Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just sharing a new custom cage done by Repti-racks for a blue tree monitor. Features a completely automated misting system and wireless remote fogging system.Just have to add bark and panels for walls to climb on.

Enjoy

Sick! What is the ballpark price for something like that? Looks very nice.
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I think it looks kinda small? To live it's life out in, I'd go at least twice that size.

agree, especially considering it's the largest tree monitor of the prasinus complex. We really need to stop thinking about small closet type cages and start thinking about what kind of space is actually livable, not survivable.

I just commented on this cage in the caging forum and thought the cage size was a little small also. I was thinking a minimum of 8'x8'x4'. I love monitors but know that I couldn't give them the attention. You varinid keepers are nuts, maybe when I'm old and retired!
Nate

[We really need to stop thinking about small closet type cages and start thinking about what kind of space is actually livable, not survivable.]

Couldn't have said it better

We need to stop thinking about cage sizes so much as how to maximise the usability of the space we have. Nothing you give them in captivity can ever compare to what they have available in the wild.

Nicely stated. Most seem to be judging on a unfinished cage pic. The inside isnt even close to being done. every square inch is going to be climbable and will be hideable areas.

Yeah I have a BLue Tree and he is full grown at least 2ft to vent and a two ft tail I have him in a huge enclosure and he uses all of it leaping from branch to branch. I was surprised at how big he is now. He will surely hurt his nose ramming into those walls. My enclosure is 8ft wide. My Green tree would be great in that one but not a full grown Blue

Looks nice. If you don't mind me asking, what are the dimensions? Since the peanut gallery has decided once again to offer critisizm on a habitat created for species none of them keep based on assumptions derived from zero information, maybe you could clear things up for them. The amount of space is important, but more important is how you use that space, in my opinion.

My guess is 2.5 x 2.5 x 6, possibly seven.

Ive seen that already. its 36x36x72. Walls are not done and still adding more climbing vines and such he will have every wall to climb on and hide as well.
Thanks

Sounds good. I keep a couple of timors in a cage that size only a couple feet taller, no problems. Do you have the animal/animals that will be housed in there yet?

Yes we have a tree monitor for this set up when its done.

I have kept V. Prasinus and V. Kordensis both in steel tubs that allowed their rubbed raw nose [when purchased] to heal. Anything they can see through is not a good choice as they try to get into the area they see but cant. Having brains much smaller then ours they dont seem to understand glass/plexiglass is a cut off point for their houseing but still keep trying to push through rubbing their nose raw. I would at least put up newspaper or something against the glass to prevent this, kind of the way birds fly into your picture window or patio door.
Robert Sutton

I guess I'm part of the peanut gallery. Granted I don't keep the blue tree monitor, but I don't think my assumptions are based on zero information. Certainly it's important how the space available is used, but cage sizes shouldn't be based on what's socially acceptable. Varanids are a very intelligent group, and although their body language can be tough to read at times, I can't imagine the psyche of these animals remaining healthy when they have to live in small boxes all their lives. These animals need large cages for both physical health, and mental health. But no one considers mental health. All that matters is that they have a hot spot, a cool spot and a hide. I don't think that's good enough.

This is a picture of a cage in progress for a pair of yellow tree monitor (Varanus reisingeri) 6x4x9. This cage is too small in my book as well, so perhaps I'll put together another aviary outside for summer months like I have for my Argus.

Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of extra large cages myself, I just think people get tunnel vision, concentrating too much on numbers rather than what the animals are actually doing and how they use the tools provided. I also think too many people pass around advice based on what they read rather than what they have actually seen.

In all honesty, I am a big fan of large varanids and own a few myself. I keep a couple of niles in a large bedroom. They have plenty of room to move around, but they actually only use 50% of that space at best. Money spent on heating that room could be better used someplace else, so it's really quite a waste.

Ha ha ha I just realized who I am arguing with. I knew I had seen that cage someplace before. I can't recall you posting here for quite some time, heh heh, or anywhere for that matter. How have you been?

haha, I was wondering if you recognized me or not. It's been a while since I've posted here. I've been good, but very busy packing all kinds of chemistry and biology in my head... there's only so much room in there
cheers

Very impressive!

Keep us updated with photos
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Mike Heinrich,
Mike@amazontreeboa.org
www.amazontreeboa.org