Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have been waiting patently for kids to move out to free up space .Doesnt look like that is going to happen so I have decided to use the basement. I think now is actually a better place,after 9 months of research and reading varius forums ackies are definatly my best match up size/$/space.My basesment will allow me to set up a 8 foot trough (dont think I spelt that right) with 4x8x4 enclosure on top of it recent heat has had me alittle woried about keeping temps down in the sumer.The basement stays around 60 all year easier to keep heat up and under controll (less fluctuation).Work has been a little slow to say the least, so it is still a waiting game I want to be all set up raise up cage and permanent enclosure and a litle stash in case of emergencies (vet visits if needed) before I get them. So for now I will have to just stick to reading forums and looking at other peoples pix. I have a few ideas how I want to set up cage but would love to hear ideas or se pix of other peoples ackie enclosures. Thats it for now sorry for the long post thanks for reading

not sure why this is a hot topic

recent heat has had me alittle woried about keeping temps down in the sumer

while it is true that it is easier to heat a cool basement than it is to cool an area down. monitors do like lots of heat and I doubt your house gets hot enough to cook them out or else you would be dying as well, A good basking spot has a surface temperature between 120 and 150f. Obviously their whole enclosure shouldn't be that warm but I doubt you let your house get that hot.
I live in Fl. and keep a lot of animals in outdoor enclosures and I have found that lots of reptiles can take temps on both ends of the spectrum beyond what is recommended as long as they have a large enough area to move around in and make choices as to their temps.
The guy most responsible for establishing ackies in this country lives in Arizona and while I do believe he keeps a lot of his animals indoors (under heat lamps...in arizona.) he does keep some stuff outdoors as well. He may pop in here and give you more insight than I have but just so you know monitors LOVE heat.

I underestand they like the heat I was thinking if sealt the cages and it got to around 80 in the house the ambient air temp would get to high I have a tokay and when it gets that hot in the house I have to switch bulbs its air temps get to over 100 whith a fifty what blue bulb. Im not triing to argue with you thats just what I was thinking. My basement will be a all around better place anyway. it will give me a chance to learn in a more stable temp, On a positive note new england basements are humid by nature so that should help.thanks for the insight

If you provide a substrate they can dig into, that'll *always* be cooler than ambient air temp (provided you're using overhead heat sources rather than UTHs). Go outside on a 100 degree day, dig about 4" down and measure the temp.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

thanks for the input guys I have done alot of research, about every thing I could find online I know that some of its better than others. Just to clarify I plan on using a 8 foot trough(the main reason for going downstairs more room) full of dirt. With a 4x8x4 top, I have read posts that say the more room you give them the more fun thay are. I know the basking temps I need to achieve and the temp range to look for. dark tight hiding spots and other furniture to entertain them and also for hiding. Im sure finding the right substrait will take some trial and error like everything else im sure but I feel confident with researc ive done and the forums to help. just wanted to let you know that this is not an impulse buy, bean researching and reading for about 10 months. Thanks for reading

Your right, I cannot imagine a basement in the east that would be too hot for a monitor. If fact very much the opposite.

Your also very right, a range of temps is best for all reptiles, not just monitors.

With monitors, a range from 70 to 150F would allow all life events is the cage is set up well. Or even half well.

Your also very right that most of my ackies are inside, whats wrong with me? but have bred them outside as well. Now, I have some gilleni and caudolenis outside. Its going to be 106 tomorrow. And 109F the next day, They love it as long as they can stay out of the sun, which produces temps in the 160F range right now.

Where Ackies come from is very much like here(So. Az.), only in some places way hotter. Red ackies come from places that are like Death Valley.

thanks for all the input guys. I look forward to reding new posts on all the forums. Would still love to se pix of ackie enclosures.