Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ahhh...finally found a site that might prove useful. Here I was, having raised an iguana, ball python and leopard gecko, all the while thinking I'm some sort of reptile expert. Yeah, right. The information I DON'T know astounds me...I am a new owner of a Savannah Monitor, have had problems (see posting on the Sav. Monitor forum) and I feel like I'm stumbling around in the dark.
Would anyone be willing to post some pictures of (good, large) enclosures (especially specific to Savannahs) so that I might "copy" them? I have a "custom built" one (renovated piece of furniture, a weekend project) but (a) I want to go bigger, not a problem yet but will be and (b)the little things that make all the difference just aren't right. The door is too low, it's awkward to clean or even get into, it's rickety and I'm seeing an escape in the near future, his lamp for basking is a little too far away...it could be worse, but I want to improve! I'm just looking for some good tips, photos and advice on "what works" vs. what doesn't.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
Tatiana

And yes - I know there have been similar questions, however the older picture have been removed...no longer able to view them... thanks.
T

You may not need somthing this big, but the bigger the better. It cost me around $1000 to build, not including some equipment I already had, its 10x5x4ft inside. I use it for an albig which gets alot bigger. The general captive care is the same, and caging on almost all monitor species requires the same environment with a few different features.


You wont need this many lights, like I said this is for a big monitor.

Theres 2ft deep of dirt in most of it with 1ft deep under the basking spot.

i thought lumber was expensive out here. If that cost you 1k to build, i must extend my condolances.

The window was $130 for a 5ft x3ft replacement window, that was a great price from shopping around.
The plywood at that time was $28.99 a sheet for 22/32nds plywood, I cant remember exactly if it was 10 sheets to build it with some for a very big Retes Stack and 1-2 4ft pieces left maybe. A similar number of 4x8ft sheets of FRP at $31.99 a sheet.
$25 or so for paint, around $50 for FRP adhesive and other adhesives. Note the FRP I saved by not covering the inside top, I should have maybe, but it would cost more, 1 less sheet of FRP.
Next would be several lbs of screws at about $15, 4 or so tubes of GE silicone 2 at $4 a tube I think. A water dish made from a cement trough as she destroys water dishes by punching holes through them with her claws, when digging nearby, it was $10. a dumb truck load of dirt to fill this cage and a few smaller cages not including what dirt I had set aside for some of those was about $85, saves you about $55 to get 4 cubic yards at once instead of buying it by the cubic yard. This doesnt include wiring, which I had, lightbulbs which I had, light assemblies were around $1.99 each for 5, with a few spares (3) which I had to replace some that rivets tore out of since, so 8 of them, 4 heavy duty eyelets to mount the chains to hold the lights up and a few 7ft lengths of chain that holds 155lbs this and a few other odd and ends I know Im forgetting were around $25-$35, cant remember without digging out the reciepts. Paint brushes, and other things to build, spare bits, etc.
This put me around $1000, yes this is no cheap easy built cage, I made sure it was built and engineered to last, water proofed, etc. Also gang plates, some I bought and many provided by a good friend who had a bunch of them as well lots of free wood screws and other specialty connectors.
I was suggested to frame it and use OSB board, no thank you, that stuff is crap and has little to no strength in comparison for 1/2 to 2/3rds the price of plywood. It wouls till be close or more to do it that way with the frame I believe, and alot harder to waterproof unless the frame is on the outside.
Even with spare pieces and some leftover adhesives, screws etc it still cost me a few hundred to build a 6x3ft cage afterwards.

Man, you got raped on the wood. Theres a lumber yard out here that I go to, and that same size is about 15 bucks a sheet. I used to buy from home depot, but got sick of the prices on wood, not to mention they are not the most rainforest friendly retail establishment in the world. I ended up finding a hole the the wall lumber yards instead, advertised in a local newsletter.
Tileboard is much cheaper then the frp also.

I dont know if youve ever looked through craiglist, but you can find used windows for next to nothing from remodels, etc. Thats a good source for building materials also. One of my favorite resorces.

Here are some things i just found on craigslist. (searched for maybe 5 minutes)

check it out!
http://www.craigslist.org/pen/for/90913467.html
http://www.craigslist.org/pen/for/92208323.html
http://www.craigslist.org/eby/for/92267840.html

Over Home Depot...
The price of wood was up everywhere at that time, now a bit lower but not by much. The other types of plywood hardwood, etc etc were far more expensive. I actually called to around 20 lumber yards before buying at Lowes, they were cheaper at that time.
My nephew is in construction (owns his own business), he offered used windows or even wholesale windows, but none fit the size I was after or to be made double pane, and vinyl frames for better prices. The closest price on the window for new was at Home Depot at almost $70 more for a smaller window.
I planned this cage ahead of time and set the money aside for it.
The FRP was my choice as even melamine was destroyed by her claws, she dug 1/2 inch through it. Thgis way I know she cant destroy it and its waterproof.

Thanks for the inspiration. Spent all my free time yesterday re-doing the cage I have (5'L 2'W 2'H), which is definitely going to be too small in the next...3 months? (not sure, but I know it's coming.) I had to get the concept of functionality vs. "pretty" into my head - stupid fake plastic plants are useless. Duh. Should have spent the money on a temp gun instead.
T

It is just alot of work to maintain! haha I love plastic foliage. I go to my local dollar store and buy a whole mess of the stuff every 6 months or so.
Hopefully, within the next year, Ill have enclosures big enough to have live shrubs, small trees, etc, so there wont be a need for plastic greenery anymore. =)