Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I just ordered my first baby Nile Monitor yesterday from LLReptile. Its supposedly going to be 6"-11". I'm sooo excited!This is my first Nile Monitor and I just wanted to let you know if my current temporary set up is ok. It's going to be in a 30 gallon tank with a rocky basking spot on the left end, branches and a water dish in the middle, and a rock on the right end. There will also be an assortment of plastic plants throughout the cage. I havent decided on bedding yet, im still debating over nature bark and sand. I'm planning on using a 100 watt ceramic heat emmitter on the basking spot on the left which should give it an air temp of about 90 at the basking spot, and about 75 on the far right end of the cage. I've heard many different suggestions for basking spot temps and I'm not sure if mine will be ok, or if I should move up to the 150 watt which should give me around a 100 degree basking spot. I'm also planning on feeding it small pinkys. Any suggestions?

Hey man your in for a ride with the Nile,there a really fun animal and grow big,i would say keep the basking spot around 95-100.and on the cooler side around 85,and at night can bring it down to 75-80..thats what i did with my niles and they grew up fine..good luck

You do know the pic you posted is a water, right? Beautiful animal either way! Billy

>>Hey man your in for a ride with the Nile,there a really fun animal and grow big,i would say keep the basking spot around 95-100.and on the cooler side around 85,and at night can bring it down to 75-80..thats what i did with my niles and they grew up fine..good luck
>>

Yeah,Thats my baby Phoenix...about a year now,i got her from a friend and when i got her she was in really bad condition but she started responding to the heat and settings and shes like this now

Your setup should be fine for a couple of months with the exception of the basking site which I would raise to bout 120-130. Also for a new baby, 75 on the cool side is a little low. Once he's acclimated you could get away with that, but I would shoot for at least a few degrees warmer than that on the cool side both night and day. Offer food every day and watch him grow! Good luck! Billy

>>Hi, I just ordered my first baby Nile Monitor yesterday from LLReptile. Its supposedly going to be 6"-11". I'm sooo excited!This is my first Nile Monitor and I just wanted to let you know if my current temporary set up is ok. It's going to be in a 30 gallon tank with a rocky basking spot on the left end, branches and a water dish in the middle, and a rock on the right end. There will also be an assortment of plastic plants throughout the cage. I havent decided on bedding yet, im still debating over nature bark and sand. I'm planning on using a 100 watt ceramic heat emmitter on the basking spot on the left which should give it an air temp of about 90 at the basking spot, and about 75 on the far right end of the cage. I've heard many different suggestions for basking spot temps and I'm not sure if mine will be ok, or if I should move up to the 150 watt which should give me around a 100 degree basking spot. I'm also planning on feeding it small pinkys. Any suggestions?

I was reading someone else saying that they had a 120 degree basking area but they also said this was on the surface temperature, used by a Temp Gun, and not to be confused with the air temperature that a regular air thermometer reads. So I was wondering what the 120 degree surface area temperature would translate to on my regular air thermometer.

Thats correct 120 would be surface temp of the rock or whatever you're using for him to bask on and not air temps. I use "Retes Stacks" for my hatchling water monitor which allows it to choose from a variety of different temps ranging from 110-130f at the very top of its basking are. Again surface temps. I dont really worry about air temps on the hot side as long as my surface, ambient and cool side temps are adequate. I maintain an ambient temp of 83 degrees 24/7 with numerous hides spread about(some high enough to where it has to climb branches others buried in cypress) all with a range of temps. I also provide a large enough container for it to soak in and a burrowable mixture of topsoil and playsand. The key is VARIETY, and your monitor will choose what temps it prefers at any given moment in time. Hope this was helpful.
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)

My monitors use every option I give them, make up a few of their own, and are always looking for more. My water uses every square inch of her enclosure in every possible way.

So what would be an approximate good air temp for him a the basking spot? Would 90 be ok? Or should I boost it up to 100?

What type of substrate should I use? I've heard of people digging up their own dirt, using sand, bark, newspaper etc. I was wondering what was the best substrate to use?

as i mentioned above. I suggest getting yourself a temp gun they arent that expensive at $25 i'd call that very affordable. Get in contact with the people at proexotics.com on that. As far as substrate goes, you may have to play around with a few different mixtures before you find the right one, i found a 2 to 1 ratio of topsoil and playsand to suit the needs of my monitors just fine. I've also used dirt from my yard and it worked fine but dried out too quickly for my taste. Depending on where you are outside dirt could be fine though im hearing alot of places have clay. So do some research on the soil in your area and find out its suitability.
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Jaye- " When you try of all your forces to make your own way, you will help some of others and will be helped by others. As long as you do not make your own way, you cannot help anybody, and nobody can help you. " (Shunryu Suzuki)