Monitors - MINIMUM Cage Size.

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Silentjt Manchild BansheeRacer25 Norf Mdf Varanus_odom Mxracer Stephen foo Silentjt Mdf Silentjt Varanus_odom AlbigsRule Varanus_odom Mdf Silentjt Mdf Mdf Mxracer Mdf Mdf Missa249 Norf Silentjt Missa249 Silentjt Red Ink AUS Mdf Bsixxx Missa249

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#2085208

Silentjt
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MINIMUM Cage Size.

MINIMUM.......According to Merrium-Webster.
Quote:
1 : the least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible
Now that we understand minimum means the smallest size that should be used, let’s determine what size that would be.

Through searching, lurking and reading around the internet I’ve come to this conclusion. The minimum cage size for monitors most commonly prescribed is: width = 1x monitors total length, length = 2x monitors total length. A monitor with a potential adult size of 3 feet will then require a minimum 3’x6’ cage, a 5 foot monitor,5’x10’ etc.

Now remember, this is minimum, which means larger is always better.

This minimum describes the horizontal floor space. A cage with 4’ of vertical space, decorated in such a way that this space is usable, will provide your monitor with more living room than a cage with only 2’ of vertical space.

I personally prefer taller cages utilizing a vertical temperature gradient (after all heat rises). My cages have a minimum 5’ vertical area ABOVE the substrate with logs etc. allowing them to climb to their higher basking areas. I believe this type of setup helps overcome the limits of a cage near minimum size.

Once more, larger is always better.

Jesse

10/17/09 08:41pm

#2085312

Manchild
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Message To: Silentjt In reference to Message Id: 2085208

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Great post Jesse.I also use taller cages to give more vertical space.

greg

10/18/09 12:25am

#2085328

BansheeRacer25
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Message To: Manchild In reference to Message Id: 2085312

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Great post Jesse. Like Greg i use high cages as well, even for ackies.

10/18/09 01:08am

#2085773

Norf
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Message To: BansheeRacer25 In reference to Message Id: 2085328

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Awesome post.

Great shots too.

10/19/09 12:42am

#2086423

Mdf
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Message To: Silentjt In reference to Message Id: 2085208

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Nice set ups & great subject to post about!!

What do you think to this setup after searching the web.
Click Here

10/20/09 03:36pm

#2086460

Varanus_odom
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2086423

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Mark, I saw that website a few days ago and I’m not sure I would recommend that set up. The guy has/had 5+ monitors (including a water monitor) living in an attic with about 2 inches of sand and only one basking bulb per basking site. What do you think?

10/20/09 04:42pm

#2086472

Mxracer
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Message To: Varanus_odom In reference to Message Id: 2086460

MINIMUM Cage Size.

It’s nice and roomy, but Like odom said, very little sand, not enough subtrate to allow a burrow and not enough lights in one spot to cover the lizards from its neck to its vent. Also I didn’t see a be water dish for them in any of the pictures that would allow them to ease off there sheds or just to swim?

10/20/09 05:00pm

#2086501

Stephen foo
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Message To: Varanus_odom In reference to Message Id: 2086460

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Great looking set ups very nice indeed , iv had a look at the link for the "attic" vivs and although i agree with the lack of substrate and basking lights , a loft can be a half decent place for larger vivs and the use of deep leaf litter/bark substrate is a better choice for the monitors although all his monitors appear healthy.

couple of pics of my attic vivs

10/20/09 05:39pm

#2086885

Silentjt
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Message To: Stephen foo In reference to Message Id: 2086501

MINIMUM Cage Size.

I also agree about the substrate and lights, I’m also concerned about all the wires. On the flip side, it’s a beautiful and spacious enclosure.

Considering some of his animals are close to 10 years old, he must be managing to keep his heat, humidity etc. at acceptable levels.

Jesse

10/21/09 11:35am

#2086966

Mdf
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Message To: Silentjt In reference to Message Id: 2086885

MINIMUM Cage Size.

That’s the part i was looking at the beautiful and spacious enclosure, it has faults in our eyes but his bred them twice with two different B/T’s so he must be doing something right, imagine having that space to play with!

He has his breeding notes in BIAWAK vol1 number2 the main problem he had was the nest site, she kept dropping the eggs on the floor, but by all accounts he still managed to hatch some out.

10/21/09 02:36pm

#2087439

Silentjt
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Message To: Manchild In reference to Message Id: 2085312

MINIMUM Cage Size.

bump

10/22/09 11:07am

#2087456

Varanus_odom
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2086966

MINIMUM Cage Size.

I agree that it’s awesome he provides them with such a spacious enclosure and you can’t argue with results (success breeding). It’s possible that the attic enclosure keeps in humidity and heat. How much? I don’t know and I’m not sure that he says on his site. Only things that threw me off was the sand/basking spots.

BTW, Jesse, good post and I couldn’t have said it better. =)-

10/22/09 11:57am

#2087501

AlbigsRule
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Message To: Varanus_odom In reference to Message Id: 2087456

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Was it just me, or did it look like he was keeping his albigs and salvators together? I didn’t pay to much attention, but I swear i saw some pictures with the two interacting?

Brandon

10/22/09 02:16pm

#2087502

Varanus_odom
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Message To: AlbigsRule In reference to Message Id: 2087501

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Brandon, yes - he raised his female salvator with his albigs in that enclosure.

10/22/09 02:23pm

#2087532

Mdf
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Message To: Varanus_odom In reference to Message Id: 2087502

MINIMUM Cage Size.

One other thing, the reason his monitor dropped her eggs on the floor was she didn’t like the 1box that measured 1.8m x 1m x 0.35cm deep nest box he had provided with a basking lamp focused on it., goes back to the lack of substrate ground cover/ choice.

10/22/09 03:59pm

#2094279

Silentjt
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Message To: AlbigsRule In reference to Message Id: 2087501

MINIMUM Cage Size.

bump

11/11/09 02:15am

#2096632

Mdf
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Message To: Silentjt In reference to Message Id: 2094279

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Link to a good sav cageClick Here

& a good care sheet that lists what not to use Click Here

11/18/09 05:31pm

#2101721

Mdf
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2096632

MINIMUM Cage Size.

bump

12/05/09 01:42pm

#2101842

Mxracer
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2101721

MINIMUM Cage Size.

I talked to my dad and we might build a cage for my acie as a present for me. A 8x4x4 for my ackie.

12/05/09 07:29pm

#2110098

Mdf
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Message To: Mxracer In reference to Message Id: 2101842

MINIMUM Cage Size.

bump

01/02/10 03:49pm

#2123084

Mdf
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2110098

MINIMUM Cage Size.

bump

02/13/10 03:18pm

#2123128

Missa249
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Message To: Mdf In reference to Message Id: 2123084

MINIMUM Cage Size.

why do people keeps typing in "bump"?

02/13/10 05:48pm

#2124038

Norf
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Message To: Missa249 In reference to Message Id: 2123128

MINIMUM Cage Size.

To ’bump’ it back to the top. So more people can see it.

02/16/10 10:47pm

#2124459

Silentjt
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Message To: Norf In reference to Message Id: 2124038

MINIMUM Cage Size.

Uppie!

02/18/10 09:59am

#2124717

Missa249
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Message To: Norf In reference to Message Id: 2124038

MINIMUM Cage Size.

lol i figured that out the night i asked.. haha, but thank you

02/19/10 02:03am

#2126326

Silentjt
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Message To: Missa249 In reference to Message Id: 2124717

MINIMUM Cage Size.

!!!!!!!!!!!

02/23/10 01:41pm

#2126386

Red Ink AUS
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Message To: Silentjt In reference to Message Id: 2126326

MINIMUM Cage Size.

What about ratios for multiples in the same enclosure?? Totatally unfeasable to double everything would it not??

I can’t see people making a 16’x8’ for a pair of 4’ monitors or a 8’x4’ for a single pair of ackies.

02/23/10 04:13pm