Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know I am going to catch a lot of flack for this but here it goes.

I am in the process of ordering a baby water monitor, and have a 55 gallon enclosure(open top, I know it is bad) It is a temporary enclosure until next month when my 6x6x4 enclosure is done and, will keep him in that until the monitor room is complete.

Now the problem, I cant keep the surface basking temp up to 120-130, I have tried four different heat bulbs and am running out of ideas, I have heard you can use a hallogen bulb from home depot, Any specific makes or models? I have the ambient temp at 85 and the low end at 79-81, but I can not keep the surface high enough, I know that it is probably the open top tank, but keep in mind that I just need to get the temps up high enough for a month at the latest.

This is not my first monitor, and hopefully not my last, But I will be honest and say I have never kept a baby monitor for any extended period of time, just watching them for friend, all of the others I have owned were adults, including a savannah, a pair of storr's(in different enclosures of course)A blackthroat and a baby nile that everyone on this forum was right about, He was sick, stopped eating and died. But I am hoping to learn alot more about keeping monitors. I want to start with a baby so I can see it from start to finish, and am buying it from a very well respected store.

Sorry that it is so long and I know alot of you hate long posts, may not respond and I understand completely.

thanks
tony butler

12 inches by 48 inches as I did for my 55 gallon. Use a dremel tool to cut a hole on the warm end to put the bulb on the inside and the assembly on the outside, or split the ceramic fixture if its made as such into 2 pieces and assemple inside around the plexiglass. Use a piece of elevated corkbark to bask on, and about 6-10 inches of dirt. Drill many small holes throughout the top but add as needed, it takes some experimentation to get the right amount. The screen lid is overtop of the plexiglass to help secure it.

I already have 5 inches of cypress in the tank, and dont want him to get to close to the screen or bulb to where he can rub his nose at all, but i will give it a try, just for clarification, the plexi glass goes under the screen or above the screen? Also, I am using a 100watt night bulb, basking bulb, 74watt basking bulb, night bulb, not at the same time but those are what i have tried so far.

Also does the plexiglass just cover the warm size or the entire enclosure
thanks
tony butler

I use a 45 watt bulb and get 195f-200f basking temps in a 55 gallon.
The animal will not rub the screen at all if its needs are met and the cage ambient temps are not too high or too unbearable. It will also not climb on the bulb if the cage is not too cold, if it has the ability to warm up correctly it will not climb on the bulb nor burn itself.
If you use deep dirt they go underground when they need to cool down, etc.
The 45 watt bulb also creates a great temp gradient that goes from 86f to 73f ambient. The higher the wattage the higher the ambient temps, youll cook them with either one of those high watt bulbs. Of course with a high watt bulb and screen top youll dehydrate them and the cage in a hurry.

Holes.
Heres a pic...

I think you've established this before, but was just making sure. i see that you have a screen top. I think you suggested to someone to put something under it? Then mount the lights to the top and stuff? Just making sure..

Also, I have had my screen covered and everything, my cage still seems to dry out. The humidity is an average of around 69-71.
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1.0 Savannah Monitor - Artimus
2.0 Emerald Swift - Jesus, unnamed
1.0 Baby veiled Cham - Sir August De Winter 1-20-05 RIP
1.0 Green Iguana - King Arthur
1.0 Rose-hair tarantula - Bill
1.0 Basilisk - Adam
0.1 Water Dragon - Lady

Damp underground. I use a sheet of 1/8th plexiglas in that cage with many holes, its the only aquarium I use, so far it works and stays humid. Actually the humidity reading you gave seem s plenty high, in fact some say too high, its the air after all, most suggest 45-55%, my cages vary from there on up depends on the size of the cage, amount of lights, and which end, since the more ambient heat the dryer that end of the cage gets.

Half of the ceramic assembly is attached to the top of the plexiglas pinching it from the other side with the bottom half of the assembly, that way the bulb is inside the cage.

Ok, i'll try that. Right now i have a bunch of just random stuff over the top, nothing really solid. The underground humidity is excellent. I can see the moisture from the outside. Thanks for your responce =-)
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1.0 Savannah Monitor - Artimus
2.0 Emerald Swift - Jesus, unnamed
1.0 Baby veiled Cham - Sir August De Winter 1-20-05 RIP
1.0 Green Iguana - King Arthur
1.0 Rose-hair tarantula - Bill
1.0 Basilisk - Adam
0.1 Water Dragon - Lady

You can use tin foil, since your not using the tank for to o long. Just cover the screen with tin foil cut the whole out if needed for the lights. Other then that ad wholes as needed into the foil for ventalation.

With this your bulbs will probly be too hot. I only use 65 watt or lower incandescent flood bulbs. Then simply elevate the basking surface until the surface temp. is high enough.