Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am currently keeping one (maby) 12" blackthroat in a 4 foot neodoshe(sp?). I assume this cage is suffecent for now but not big enough to stress the animal? It has a water bowl big enough to allow soaking if it wanted. I have him on 5-8" of cyprus mulch. His basking spot is a "stack" made with flagstone that might be a little on the hot side. I would like input on my setup from experenced keepers as this is my first monitor.
thanks
Ryan

more pics

Take out the mulch and replace it with some kind of dirt that holds moisture and a good burrow. The front dam on a neodesha isn't high enough to allow a good substrate depth, and the monitor is going to grow quickly if given decent conditions and will outgrow it in a month or two. Concider starting building a bigger enclosure now with a dam to allow at least 12" of dirt. Something like 6'x4' or deffinatly bigger if you have the space for it, but these are things you needed to concider before buying the animal, right? I wouldn't think a tub that big is necessary, as if your enclosure allows good humidity and airflow, he will go down in the burrow to help maintain hydration. It would be nice if you gave the exact temps and what you are using to get those readings so we could have a better idea on what is really happening. The branches arent really necessary, mabey a large diameter one for a basking spot. It doesn't look like he has any hides, mabey some hollow logs, that and the dirt will allow hides and burrows. The "stack" isn't necessary, as it appears there is no where for him to get in between the rocks to allow different temp levels. These are some of the things I could think of, I'm sure others will have good input also. Good luck with him.

-Jeff

Take out the mulch and replace it with some kind of dirt that holds moisture and a good burrow.

>I used cypruss mulch because i have bags of it and pro exotics care sheet said it was good( i know they use and say to use dirt but also state they use cypruss for the hachlings before shipping)

The front dam on a neodesha isn't high enough to allow a good substrate depth, and the monitor is going to grow quickly if given decent conditions and will outgrow it in a month or two. Concider starting building a bigger enclosure now with a dam to allow at least 12" of dirt. Something like 6'x4' or deffinatly bigger if you have the space for it, but these are things you needed to concider before buying the animal, right?

>way ahead of you cheif

I wouldn't think a tub that big is necessary, as if your enclosure allows good humidity and airflow, he will go down in the burrow to help maintain hydration.

>Ive only had the lizard for 3 days and i havent seen him burrow at all. If the water bowl being that larg isnt causing a problem then i see no reason to change it.

It would be nice if you gave the exact temps and what you are using to get those readings so we could have a better idea on what is really happening.

>dont have exact temps just some pos reptile thermomiter that only goes to 120 im geting a proexotics temp gun do you have any experence with these? do they work well?

The branches arent really necessary, mabey a large diameter one for a basking spot. It doesn't look like he has any hides, mabey some hollow logs, that and the dirt will allow hides and burrows.

>he has 3 nice tight hide spots(i probably should have mentioned that.)

The "stack" isn't necessary, as it appears there is no where for him to get in between the rocks to allow different temp levels.

>the stack is a larg flat rock with two small strips of rock on each end with another larg flat rock on top similar to the wooden one in the site below. the lizard seems to prefer this hide.
thanks
ryan
pro exotics "retes stack"

Thats not a retes stack youre using there. Maybe its the photo, but I can't see where that monitor has any chance of accessing different temps under the basking spot. Try listening better and taking in what people have to offer, instead of just comparing whatever they say to one caresheet.

im not trying to start a pissing contest here I asked for help and he provided it. I KNOW it(my "stack" provides somewhat of a temperature gradiant and I also KNOW it isnt identical to the "retes stack". I tryed to explain in my second post how he has access two diferent areas within the stack. I compaired it to data I have read and sited an example (pro exotics) im sory if I came accross strongly. if i wasnt going to listen i wouldnt have opened myself up for critics. I wont comment on the validity of your post as it did not address the question
peace
Ryan

Seems like youre more concerned with being "Texas trash"

btw that input on your setup

No, slow YOUR roll lol man calm down it’s just the Internet. You keep any venomous? From your posts it would seem you’d fit right in at the venomous forum. I quit posting there for that reason. but seriously what good have either of your posts done? What would be their reason then? to get a rise ? Well maybe you got one, but you seem to be more concerned with being ral the conqueror than helping anyone. what’s in a name? I post as Texas trash because when people find out your from texas they stereotype you, and well I think its funny so I ran with it. im going to let you have the last word if you want it because ill not respond further to you.
Have fun
Ryan

ral the conquerer ?? Funny you just showed up in these forums this afternoon. Someone gave you good advice and all you did was refer to pro exotic caresheets and question them, and prove how right you were.Then why ask such a simpleton question??

Someone tried giving you help but you knew more than them. Again all you did was refer to the pro exotics exotics caresheet.. You left the venomous forums, why?

>Ive only had the lizard for 3 days and i havent seen him burrow at all.

Monitors need dirt or some type of soil to burrow, cypress does'nt hold a burrow. But its fine to start with.

>dont have exact temps just some pos reptile thermomiter that only goes to 120 im geting a proexotics temp gun do you have any experence with these? do they work well?

That heat lamp is an accident waiting to happen, put some screen or something in between that and your monitor because if it decides to climb it will get burned. As far as proexotics temp guns go, they're awesome!! But you also need a min/max thermometer which they also carry. I have two - one on either side of my enclosure to read my ambients. Also a good rheostat to control and maintain proper temps is something you just cant do without.

Everything else looks fine, hope this helps and doesn't affend you in any way. PS- Keep asking and learning!!

>I used cypruss mulch because i have bags of it and pro exotics care sheet said it was good( i know they use and say to use dirt but also state they use cypruss for the hachlings before shipping)

Your monitor is deffinatly old enough to take advantage of dirt. With decent dirt, it will burrow immediatly. Burrows are used for many things, like hydration, safety, temp regulation, etc... Cypress is usually too wet (by the look of it in your cage also), then dries out too quickly and doesn't hold a proper burrow. Care sheets are just a starting guide, to help you understand the needs of your monitor, nothing to live by.

>way ahead of you cheif

How? Have you already built another enclosure, or are you going to raise the dam somehow to accomidate the level of dirt you need?

>Ive only had the lizard for 3 days and i havent seen him burrow at all. If the water bowl being that larg isnt causing a problem then i see no reason to change it.

That's because you have him on mulch and he cannot burrow! If you don't know what the problem is, how do you know that the water bowl being half the cage isn't causing it? They don't need to soak if the humididty and airflow is good, coupled by a substrate that provides humidity and hiding options like dirt.

>dont have exact temps just some pos reptile thermomiter that only goes to 120 im geting a proexotics temp gun do you have any experence with these? do they work well?

I don't have a dig temp gun yet, but am going to get one very soon. I'm using a dig guage with a probe to check my hot spots.

>he has 3 nice tight hide spots(i probably should have mentioned that.)

Where in the cage are these, as I can't see them. Dirt would provide many options of hide spots and burrows. Hollow logs are also very good for hide spots.

>the stack is a larg flat rock with two small strips of rock on each end with another larg flat rock on top similar to the wooden one in the site below. the lizard seems to prefer this hide.

I didn't see that space between the rocks. It is decent, if the lizard is using it. I would make it bigger though.

Summary: Use dirt instead of cypress. Build a bigger enclosure soon as he will outgrow the neodesha within a month of good growth. A smaller water dish, I guess big enough for him to go into it if he wants to if humidity isn't right. More hides, hollow logs, etc.. Get something better to measure temps. Mainly, get to know your monitor and it's needs, then care sheets will be no use to you at all. It will take time, but with a little work it can be done. Good luck with him.

-Jeff

hope this clears up something

Does he use that? What does it clear up?

I wouldnt worry about stressing him out from being in a big cage at all but if a cage is big enough and you dont know the animal well enough and just got him you wont be able to keep track of how well he eats etc. Id be a bit worried about the light being on an angle and an even temp basking spot, watch for a hot spot thats towards the front that may be very high and lower (much lower toward the rear. Its best to mount the basking light even with the surface and not try to create a larger hot spot with one bulb at some time over using multiple small wattage bulbs. I among others dont like using large or heavy rocks in cages because they may fall on an inquisitive monitor injuring him. I use plywood, you can attach it easily, its light, it heats very evenly, it can be cleaned easily and its whatever shape you can give it. You just got the animal so it will be fine on that stuff for a few weeks or whatever, dirt works great and the animal makes great use of it but you said your setting something else up soon. Id build something it will grow into, they grow fast.

I have a 20 long and a 50 breeder I could temporarily house him in if it would be more appropriate for a monitor of this size. I think he is eating ok (2 fuzzes and who knows how many crickets in the 6 days I’ve had it) but I might be able to better get to know him if I moved him to the 20 or 50. If I put him in the screen top tanks I would also be able to put the light in properly. I cannot find a way to mount the lamp I currently have in a more suitable position any advice or experience with heating this type of cage (Neodesha) would be great. Would a piece of hardware cloth over the lamp make it safer or just give him a easier way to climb up and burn himself? I’m finding this Neodesha might get my pair of coppers so I can put the monitor in their 50 breeder.
I agree I don’t like the thought of a rock squishing my animals I think its stable enough but I’m going to build a real retes stack, which should provide more range in thermoregulation.

On a side note has anyone worked with lexan glass? I was going to use it on a substantial portion of a cage I’m building but I herd large monitors tare plexi glass up.

Thanks Ryan

Lexan is better than plexi-glass, but only thing that won't get scratched
and stay clear, is glass.