Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a spare 2 inch PVC pipe thats about 12 inches long. I thought maybe I could put it in my hatchling mangrove monitor's enclosure and he could use it as a hide. Will it be safe for my monitor or is poly vinyl chloride unsafe?

I heard of people using it for their hamsters. They said that their hamsters even chewed it up but nothing bad happened. I just want to be on the safe side and ask a few people who actually own monitors.

Thanks

joe

Well, I think that as long as the pipe doesn't have hazardous material in/on it than it is safe. Well, unless you have a fat baby monitor that could get stuck in it. It could be a good hide, I wouldn't hesitate to use it as long as it is safe. Clean it thouroghly before putting it in the enclosure. Don't use soap, lol, when cleaning it.

-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea either to put ventilation holes in the side. Just a suggestion, gooday!

-John May Water and Nile Monitor Enthusiast

PVC and ABS (black plastic sewer pipe) make great hides for monitors. Don't worry about air holes, or about your monitor getting stuck (believe me, it won't). All of the tree-climbing monitors will cram themselves into the tightest hiding places they can find, and shy individuals/species often seem to do a lot better as captives when provided with tight hides. For an animal such as a mangrove monitor, consider mounting 1 and 2" diameter pipes near the top of the cage, and arrange at least one of these so that it is parallel to the door or cage windows. That way you can't see in, but that's just what the animal wants!

Hides should be safe places -- don't go poking the animal out of them.

Until he was about 5' long, my male croc monitor always chose a 4" diameter ABS pipe over a 6" pipe that was similarly placed near the roof of the cage. Finally he just couldn't fit, and switched, but up to that point he'd force himself into the 4" pipe with front legs folded back and hind legs sticking out behind. The smaller female still uses the 4" pipe. These are CB animals with no 'stress' issues about being around people; like most monitors, they just prefer tight hides.

They work very well. I have also used the black corragated tubes. With mine just incase I needed to get them out at some point. I cut the pipes lengthwise. I then held it together with rubberbands, tape, or zip ties. This way I could open the hides when I needed to get them out.

Even after I opened the hides to get them out if I put the hides back they would readily use them. I also use simple wood tubes or cork bark tubes.

To keep my monitors amused I place crickets and other bugs in those tubes. They seem to enjoy figuring out how to get the crickets out.

PVC pipe will not hurt the monitors, but its also, of only some use. Indeed, it can provide a hiding area and it may, if used correctly, be used as a protection from dehydration.

On the otherhand, it does not allow for good temp regulation, too thin and even thickness and its of no use for exercising the monitor. Monitors are build to use their parts, like we are, they need to use their claws and attached foot, etc. Wood allows to strengthening of the foot muscles and provides some wear on the claws.

Hopefully you get the idea, while pvc pipe is ok, there are better ways to approach this problem. For instance, deep substrate, also provides shelter, to exact measurements and moisture control, as well as a constant source of exercise.

So natural materials such as hollow logs, dirt, limbs, etc are not only recognized by the monitors, but of multiple use and its better looking. Good luck FR