Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i finally gave up on trying to find an easy way out of building a new home for my adult eastern.. so the finished product has ended up as a 4 foot by 3 foot enclosure in my bedroom.. it has an open top, a large kitty box for soaking, and large hollow piece of cork to hide in .. i put a huge river rock under his basking light, and a few pieces of slate to help him get in the cat box.. at the moment there is only substrate in one corner (where his hide space is) because i have to waterproof the wood first.. will the waterproof deck sealer at walmart work for that? i went in and asked the guy working there if it would seal it well against moisture and he looked at me blankly.. so any reccomendations on a sealant would be appreciated.. i was going to put a dwarf umbrella plant in with him, but im not sure if it would be toxic or not? if it is, i will wait until the local nursery starts selling raspberries and strawberries to add a plant..

also, does anyone have a definite answer on how much space they need? i have read a lot about them on the internet and most sites dont reccomend a size or provide inconsistant information.. i want to give him with the best enclosure possible, so if 3x4 isnt big enough i will put my juvie in there and make him a larger one. . how much room does a two year old need? (hes about 2 1/2 inches across)

i want to breed him next year if i can find a female for adoption.. how much space for two? i should be moving out of my apartment and into a house with a yard, so they will have a nice huge outdoor enclosure..

thanks much for any info..
-----
my pets: clown treefrogs, reed frogs, big eyed treefrogs, tiger leg monkey frogs, gray treefrogs, milk frogs, cuban treefrogs, whites tree frog, green treefrogs, squirrel treefrogs, blue webbed gliding treefrog, chameleon treefrogs?, dusky salamanders, tiger salamander, veiled chameleon, box turtles, mud turtle, map turtle, yellowbelly slider, florida softshell, two saltwater tanks, four cats, two chinchillas, and a boyfriend.

We used a kiwi crate (from the produce section of the grocery store) and hot glued pond liner on the bottom and sides.

We of course are novices at this -- but it does a good job of waterproofing the box and keeps the carpet clean and dry.

i have to waterproof the wood first.. will the waterproof deck sealer at walmart work for that? i went in and asked the guy working there if it would seal it well against moisture and he looked at me blankly.. so any reccomendations on a sealant would be appreciated..

Polyurethane. Nontoxic when dry and comes in a variety of tints/colors. I doubt Wal-Mart has it; try Home Depot or Lowes in the Paints and Stains section.
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Hi, I'm pretty new to boxies (had one for years in my youth, though), but from the research I've done, you really can't expect to breed them until they're 6 or 7 years old.
-----
Robins Critters
1.1 Corn snakes Jack Skellington & Abby
1.1 Hog Island Boas Harley & Isaboa
0.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher Snake Jasmine
1.3 Leopard Geckos Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
0.1.1 Crested Geckos Peek & Boo
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo
0.1 Pacman Frog Buffy the Cricket Slayer
0.0.1 Sulawesi Red Toad Mr. Toad
0.0.1 Tiger Salamander Tiger
1.1.3 Firebelly Newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Olivia Newton John & Thandie Newton
1.1 Cats Gus & Mena