Reptile & Amphibian Forums

2 Questions Id like answered abit more thoroughly:

1. Whats an appropriate sized "water feature" for an adult Nile/Water monitor?

I dont really need a long speech here, I just need suggestions from those that have successfully kept Niles/Waters in large scale enclosures.

2. Whatre the appropriate time intervals for large-scale enclosure substrate changes? Obviously its going to depend on the amount of soiling the animal does in said substrate, and many other factors, but what are we talking here? I mean, a year or 4-6 months I can handle; but are we talking like every month here or what?

I'm not sure there is a perfect answer for your question?
I look at it like this - the bigger the water feature the less
space for exploring, hunting, hides, branches and/or stumps for climbing.
I would think as long as your Nile has enough room to lay
in the water and soak as needed it would suffice. More water
means more maintenance.
My Ornate does not spend much time in the water tub I have in the enclosure. Sometimes he uses it for a toilet and sometimes he doesn't go in for days.?
As far as graduating to a bigger enclosure, give him all you can.
I got mine as a hatchling in December and he has been in an
8'x3'x3' enclosure from day one. I am sure by the end of the year I will be looking to house him in something bigger.

I'd like to save you from the hassle. A Nile monitor lizard does not need nor care about a water feature. People build water features for themselves not the lizard. A simple water pan is all that animal will ever need its entire life. If you want to add a pump-filter, thats fine...but the first time your monitor takes a big rat-dump, that filter is screwed. A water feature can cost hundreds or even thousands. They require lots of maintainance and this gets tiresome over time. The best husbandry is usaully the simplest. Keep it simple and don't get involved with elaborate and extravagant enclosures.
I hope this helps. I know you want your monitor to be happy, but all it needs is food, and heat to be happy. It doesn't need lots of features and accessories.
Rob Faust

Thanks much for the input guys.

Starting the new enclosure soon- just gonna go with a black pvc 'pond' from home depot for the water, dump it before it gets too nasty (outside adjacent) and spray off with a hose, return and fill.

10'x5'x7' wood enclosure, 2- 2x2x4 stock tanks, said water, should do the trick. Gonna make a light box too and attach it to the wall over the stock tanks.