Reptile & Amphibian Forums

These are c.b.b. animals and I obtained 100% legal cites in order to import them. Re-Export in the future given I have success with them will be of no issue!!! There are a good amount of hides at this time, I may still end up putting some more in place.

Below I'll post a pic of the final enclosure. Still have some things I want to do but the funds have run out so this is it for awhile. Total cost of enclosure comes out to between $1,500-2,000. I wish I would of kept track of the exact cost. My larger proven (laid an infertile clutch, not housed with the male at that time) is the calmest of the 3. I was able to scratch her chin while she had a belly full of rats, mice, and fish. The other female has been the most secretive, I have only seen her once and don't know if she has had a feed yet. The male also gobbled up some grub but he is still very nervous. I opened the door to take some pics and he puffed up, curled his tail and gave me an impressive threat display before he took off to hide. I have done alot of work while the animals were in the enclosure. Alot of loud noises (chain saw - out side of enclosure but close by, screw gun, moving things around) surely have not helped with getting them accustomed to their new enclosure. I am now done and will leave them alone completely for 2-3 weeks except for cleaning and feeding. I have pics of the larger female I will post as well. She is in shed in the pics. All three animals have very impressive orange and peach colors blending with their yellow. I'm in heaven guys, I have no wish to work with anything else at the present time!!!

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John Light
JPLReptiles@gmail.com
(954) 903-8061

Hi, the monitors are quite beautiful, and looks a nice enclosure, and a decent size, too!
It might just be the angle the pics were taken, but is there only the one basking platform with the two (halogen?) heat bulbs seemingly a fair distance apart? And for interest`s sake, what are the surface and ambient temps?

Thanks for the comments! LOL, Seems everything else going on is more important, I'll stand clear of the typical crap that goes in here. The enclosure is 15' X 6' X 6' (I wish I would of gone 8' wide but you live and learn!) The basking platform has 4 - 50w indoor/outdoor halogens and the baking site is approx 120-125 degrees. I also have 2 - 50w halogens on one side of the nest box and a single 50w halogen pointing towards the water. My ambient temp is currently 80. I'm adding 2 - 125w heat bulbs with the possibility of a 3rd for winter (Not much of a winter in South Florida) to bring the temp up to around 85 ambient. It has been chilly here and the substrate was wet (it had rained) when I put it in. Humidity is up around 100% (or more lol). Once conditions stabilize I'll have a better idea of what I need to do. I'm sure once the weather turns back around I'll be turning off a few of the installed lights to keep temps down. I don't have a surface temp at this time. There are different layers of substrate. I'm sure the decomposing leaves on the bottom where the animals main burrow is (under the stump) is warmer then the sand and top soil. Just working on dialing everything in at this time. I am also planning on putting an aquarium heater in the 4'w X 6'L X 24" depth pond. Hope this covers all of your questions. Anything else let me know. I don't know it all and I'm sure many of you have been keeping monitors a hell of a lot longer then I. Reptiles aren't rocket science and as long as you can provide the conditions the animals require you will likely be successful. The day I hatch these guys my ultimate goal will have been surpassed!
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John Light
JPLReptiles@gmail.com
(954) 903-8061

John,
I do not think most people understand the significance of this import. I am suprized that the ones who do understand how big of a deal this actually is are not commenting.

I am sure you will do well with them John. And you are right, keeping these animals is not rocket science.

John
I used the old fish tank heater to keep my pond water warm.
I stuffed it in a ceramic type log thing for fish tanks.

Make sure you secure it somehow...if it breaks and you stick your hand in the water you'll get a new hair style or worse...not to mention your awesome new captives.

My Cumingi would really thrash around in their pond, this is why I mention it...I'm sure your already on it though.

Mike
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Mike's Monitors!

Hi again, thanks for some more details, the ambient temp is fine at around 24c (75F), no need to raise it any higher than that so long as the surface temps at the basking spot/s are good (which they are).

Its crazy how a thread like this can get lost in the FR muck.

John,
those are stunning and barelt resemble their wild counterparts. Love the set up as well. You did a fine job. Congrats and good luck with them.

Awesome! I think you have everything set up to close to perfect to get much feed back haha. Put something in the cage with them thats not suppose to be there and it will be an active topic. I don't know much about varanus cummingi but Im really intrested in the cage. How do you water change that water tub? Depth of the substrate?
Congrats

LOL, I got ya. I had alot of help from some very successful keepers both on this forum and off. I didn't do this by myself but I did find the right people to help me. I have yet to install the pond filter. A local reptile store uses one in their pond with 2 gators and a number of turles. It seems to work well. I can always use the filter to pump water out. The substrate is between 1 1/2' and 2'. I used a yard of top soil, a yard of sand, and then a Ton of leaves. I will be adding more and more leaves as time goes on.

To be honest I have little to no will to work with anything else at this time. I love these animals even though currently I hardly see them. However the cage looks nice in the mean time LOL! I tell you, it's a real treat to see them even if it's only for a few quick seconds before they run off to hide.
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John Light
JPLReptiles@gmail.com
(954) 903-8061

i just recently designed a filter for my ornate monitor pool its 110 gallon and by not this weekend but the following weekend im going to take pictures as i build it and let everyone know how it works it is basically a pool filter which is were i got the idea but its all pvc pipe and i estimate only about 25.00 if you want to try it before then i can email you the general concept the most expensive part is the pump i already have one so that was not included in my 25.00 pipe filter design