Reptile & Amphibian Forums

JUST A QUICK QUESTION I HAVE HAD A SUMATRAN SALVATOR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HAVE KEPT HIM IN A 36" X 18" X 17" GLASS CAGE WITH HALF GLASS HALF SCREEN LID. I USE A CERAMIC HEAT EMMITER AND RED BULB TO KEEP TEMPS AND A SMALL HEAT PAD UNDER TANK IN HIS FAVORITE HIDE SPOT UNDER THE WATER TUB. I KEEP THE AMBIENT TEMP ABOUT 83 DEGREES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A HERPSTAT THERMOSTAT AND USE A SMALL CAT LITTER BOX FOR WATER AND FEED HIM 30 SUPER WORMS EVERY OTHER DAY, SUPPLEMENTED WITH REP-CAL MULTI VITAMINS AND CALCIUM. I ALSO HAVE A STACK OF BARK ON THE BASKING SIDE OF THE CAGE TO ACHIEVE A REETES STACK EFFECT. I USE A SUBSTRATE CALLED DECOMPOSED GRANITE ABOUT 3" TO 4" INCHES THICK HE LIKES TO BURROW IN IT. NEED TO KNOW IF THIS ALL SOUNDS GOOD FROM YOU GUYS AND GALS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR INPUT. I AM THINKING OF SWITCHING TO A CRITTER CONDO MELAMINE CAGE WITH GLASS DOORS IN FRONT. 4" X 2" X 2"

with waters- i would say first off feed pre killed or f/r mice in addition to the super worms his temps should be anywhere from 75 in the coolest spots or cool side to a basking spot at least the size of his stv length (stv= snout to vent) of 135 to 140 and as big of a water dish you can give remember he is a water monitor.. "CAGE" all glass sucks there is no sense of real security with all glass as far as a 4' x2'x2'melamine thats ok for a water up to about 2 feet total lenght dont forget waters can get up to about 6 feet.. for a water lets just say 4 feet in length you need a cage at least 7 feet long 4 feet wide and 4 feet high and thats AT LEAST so you probably get my point. just do your best and give as much as you can

pro exotics also has a great water monitor care sheet
also decomposed granite is GREAT STUFF!!!

to be honest, if your asking these kind of questions you're probably pretty new to monitors. water monitors really aren't a beginners choice, heck even experienced keeper are challenged by this species. are you aware that with in a couple years this monitor could reach close to 7ft and weigh close to 60LBs. it will require a room size cage... 10 x 8ft is reasonable. it will eat so much that the gov't should give you a tax break. not to mention the heat you'll need to provide, humidity you'll need to create and the daily upkeep. it will be very expensive, and take up a lot of your time and space. if you're able to provide all this you'll find that they are wonderful animals. i keep a salvator cumingi myself. to find out all you need to know about salvator, look up a guy named John Adragna.

cheers
shay

I HAVE HAD HIM FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND I RESEARCHED ALOT BEFORE I BOUGHT HIM AND GOT HIM FROM PRO EXOTICS ROBYN IS AWESOME BUT EVERYONE SAYS DIFFERENT SO I WASA JUST BACKING UP WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT WAY. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE.

The right way is whatever it takes to get him comfortable and keep his curiousity healthy. Rule of thumb is hard to pin with these guys because they really are characters and seem to have personalities that range more like a cat or dog.

I've tried a number of different cage sizes. Right now I keep two of them in a 5'x2'x2' cage, one is two years old and one is three. Same basic locality as yours, and while mine aren't intentionally stunted they seem to have come from a lineage of smaller animals. I'm not saying everyone could get away with this, and certainly not saying I will for very long. I tried it as an experiment and for now it is working, I do have backup caging if it doesn't. I'm also building much larger, more permanent caging for them. But, for what it's worth, my two small adults are far more content sharing this thing than they've been in any cage they've had so far.

Conditions? I change the water two to three times a day. The water dish itself is a rubbermade tote that is just small enough for me to easily lift in and out. Both animals fit in it together, so I consider the size good. I have bedding in the cage that averages four inches deep, and a lot of logs that these two have since arranged how they like. They burrow underneath the logs to sleep, and occassionally to just get alone when they want during the day (the female is, by nature, a little more secretive though she does come out frequently).

The cage is closed on all sides but the front (tough pvc mesh). Hotspot lighting is in there providing two seperate basking areas. The animals roam constantly, but aren't spending all their time trying to get out. Because of the screen they are well aclimated to the presence of people in the house and are puppy-dog tame (though I still don't handle them without gloves).

Unlike previous cages (the combined sizes of which were larger than this single cage) they aren't constantly looking for a way out. That to me is a good indicator that they are comfortable.

I'm not looking to get flamed, and what works for me certainly may not work for you. I'm merely suggesting that while it's really, really fun to give our animals large habitats (you'd probably love my tree monitor setup) and your concern for your animal is admirable, work with it. Pay attention, provide a variety of situations for it and let it tell you what it prefers. If it's constantly trying to get out of the cage you've provided, work with it; provide sight-blocks to make the animal feel more secure, and if it still is telling you that it wants out give it something bigger. Get to know it and it'll let you know what it wants and when you've provided the solution. Simply building a huge box and tossing it in there may not be the solution...you could get lucky, but chances are if you really get to know the critter you'll begin to understand it's likes and dislikes and ultimately be able to modestly provide it with the best home possible.

For water monitors space is never enough. I'm guessing you probably wouldn't be too happy living in the middle of an empty 20,000 square foot warehouse with little more than a bed, a light, and a bathtub. Give it what it wants. Space is a concern, but a secondary one.