Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just got this guy. Heres a few pics and of his enclosure i made for him. Enjoy!

Gorgeous cage! The monitor is looking great too. How big is your enclosure? And what was the budget on it, if you don't mind me asking.

Jason

The tank is an 85 gl

do you want the cost of everyhting total including the tank and lights or just to build the background and decorate it?

great looking enclosure. i am interested in how you did the background with the foam. won't the nails destroy the foam. also, what do you put over it. just paint. I really like it ad would not mind knowing how you did it as well as what you used.
thanks

i really like the cage very cool idea,

The foam is cut with a razor blade to fit the back and sides. Then you cut up various other pieces and hot glue them together, depending on the design you are going for. After you glue them, start carving them up to give them some realism and depth. Next comes about 3-4 layers of quikrete concrete mix. The first layer being a more sloppy and watered down. You apply with a paint brush. the next layers are made thicker and applied by hand. Then you use non toxic acrylic craft paint and water it down and apply with foam brushes. Paint and let dry and paint some more untill you get the desired effects.

I learned how to do this in the dendro community. I keep poison dart frogs as well and make thier backgrounds the same way. They hold up extemely well. you can even use this method in aquariums if you cure the cement.

Heres another example I did for my woma.

Back to the price

If you already have the enclosure and lights and what not it is very affordable.

Sheet of foam $12
tube of silicone $6
hot glue gun $5
glue sticks $3
bag of quikrete $4
paint $4
foam brushes $2
box of gloves $7
exacto knife/box cutter $4

thanks for sharing

That seems a bit small? I have a lone male (till I can locate a female) in a 7'x4'x28" and he uses every bit of it, if I could have I would have made it deeper but I couldn't fit in the room if I went an 1" deeper.

I haven't seen an update on your cage since you first posted it. The plants have grown so much, they look really good! Kudos on the awesome enclosure.

Hi, that`s a really great enclosure, and a very healthy looking monitor, well done!
I (think)? I notice you`re using the compact spiral bulbs, there`s evidence to state they can/do damage the animal/s eyes, see the following website for an in-depth report: uvguide.co.uk

The problem with that is was Beard Dragon etc.. keepers that allow cool animals to get REALLY close to the bulbs causing eye problems. My cage is never that cold, and he doesn't sit still enough to get that close. I've used these type of bulbs for 8 years now off and on without issue.

Thanks,
Chad

Yes, you`re right, in a few instances it was Bearded dragons, but those lamps CAN cause eye problems, it`s not species specific. Obviously, you know your set up best, and I hope your monitor/s continue to flourish!

I said Bearded Dragons etc.. IE other species. Though the problems were with mostly Bearded Dragon keepers keeping them on cold tile bottom cages. They also had problems with Tortoises.

As I said the problem was with letting the animals get really close to the bulbs in cold cages, and just plan to close, my bulbs are set where he can't really sit near it for extended periods of time thus I have no problems using them.

Thanks,
Chad