can an akie cage be too big?

[mr~python]

i asked this question on another forum and got mixed results. anyway's, i got a 5L x 1.5W x 2H tank for free and i wanted to know if that would be to big for a hatchling ackie.

ive been reading that an ackie will use every square inch of their enclosure and like big enclosures but im not sure if this is true for babies. im wondering if it would stress a small ackie out. there will be a lot of hides and decorations in the cage.

thanks for any help, marshall.

[mr~python]

darnit! i just realized i spelt ackie wrong in the title, lol

[Kara]

I think that is too much space for a hatchling...baby ackies are just *so* little, and the last thing you want to do is start him off @ a disadvantage.

Can you partition off the enclosure to make it 3' long instead of 5' long until he grows up some? This would allow you to still provide a range of temperatures necessary for basking/cooling, without making the overall space too overwhelming.

Good luck!

K~

[mr~python]

yes, i was actually thinking about sectioning it off. i just need to figure out how to do that now. anybody have any ideas?

[Kara]

Well, what's your primary cage made of, and how is it set up?

[mr~python]

its a glass aquarium that im going to make a custom screen for the top with my dad. its 2 feet tall but it's going to have a foot of dirt.

[Kara]

Well that's easy - just get in touch with a specialty pet store (aka a good privately owned one - not a chain corporate location), and have them order you an aquarium divider that will fit your tank. Dividers are very inexpensive. If it comes down to it, just go to Home Depot (etc) & have them cut a piece of Plexi that will fit in for a divider. You can always silicone it in for a sturdy fit, and then use a razor blade to cut it out later on when your ackie gets bigger.

Make sure to have your dad help you with anything involving sharp-and-pointy-cutting-parts, just to be on the safe side. Good bonding experience, too.

K~

[mr~python]

awesome, thanks. will i need the silicon to hold it? i would hate for there to be any mark from the silicon, or will there be? im thinking the foot of dirt should work, right?

[mr~python]

i have another question that might rule out the big tank until the ackie is bigger....

right now i keep my western fence lizard in a 3' x 2' x1.5' enclosure and i was wondering if the ackie would be okay in that until it was big enough for the big tank. it doesnt allow for a deep substrate because the ventilation holes on one side are only about an inch and a half up the side but that would be okay until the ackies is bigger, right? i have a pic of it....

(its a clickable thumbnail)

[Kara]

Well, I'm thinking of the silicone as more of a safety precaution to keep your monitor from wedging the partition loose & potentially getting stuck/injured/what-have-you, but that may be me just being a particularly paranoid mom when it comes to the little legged ones.

You could always try it with your dirt substrate & see how well the partition holds...if you feel like it will wiggle too much, just silicone it into place. It's neither expensive nor time-consuming...just put the divider in prior to adding substrate & run a "bead" of silicone (i.e. a line of the silicone goo from top to bottom of the divider where it meets up with the cage wall) down the seams on each side. Immediately afterwards, dip your finger into a cup of water (have it on hand) and run it down each silicone bead to smooth it, and wipe off any excess with a paper towel. Let dry for 24 hrs, add substrate & you're good to go!

K~