Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just thought I'd run my ideas over with you guys. I plan on using a bookshelf with doors. The bottom quarter will be solid with the front portion of the bookcase having glass doors. If needed, I can paint the bookcase in case it will corrode. From reading some of the posts, PTS have urine (I have bearded dragons and their urates are "solid" so I've decided to alter a couple of things. I'd like to build an acrylic box for the bottom of the tank where I'd keep actually substrate. I'd add some river rocks at the bottom for drainage and the rest would probably be peat soil and if it's safe, some sand.

I guess I'm trying to create a modified terrarium. I'd grow a ficus tree. Can anyone give me a list of other plants that are safe for prehensile tailed skinks? I'll probably cut the actually shelves from the bookcase in half and use two shelves. Will this be enough? What's good to use as hide boxes? I already have some pothos, but I need to buy a couple more plants and they won't be ready for at least 2 months. I have to wait til the pesticides and other chemicals are out of the plants. Also, the point of having this kind of enclosure would be less maintenance. Is this a reasonable goal? I'm assuming that the tree will use up some of the "nutrients" left by the skinks. If necessary, I will add some compost worms to help break things down. I will probably be cleaning out and inch of topsoil every month and replacing it with "clean" topsoil

My last question is regarding the actually size of the enclosure. What is more important, length, height or width? I'm guessin they're very height oriented. Can I have a taller, but narrower enclosure. I'm looking at a length of about 22, but the width would probably be slightly more than 12, and the height, can be 72 or highter. I also plan on drilling holes in the back of the bookcase for some ventilation. Would using screen be better?

Please feel free to critique my plans. I am completely open to criticism as I am trying to do it the right way. I'd really appreciate it if anyone can take time out to respond. Thanks.

I don't want to completely rain on your plans, but I will give you my honest and well meant criticism:
Hopefully some of the other PTS keepers will chime in with opinions....

PTS have hearty appetites and drink alot- and this comes out the other end in fairly smelly copious feces and large amounts of urine. You will be wanting to remove the waste daily or at least a few times a week. I think having semipermanent substrate will not work well- you will have mold problems, odor problems, and probably dangerous build up of bacteria. If you had a room sided enclosure, it might work better... I use plain old newspaper or paper towels on the bottom- and need to change it daily or every other day.
Ficus is safe, but as I wrote before- it will be rapidly trashed. lIve plants are nice treats for them (golden pothos), but live plants will be EATEN. I use plastic/silk plants as extra hiding space and as decoration.
Hides: cork rounds, wood half rounds, piles of plastic plants, large live pothos or ferns.

Your goal of a less maintenance enclosure with nutrient recycling is a nice idea, and would probably work for smaller critters like frogs or a single chameleon, but PTS are LARGE and MESSY. I think if you want PTS, you will need to get used to doing daily water changes (they like to poop and pee in their water), daily or every other day poop scooping or paper changing, daily feeding and picking up the food they will push out of their dish, ect.

Most of the PTS keepers I talk to have cage heights of 5' or more. Height is important- they are climbers. The depth and width don't have to be 5', but I don't think 12" is wide enough. Again, these are large animals when grown. If you want to adapt a existing piece of furniture, I think you should look for something with height as well as depth and width, such as a wardrobe or storage cabinet.

cheers, Jess b

Thanks for raining on my parade Jess. I've made some modifications. Actually alot. Tell me what you think now. I'llbe having a custom cage built. The size will be 24 long by 18 wide by 60 high. Would this be large enough for a pair? Should it be taller? Does it have to be wider? Let me know. Do you know if plum trees are safe? I can use branches from one of them. Where do you buy your supplies? I will also have a couple shelves in there. There will be one incandescent or mercury vapor bulb in there. Will this be adequate lighting? I have read that their basking temps should be 105 degrees but I have also read that they don't do well at temps over 85. Obviously, they're reptiles and thermoregulate. I assume that 105 at the top will keep the enclosure at around 80.

I will line the bottom with either reptile carpet or astroturf. The ficus and pothos will be used as an extra food source from time to time. Now if only I can find a mulberry tree or two.

Thanks for your time.

Hi Again- I like the height, can you accomodate something a little wider and deeper? The size you posted will probably be adequate for a compatible pair, but will rapidly become crowded if you end up with any offspring- and it is always nice/good if you can keep a family group together.
I am not sure about plum. Many fruit trees are safe, but some aren't. I recall Cherry leaves and bark are bad. Apple and almond are ok branches to use. We have grape trunks, apple, manzanita, and mulberry branches, as well as cork and thick rope in our enclosures.
My supplies come from the neighborhood trees, reptile shows, East Bay Viviarium and the local pet store.
105 sounds to HOT to me. I get worried if the temp creeps close to 95. I try to keep the hot zone 85-90 degrees. The coldest part is room temp (65-70), but I add supplemental heat at the bottom when there are non-climbing newborns there!
I use el-cheapo newspaper on the bottom. I remove it when soiled, and actually clean the bottom melamine weekly.
cheers, Jess b

hanks for raining on my parade Jess. I've made some modifications. Actually alot. Tell me what you think now. I'llbe
having a custom cage built. The size will be 24 long by 18 wide by 60 high. Would this be large enough for a pair? Should it
be taller? Does it have to be wider? Let me know. Do you know if plum trees are safe? I can use branches from one of them.
Where do you buy your supplies? I will also have a couple shelves in there. There will be one incandescent or mercury
vapor bulb in there. Will this be adequate lighting? I have read that their basking temps should be 105 degrees but I have also
read that they don't do well at temps over 85. Obviously, they're reptiles and thermoregulate. I assume that 105 at the top
will keep the enclosure at around 80.

I will line the bottom with either reptile carpet or astroturf. The ficus and pothos will be used as an extra food source from
time to time. Now if only I can find a mulberry tree or two.