My Sumatran water monitor, now approaching 4ft., has just about outgrown his custom built enclosure and I am now looking to begin construction on something larger. I have decided to again go with a custom built vs. a purchased enclosure for multiple reasons, the main being price. I have access to cheaper materials and tools and possess the carpentry skills required to build such a cage, not to mention the joy and fulfillment that comes with combining creativity with functionality to build a reptile enclosure.
The cage currently housing my monitor has a wooden frame, drywall-textured fiberglass-coated plywood (water proof, easy to clean, and aesthetically pleasing) for the bottom and back, and plexiglass for the front, sides, and half of the top. The other half of the top is wire mess for ventilation and UV light purposes. There are 3 levels, a portion of the bottom level contains a large heated water tub, which is easily removable for cleaning purposes.
I would like the new cage to be large enough to house him for the next couple of years, but not take up an entire room, and also to posses some of the same functional features as the current one – adequate ventilation, large water tub, basking areas, split-levels, etc.
I am interested in receiving appropriate designs and dimensions for such a lizard, from individuals that have made custom cages of their own. What you’ve found works best, what to avoid, and how best to balance an attractive cage with functionality.
Chad
