idea. all you need is some circut breakers and extension cords along with a insulated room and a radiator with thermostat you can get that at delongi.com. some shelfs to hold the tanks you can get that at walmart sense you say you live upstate like me. In my reptile room i keep honduran 11-milk snakes 2-timor monitors and my turtles.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/grogansilver/snake002.jpg

heres another angle.

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/grogansilver/snake003.jpg

Now we're thinking about putting off the move for another year, but if so I will be changing the home office into a reptile room.