Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey there guys I just got my first pair of flavi crosses from Frank @ Goanna Ranch and was wondering what kind of setup you guys have for your yougsters. Currently mine are being held in a 30 long with some play sand (about to change that). Have a basking spot of about 130. Should I ixnay on the screen top and just build them their enclosure now? How are your guys appetites mine have not taken pinks yet but have consumed cricks give me some suggestions guys I dont want to neglect them from having the best I can offer. Feel free to post pics of your enclosure so I can get an idea of what I am doing wrong or right.

The two little kids are small about 10 inches total lenght theyre just babies

thanks alex

Hi Alex, cover the screen top(leave some venting) and reduce the wattage(heat)

I use lots of tanks, but I make plexiglass tops for them. Screen tops cause extreme dehydration, which really can stress monitors.

Just think about it, your heating air, its raising and taking all availible moisture with it. Then consider reptiles are a salamander with a slighly thicker skin. F

Hey Frank thanks for the advice I didnt want to bother you over at varanus.net with beginner stuff this tank is temporary till next week when their larger enclosure is done. But I will go ahead and do that right now so theyre more comfortable.

thanks alex

Hi, Alex.So you got some of those babies on the classifieds. Those are great looking. I have 3 of them in a 4x2x2 for now. Mine are a little over a foot and have eaten like pigs since day one,Crix, pinkies,turkey,chicken,and whatever else I can give them to eat.My top is all mesh but I sealed it with aluminum foil and steel tape, to trap heat and moisture better. It also depends on where you live. I live in Florida so humidity isnt much of a problem here.Im using dirt from my yard mixed in with a some compost and only have to throw water in about once a week, if that.I use 1 45 watt flood for the basking spot. Try feeding them different things to get them eating. Give them plenty of hide spots, heat and fresh water. Good luck.

Im in California Northern that is so I do have a problem with humidity so ill definatley do the foil thing unitl their enclosure is done next couple of weeks.

thanks alex

my very small flavi cross is in a large rubbermaid container with a retes rack, 125F basking spot and about 7" of sand peat moss not to metion fresh water. this is just my cage until i finish my 4'X 2'X 2' cage.but i have to say rubbermaid is great for keep your temps and humidity. to bad rubermaid doesn't make 4'X 2'X 2' cages!!!!!

wish you luck the crosses (imo) are fun monitors.and i've hear they are very hardy animals.

good luck
Alex Oliver

I have a pair of youngsters also. I have my larger one in a 4'x2'x2' glass cage and the smaller in a 3'x2'x2' wood and plexi cage. My substrate is decomposed granite. Where in nor cal are you, I am from Santa Rosa.

Hey there I am from the bay area near san jose. Where did you find the decomposed granite? I heard good and bad things about it but it looks great. Where did you get your crosses from? Arent they great animals? Mine are together hopefully they will turn out to be a pair.

alex

I got the d.g. from a local landscape supply yard. Most landscape supply yards have it, atleast where I live. The stuff is pretty good once you filter out all the the larger rocks and dirt clods. It cost me about $5 for a five gallon sized bucket. My crosses are from Ben siegal reptiles and the other one is from brrr. So far they have become to be my favorite pet reptile I have ever owned. The fact that I can tap on the cage and have them burst off a basking spot or hiding place and eat about ten crikets in two seconds makes me look forward to feeding them.
(I always tap on the cage glass before each feeding so that any disturbance in the room will excite them rather than scare the crap out of them.)

Thats actually very intresting thats a good approach once you analyze it. I can see how they would initiate the tapping on the glass as a feeding response. I am going to have mine in a high traffic area so thats a good tip so they dont get freaked out everytime they here something loud and have them run off and be scared rather than them being inquisitive about it

alex