Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Steps in the building process.

The bottom 20" if covered by FRP board to protect the wood from the dirt rotting it out.

I added 20" of dirt to the left side and 17" or so to the right side, as I am going to put a large pile of oak leaves in. 20" is a lot of dirt, a half yard. Ben Aller and I had a conversation a few years ago about people claiming to have more dirt depth than they really have. I see why that is, not many people want to haul that much dirt, mind you this was only a 4'x28" floor plan.

That's a F250 long bed.

Finshed I have more basking sites now, that was just testing the cage out.

Here's the V. tristis.

Almost 2 months later.
Here's a few new photos of him, since getting him he's shed, and some very nice blues, and red tones came out.

One of my Yucca branches started budding in the cage.

Thanks,
Chad

Looks nice, do you have any problems with it getting to warm up top. I ask because I have a 3' tall cage with shelves about 8" from the top and it gets pretty hot up there with only one basking spot. Suprizingly my ackies spend alot of time up there. Sorry didn't mean to take away from your post, thats a nice looking tristis sharp colors. it's preety cool the tree is budding in the cage.

Nick: It gets pretty hot up there 112 is the highest I've measured it, but I don't normally take temps. During the hottest part of the day he'll move lower in the cage, but he does use the upper levels when it's over 100F.
Thanks.

tj: Thanks those are some nice looking V. tristis!

Boabasin: When I first brought him home, he was a bit shy, now will almost jump on me for food, I've only had him around 2 months.

I've never seen him climbing on the bulbs or near them, he doesn't sit still long, so even if he did, I don't think he'd burn himself, no worries about it. Now if the cage was cold, with the bulbs on, then yes I could have something to worry about, but it's never that cold.

I have one small vent 3"x15" on the bottom right hand of the cage, right above the substrate.

Thanks,
Chad

very nice
there fun !!!!! i use to have some many moon's ago
here an old pic

Very nice monitor and pretty cool cage, congrats!

How's the temperment in this species? They don't look shy at all.

Now 2 husbandry related questions:

- Is there any chance that it will get a thermal burn from climbing on that lower flood lamp? It seems pretty easy for the lizard to climb on it if it wants.

- Do you drill ventilation holes?