Reptile & Amphibian Forums

after looking around the photo gallery and chasing down names of misc monitors and going roundabout looking for an "ideal size" i found black roughneck monitors to look about right.
i gues first and foremost, im looking advice on how suitable this is as a choice for a person "still kinda green to monitors" (but well rounded on reptiles in general).

i've also decided that while the 6x2x2 tank has an ideal *base* size for an indoor winter cage, it will need to be built taller (as this dimension is the only one that is changeable). Any suggestions on how tall to build it? i am personally thinking about 4 or 5 feet. mind you, this cage would only be used during the weeks where its just too cold outside (i live in florida) and when rough weather is coming around. from what i gather, these guys are somewhat, but not totally, aboreal. I'm looking for suggestions on size for an outside cage, im thinking something like 6x4x6.

i didnt find a whole lot on how much burrowing these guys do, would 2-ish feet of digging substrate likely suit these guys?

and last but not least, any suggestions of areas around ft myers to buy CB babys at, or even someplace on the internet, would be really appreciated
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1.1 Dogs (Max and Kaya)
1.0 Yellow Rat (Tornado)
1.1 Central American Boa Constrictor (Achilles, Achilla)
0.1.1 Ball Pythons (Dot, runt).
0.1 Rose Hair Tarantulla (Grumpy), 1 Usambar Starburst Baboon Tarantula, 0.1 White Knee/Zebra Tarantula, 1 Avicular Versicolor, 1 Cobalt Blue, 3 juvenile red widows.
1 gold dust gecko
2.0 ferrets (Otis, Milo)
1.1 Emperor Scorpion
and oobles of fishes

I would still go larger then 2ft depth for the inside cage even if only used part time. Besides perhaps you put them in a nice outside cage but it doesnt work out. Then what they are stuck with a so-so inside cage? I wouldn't do it that way.

Outside is not as easy as you might think even if you live in Fl.. As I am also in Fl. and have found that out.

As far as buying captive produced babies good luck. I don't know of anyone down here with true c/b. Alot of them may say c/b but thats not what they are selling. Plenty of imports floating around babies to adults.

I'm still working on the end result with my pair.

Hello
From doing hours and hours of reading in the old forum's archives, everything I have read about the rudicollis suggest they do not do well in outdoor enclosures.
Too much light, IMO. In my limited experience, they really hate light; they only tolerate it to get heat if its the only way. So if I can throw out a comment to you, give them many dark places to hide if you wish them to thrive outdoors. Or indoors...

Heehee, funny story, you just reminded me!

When I got my first BRN, Anakin, I had her out on my enclosed balcony with me, thinking she would stretch right out on the concrete and enjoy the sunshine...(my only previous reptile pet was an iguana at the time)...well, she went straight to the screen door, and kept clawing it to get back inside. I kept dragging her back to the sunlit area. She went for the door and clawed faster...I bent over her and said "Shoo! No!" And then she gave me a black eye. My first ever. It was all purple under my brow. Looked like eyeshadow, thankfully...I just had to paint up the other side to match for a week...

Too bad you are not in Canada. I have some hatching now.
Hey, but those imported babys are so bloody young, they could be a good purchase too. I bought a single newly hatched import years ago, and it grew up just fine, no health issues. A friend owns it now.
Best of luck to you, rudis are nice, smallish and well-mannered, for a monitor.
D.