Savannah monitor set up

Alright, even though it looks like a five year old got ahold of a crayon box, this is what I want it to look like.

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...465454copy.jpg

Its got a fake wall to climb on and ecoearth as the dirt. The cage will be 4x2x2 with a slideing glass doors. The bulb is a mvb, what do yall think I should add or take away?

The rock can also double as a hide If i want it to.

Pretty cool. You should add fake plants to the backdrop. :D

you may want to consider using a retes stack or something similar of your own design under the hotspot.

That looks great!

However, For an adult, I'd make the cage at least six feet long. Ideally, eight feet long.

I'd also use a real rock basking platform, it hold the heat better, making the ambient temperature in the cage lower. Remember, basking spots will need to be 110 degrees and above.

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Originally Posted by qiksilver

you may want to consider using a retes stack or something similar of your own design under the hotspot.

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Alright

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Originally Posted by Michelle.C

That looks great!

However, For an adult, I'd make the cage at least six feet long. Ideally, eight feet long.

I'd also use a real rock basking platform, it hold the heat better, making the ambient temperature in the cage lower. Remember, basking spots will need to be 110 degrees and above.

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The way I make the fake rock is with styrofoam covered in grout and then I seal it, so it is like a big hollow rock. Ive used the same idea for beardies who need 110 degree basking temps so it should not be a problem.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Pretty cool. You should add fake plants to the backdrop. :D

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Thanks, i'll see if I can do that.

Well, it sorta looks like the pictures...

http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC01186.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC01187.jpg
http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC01188.jpg

I think you should consider a dirt/sand mix at some point they do like to burrow.

I may later, but for now I want to keep it simple. The bed a beast is already about three inchs deep so if he wants to dig he has alot of space!

That looks nice. You can always add sand, dirt or cypress to the bed a beast. Looks like he's going to be a happy little monitor. :)

I'd consider adding more places to hide. When they are young, they can be a little skittish.

When are you getting him/her? :D

Sand sounds fine to ad. I just want him to be a little older so I do not have to worry about impaction.

He will be here tomorrow:)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77541

A basking spot of 130-135 deg. would be great, but I doubt you will get a good hot spot with the basking area being so far away from the lamp. I would drop the lamp into the enclosure a bit. Get it about 5-6 inches from the basking platform and use a low wattage (25w-45w) bulb to heat the spot. If you do not have one already, I would suggest getting a temp gun to monitor basking spot temperatures.

Keeping it simple is a wonderful idea; however, 3" of soil is not really that much for any monitor. I would go get a 1"x10" from the hardware store and turn it on end at the front of the enclosure to get around 9-10" of substrate. Sand and the coconut fiber make a good mix that will hold a burrow a bit better than just the fiber. If you keep the proper temperature and the monitor stays hydrated, you should have no risk of impaction.

IMO, you have alot more to do to that enclosure to make it appropriate for a monitor. Great start though.

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Originally Posted by daniel1983

A basking spot of 130-135 deg. would be great, but I doubt you will get a good hot spot with the basking area being so far away from the lamp. I would drop the lamp into the enclosure a bit. Get it about 5-6 inches from the basking platform and use a low wattage (25w-45w) bulb to heat the spot. If you do not have one already, I would suggest getting a temp gun to monitor basking spot temperatures.

Keeping it simple is a wonderful idea; however, 3" of soil is not really that much for any monitor. I would go get a 1"x10" from the hardware store and turn it on end at the front of the enclosure to get around 9-10" of substrate. Sand and the coconut fiber make a good mix that will hold a burrow a bit better than just the fiber. If you keep the proper temperature and the monitor stays hydrated, you should have no risk of impaction.

IMO, you have alot more to do to that enclosure to make it appropriate for a monitor. Great start though.

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Yeah, I was only getting 101 degrees so I put a huge hide under a tile that raised it a few inches, made a ramp with another one, secured it, lowered the light and now I'm getting the right temps. im thinking of raising one end with ecoearth and sand to about ten inches having about 1/4 of it that high. This cage seems huge for such a little 8 inch lizard, I cant wait until hes huge! I may just give him a whole room then.