Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am rescueing a monkey tail skink tomorrow from some people that have not been taking care of it correctly. They currently have it in a 20 gallon aquarium! Since I need to get it out of that place fast I have limited time to find an enclosure and most stores only sell aquariums that are too small. Here are my two options.

1) my friend is giving me a wire cage that she used for her rats (it is not specifically a rat cage). That is 6H x 6W x 3 feet deep. The upside of this is that it has plenty of room for climbing and even has ramps that can be placed in it. The down side is that it won't hold humidity or heat very well and it is hard to clean (which is why I get it for free). The first part probably won't be too bad because it is decently hot and humid here right now and I can probably put a room humidifier in or near the cage to boost the humidity. The second part sucks though because herbivores poop a lot and it supposedly smells bad.

2) A 2H x 7W X 3 feet deep cage that was designed for a reticulated python. It's easy to clean and has build in heat and retains heat and humidity well and is easy to clean but it is not tall. I hear various things about these skinks and some say they need at least 4 feet of climbing space others say if the other dimensions are big enough it doesn't matter. I can add things for it to climb on but I'm not sure if the cage is just too short.

Considering it would be temporary housing for only a month or so before I can get a beetter cage. What do you guys think would be the better ?

Either will work. The wire cage I wouldn't use the ramps, but set up branches and fake plants for climbing. As your home is warm and humid heat and humidity loss isn't too much an issue.

IF you are concerned about the wire cage being too 'airy' and heat escaping, you can always attach cardboard or chloroplast sheets to the wires (can just use twist ties and poke holes into the board to tie it firmly to the wire. Or those plastic ties you can buy). With the chloroplast, you can also make a bottom 'tray' to fit to help keep droppings etc from getting all over the floor underneath the cage (if the bottom is not solid either). You can get Chloroplast at most hardware stores for pretty cheap. They come in 8'x4' sheets or cut to smaller sizes.

The snake cage, you could try and stand it on its narrow end, so its length becomes its height. Just have to make sure its secure so it won't tip over. Set up in a corner would be best, this way you have solid support on two sides (well three, if you want to count the floor). Again use branches, fake plants, etc. to ensure plenty of climbing room.

What I don't know for sure is if Monkey Tails need UVB or other bright light..if they do, the snake cage may not have the fixtures required to set it up, especially if aligned on its side to present a tall cage.
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PHLdyPayne

I agree with PHLadyPayne. Either would work. I'd probably go with the snake cage and try putting it on its end with lots of branches and hollow cork tubes for it to crawl in. It can survive without UVB for a month until you get a better set-up.

There is a Corucia forum at corucia.myfreeforum.org

You can ask all kinds of questions to people who have kept Corucia for years. All questions are welcomed.
Link

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Lisa Rakestraw
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My skinks:
1.1 Corucia zebrata
2.3 Egernia striolata
1.0 Eugongylus albofasciata
2.2 Eumeces schneideri

Hubby's snakes of the Southwest:
0.1 Lichanura orcutti
0.1 Lampropeltis pyromelana
0.1 Pituophis catenifer
0.0.2 Bogertophis subocularis
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna