Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking for any ideas about building a large monitor cage using a stock tank as a base. I have a juvenile blackthroat monitor who has recently outgrown his 6'X2'X2' stock tank that I modified with a melamine top and hinged, plexiglass door, pictured here. I would like to continue this design for an 8'X 3'X 3' stock tank, but I'm concerned about how to mount and secure such a large top with some sort of door. I would like to have the door as large as possible with glass or plexiglass for viewing, but also enought room on the top to allow for outside mounted lights for heat. Any ideas or pictures would be appreciated. This is a picture of my smaller tank. The entire thing is mounted to a 2 X 4 frame with wheels for easy moving of all the dirt and rock. Thanks for the help.

Rick

Is there any real reason that you need a top? You could just make the sides higher using wood and leave the top open.

If you do need a top than I would suggest making two separate pieces, one for each side.

I would reconsider the overall size before you invest your money/time into it. You will ideally need a much larger enclosure overall for an adult blackthroat.

You need a solid top to prevent a dehydrated monitor. Open tops create conditions that are far to xeric for a monitor to thrive in.
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Steve

Here is an 8x3x2 stock tank with just a plexi lid on it:

Here is the same tank with a top and front sliding doors. Completely sealed:

Note that the roof is pitched because it had to fit inside of a 10x8 shed.