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Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:37 pm Post subject: Dimensional questions
I have a cage that is 8’ tall, 4’ wide and 2’ deep. It was an Iguana cage.
I had considered modifying the cage and laying it on its back (2’ tall, 8’ wide and 4’ deep), but then I saw Rick’s multi level cage.
Could I possibly leave this cage in the vertical position and put in three levels with ramps? Like every one else, I am limited on floor space. If I could use this vertically it would be great. My concern is the depth of the cage. It is only 2’ and my Red could get as long as 3’. Is that too narrow?
I am thinking of making the lower level for eating, drinking and maybe a ‘swimmin hole’. The mid-level deep substrate for digging and hiding. The top level for basking.
How large should the potential ramps be? How wide for a grown Argentine Red? I know they are not climbers, so the incline would have to be an easy grade.
If I use a cement mixing pan for a place to bathe and swim - How easily can they get in and out? Will I need to place bricks on the inside for a place to step out? The bathing tub will need to be about 3’ long, but how deep should it be?
When making a burrowing place – How deep should the substrate be? Do they prefer cave like places? Thinking of covering part of the deep substrate area with a piece of wood to make it more cave like. This also has the advantage of creating more floor space.
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:28 am Post subject:
An enclosure like mine doesn't actually offer a lot of room. It works for me, but if you notice in the bottom right of the pictures there is a doggy-door that the tegus can use freely to come and go and have free roam of that room.
So the enclosure is actually more of a 'hide' then an enclosure.
Joined: Apr 23, 2005 Posts: 312 Location: Phoenix AZ
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:33 am Post subject:
IMO that would be a lot of work for a cage he will really quickly outgrow. 4X2 just isn't enough space for long...believe me he'll be 3-4 ft before you know it.
I aquired a sad, sick little red tegu of about 18 inches (I'm not entirely sure of the date) less than two months ago. I measured him yesterday and he came in at 29 inches....
Multi-level enclosures are awesome but your little guy will very soon need more lateral space...laying the cage down so it has a foot print of 4X8 would be much better in the long run IMO.
Quote:
Will I need to place bricks on the inside for a place to step out? The bathing tub will need to be about 3’ long, but how deep should it be?
Tegus are pretty lousy swimmers...keep that in mind with any water bowl or tub. It should be VERY easy for the tegu to get in and out, and the water shouldn't be too deep (He should be able to easily hold his head out of the water with his feet on the bottom).
Personally I don't like to offer a tegu a large tub to soak in whenever he wants...for the simple fact that they tend to deffecate in them (IME). Why is this a problem?
You will have to change the water every time the tegu deffecates in it. (obviously) Keep in mind that water weighs like 8 or 10 lbs a gallon...there for a big ass tub with 10-20 gals of water in it weighs between 100 to 200 lbs. Thats NOT fun to lug over to the bath tub to empty out everyday...no thanks I have bad back already. _________________ Elliot
Joined: Jul 16, 2005 Posts: 69 Location: corby, england
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:09 am Post subject:
why don't you make an 8' long 2'wide and 4' high with 2 levels
a bit narrow but u could add on and make it wider.
did it for a guy and his beardie viv yrs ago.
a lot cheaper then buying the material to start from scratch _________________ uli
if you don't eat your meat you can't have any pudding
how can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 11:31 am Post subject:
Making an 8 foot x 4 foot x 4 foot enclosure would give more then enough space for a tegu. You'd have room for the ones you are going to get in the future that you probably don't even know about yet.
Plus since plywood comes in 8x4' sheets, there is little cutting..
Buy 5 sheets of 1/2" plywood, several 2x3" (slightly thinner and cheaper then 2x4"s) and just have the guy at Home Depot precut one of the sheets of plywood in half. Then you just need to cut holes for a door and a screened top and your almost done.
Rick I have already considered getting Fred (if he is indeed Fred) a friend someday.
Will 8'x4' house two Tegus?
In your suggested size of 4' tall, does that include two levels?
I got to looking at my cage, 2' is way to narrow for the depth. I was thinking these guys have such a long tail...but they are not the most flexible animals. I can imagine coming home some evening and finding Fred stuck halfway around a U-turn.
ElliotJasChief - as for the water tub. I would recess it into the floor of the cage, install a drain in the bottom, attach a hose to a floor drain, and rinse out as needed. I have made similar set-ups for some of my turtles.
Since Reds sometimes have shed problems, the ability to soak as needed should help with that. Not to mention being able to flush the 'mess' down the drain is very appealing.
Considering ramps - How large/wide should the potential ramps be for a grown Argentine Red?
Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 972269 Location: Central Maine
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:37 pm Post subject:
Shari wrote:
Rick I have already considered getting Fred (if he is indeed Fred) a friend someday.
Will 8'x4' house two Tegus?
In your suggested size of 4' tall, does that include two levels?
The four foot tall allows for 1 foot of substrate for burrowing. 2 feet for the actual tegu to move in freely, about foot for the lighting to hang inside so you can use the top of the enclosure for storage shelves, cupboards, etc.
Quote:
ElliotJasChief - as for the water tub. I would recess it into the floor of the cage, install a drain in the bottom, attach a hose to a floor drain, and rinse out as needed. I have made similar set-ups for some of my turtles.
I doubt that is a good idea. It's gonna mean ripping the whole enclosure apart as the first bit of substrate goes down the drain. You'd need some filtered drain, but even then waste down the drain would be hard to clean and would stink over time.
Quote:
Since Reds sometimes have shed problems, the ability to soak as needed should help with that. Not to mention being able to flush the 'mess' down the drain is very appealing.
Considering ramps - How large/wide should the potential ramps be for a grown Argentine Red?
Thank you so much for your input.
Shari
I use a ramp 12" wide and put cleats on it for traction.
Joined: Apr 23, 2005 Posts: 312 Location: Phoenix AZ
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:09 am Post subject:
in the end its still my opinion that the whole tub idea will end up being more work than its worth...however, don't let me talk you out of it if you do want to put the time and energy into it...your tegu will appreciate it _________________ Elliot
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2005 10:57 pm Post subject: tub
as far as having a big tube of water in ur terrium, I would sudgest ( since ive been keeping alot of fish lately.. ) Go invest in a Water Python.. they sell them at about any petstore in the world in the Aqua section.. It attaches to any sink in your house, and it allows you to take water out of an aquarium, sucking up all the mess etc.. and then putting the water back in.. without having to pick up any buckets or anything like that.... I use this for all my WATER/BUCKET changing needs!!
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I have already considered getting Fred (if he is indeed Fred) a friend someday.
