Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HI Everyone,

My son had done me a hidden favour by accidently smashing the side of my Viv on Xmas eve. Now the viv he is in is repairable but I aint telling the mrs that .

My Sav is roughly 7 months old and 30 inches from nose to tail and I think she is going to a massive monitor (hopefully!)

I want to build an 8x4x4 for her but my question is, What design should I use? I mean I want to put a lot of dirt in the viv for her to burrow her heart out, so is it only overhead heating? How do i make the viv accessable? i.e front or top?

Any other advice or even better pics will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Phil
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1 Chameleo Calyptratus, 1 Varanus Exanthematicus, 1 Morelia Spilota Sp.??

Hi Phil! Sorry to hear about the accident, but congrats on the initiative to get going on the new enclosure. I would use 3/4" plywood and then reinforce the bottom with 2 x 4's. You could even go as far as to frame the whole thing out in 2 x 4's though I don't think it is totally necessary. Make it front opening and if you have room, have the doors swing out, and as a second option, have them open down. I'm not sure of what your heating requirements (how cold the ambients are) but I would suggest a combination of overhead spotlamps for a basking spot and radiant heat panels mounted to the ceiling for ambient heat. Then it's just a matter of putting the appropriate sized litter dam on the front and dumping in the dirt! Here's a pic of my 7.5 x 3 x 3 enclosure for my Waters. It does not have any reinforcements for the floor and easily holds about 5" of dirt though if I add more dirt I will probably throw in a few 2 x 4's to firm things up a bit. I've added and changed some things around since this pic and that's also why I would suggest just making a box and not going crazy with bolting shelves and lighting fixtures to the inside - this will give you much more flexibility later on. Oh yeah, put wheels on the bottom! Makes life life with a big cage MUCH easier!! Best of luck and post pics when it's done! Billy

>>HI Everyone,
>>
>>My son had done me a hidden favour by accidently smashing the side of my Viv on Xmas eve. Now the viv he is in is repairable but I aint telling the mrs that .
>>
>>My Sav is roughly 7 months old and 30 inches from nose to tail and I think she is going to a massive monitor (hopefully!)
>>
>>I want to build an 8x4x4 for her but my question is, What design should I use? I mean I want to put a lot of dirt in the viv for her to burrow her heart out, so is it only overhead heating? How do i make the viv accessable? i.e front or top?
>>
>>Any other advice or even better pics will be greatly appreciated!
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Phil
>>-----
>>1 Chameleo Calyptratus, 1 Varanus Exanthematicus, 1 Morelia Spilota Sp.??

Hello.
Here is one I am building.
The base is made out of 4x4x2 boxes, two of them pushed together. They are made out of thick plywood, 2x4's and waterproofed. They are sturdy and can hold 2 feet deep of dirt.
The tops are made out of cheaper and lighter wood, 8x4x4. The doors are the panels on each side of the middle window.
Just an idea.
D.

I thought you said you didn't know how to build?

I really like that Goon.

Hope you had a great Christmas.

Gene