Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey whats up all? I need ideas on a cage for a 5 foot water monitor...the cage should be no smaller the 8 ft long and 8 ft wide and 6 ft tall. water proof is the issue. what type of materials are you guys using that is relitively cheap and durable?

thanks Paul

ps pics would be great!

I would go 10'Wx4'Tx4'D, gotta go at least twice the length. As for material, I would use exterior grade ply 1/2". To water proof, I would use a water based polyurithane. Minwax puts out a water based polyacrylic that I'm currently using building an argus cage. To seal the joints, use silcon caulking (same stuff used to build aquariums). I might suggest that you find a stock tank and build the cage around that. You can see examples of this at www.pizards.com and proexotics also has some pics of this. I would also suggest that you find a way to filter the water since water monitors tend to make a mess of their water . The cage I have my salvator in now works, but it's not a good example and need to incorp. what I've listed above. That's a nice looking sumatran water though.

Good luck to you.

I agree with hbailey on using the polyacrylic and silicone to waterproof. Has worked good for me so far. Just be sure to put AT LEAST 3 interior coats of the stuff on the cage. I would use 3/4" plywood though and for something that size, frame it out with 2 x 4's as well. Check out cybersalvator.com for some other ideas. Many over there advocate the use of FRP to line the inside, though I've never used myself. It's supposed to work great. Good luck! Below is the cage my two juvie Waters are in right now. It's certainly not big enough for two adults (or even one adult), but when I build their final enclosure, I will probably use a similar layout since this one works good. Billy

>>hey whats up all? I need ideas on a cage for a 5 foot water monitor...the cage should be no smaller the 8 ft long and 8 ft wide and 6 ft tall. water proof is the issue. what type of materials are you guys using that is relitively cheap and durable?
>>
>>thanks Paul
>>
>>ps pics would be great!
>>