Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do most people who keep ackies / kimberlies use for cages? I have thought about a plastic, glass fronted cage like a Vision, but that doesn't really give a lot of depth for burrowing... I have also looked at stock tanks, but don't like the fact that you can only view the animals from the top or that there is really no place to mount a heat panel. Has anyone tried using a vision and improvising a taller litter dam? Like maybe installing a 6'' or 8'' tall piece of acrylic (or some other type of plastic, plywood, etc) across the front of the cage, behind the glass doors?

Yea, visions are great, if you stand them on end, and fill with dirt. But then they are top opening like a trough.

Troughs and tubs (top opening) enclosures, have two very important benefits, they are easy to create nesting areas and they keep crickets in the cage. The later is by far the most important if your cages are in the house.

All in all, you have to decide what you want to do, but if its about "easy" cages and breeding monitors, forget it, they don't seem to go together.

I have talked to Scott at Vision cages about making cages for small monitors, but hes of the opinion that monitor keepers are to cheap. So he concentrated on all othter groups of reptile people. Actually he thinks everybody is cheap, but monitor keepers more so. hahahahahahahahaha.

Also, in my opinion, heat panels are of no use with monitors and are a waste of energy, sorry. F

I used Vision cages my two monitors (long story short--the place I lived in needed absolute proof that the monitor was secure, and a locked Vision cage was the easiest way to reassure them). I put a six-inch high strip of plywood along the litter dam (thus giving them about 7 or 8 inches of dirt). I also kind of formed the dirt into hills at the back to give them a little more depth. It seemed to work out okay, though it was very far from perfect. They would doubtlessly have been happy with more depth, and the dirt was an absolute mess all the time. It does work, but I *really* do not recommend it.

Oh, and by the way--I would gladly buy a pre-fabricated monitor cage. I don't really have a great deal of time or skill to get all into building them, and I'd be willing to pay Vision-cage prices for a similar-quality product that has a built-in 8-12 inch litter dam or a top opening.

Thanks for the responses.... I will check out that link.

As for the heat panel... I intend to use them strictly for help in mantaining a gradient. I am going to be keeping these guys in my snake room.... I keep green tree pythons exclusively, and my room is geared towards breeding & cycling them.... as such, during the winter cycling time, night time lows will get down to about 70. I know many of you do it, but I don't like the idea of "light's on" 24hrs a day. I've found the panels to be far superior to red lights for night heat & will set them up to keep the cage no cooler than high 70's. They will have a 120 degree basking spot in the day time.

Also, I've done extensive searching, but there is very little info out there on the web... why are the Kimberlies regarded as more difficult to keep than ackies? Care, maintenance, diet, etc seem to be about the same from what I've been able to find. These will be my first lizards, and I want to get all my ducks in a row before bringing them home....

Thanks!

Heat strips or heat pads work great for dark heat with monitors.

I think the best advice I can give you is, do not keep monitors in the same room with pythons. That is not doing justice to either one. I have bred and do breed several types of reptiles, and the odd man out is the monitors, they require heat far in excess of what other reptiles do. Simply put, they will make it a challange to keep "cooler" reptiles in the same room.

Also, as the first breeder of Kimberlys, I can say, that 120F hot spot is very marginal. 135 to 160F is far better. Also, I keep reading of here that 8 to 12 inches of substrate is suitable. I would say thats its not, 14 to 24 inches is far better. Can you imagine a three foot lizard burrowing in 8 inches of dirt??? Good luck and Green Tree pythons are really great. F

np.

I have seen their cages and they are well made. They will make any dam size you need and can customize almost anything. I had priced a 48x26x25 with a 10" dam, sliding glass doors, oak under cabinet and oak top for a little over $500. Of course you don't have to buy the stand or top, the cage was about $200.

the troughs serve the monitors better than any other available setup, so try and make use of them. you want something with a frontal view? then make your lid for the trough fit that way. bring it up a foot or two, and have a front opening door or window, ta da! you will still have an indestructible base, plenty of burrowing dirt, and happier monitors.

the Boaphile is working now on modifying the snake cages to fit on top of a trough, maybe give him a ring.

it wouldn't be hard to do it yourself, you just need a little creativity and elbow grease. for those that suggest using a litter dam with Visions, i laugh at them, HAHAHA (deep bassy carton laugh) because we have tried that a few times, and the only thing it is, is retarded. it is so goofy and unpractical it is just not worth it. unless you've never tried anything else, and in that case, maybe you think it's the nuts : )

start with the trough, you will be much happier in the long run!
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Just finished reading it. Now I want one or two.
-----
----------
0.0.7 goldfish

thanks very much. i am trying to do my articles with more detail and step by step kind of info for those that are really just starting, and need so many questions answered. so i am trying to cover all the bases, for babies.

needless to say, i have gotten a few calls from upset "experts" that complained because i didn't cover any husbandry for adults, or breeding info. like, really complaining!

oh well, can't win 'em all : )

i have put that article, the originalk uncut version, up at our site, if anyone needs to reference it in the future : )

thanks again for the feedback!
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles