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Nermie Sidbarvin BansheeRacer25 Nermie |
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Nermie View Profile |
I am new to the group (and with monitors)
its id guess a few months old its roughly about 24 inchs from tail tip to the front of its snout i think its a regular its a lighter green and has a blue tounge also 8 rows of dots on its back ill be attaching some photos here shortly but it currently is in a 125 gallon fish tank i intend to build it a bigger home as soon as i can figure out how to build something thats roughly 12 to 15 feet by probly 4 to 6 feet wide im not entirely sure about hight yet i hear that niles dont climb as often when they are larger my questions are as follows 1. i am useing a 150w mvb and a 125w cereramic heater the basking spot is gunning at about 135 the cage temp though isent going about like 81 degrees what woudl ya suggest to maybe kick up the ambiant temp a bit? 2. being a fish tank it has 2 open holes in the top ive coverd in screen how would be the best way to go about sealing this up to get more humidity?(mines only at 45ish percent but the waterdish) (the largest catpan i could find) seems to help. i currently am blocking off most of the openings with contact paper 3.i have read that monitors dont eat useally when in a new surrounding shouldi still be offering pray items or should i just leave it alone for a week or so? 4.im useing the eco earth(the stuff that comes in bricks and ya add water) currently is this a decent substrate? 5.currently i dont mess around with the tank(i use a hand pump to get the water out of the dish and then a hose and funnel to get it in). i do sit somewhat near the cage so my pressence is known should i be doing more? if so what? 6.mostly for rodger. what are the major behavioral differnces between your 2 moniters (i do beleve bart is a female and marvin is a male correct)? 7. what is a good hight for a nile monitors cage? Thank you all for posing on this group it has helped alot and hopefully im a better keeper cause of it(i would like to think i am) also who ever posted the how to on cage building can that set up be used on a a 12 to 15 foot cage i noticed ya used a window could i mount a like 2 foot wide by 6 feet tall window sideways to make the door?
more photos to come when they upload |
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| 04/11/08 10:43am |
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Sidbarvin View Profile |
Message To: Nermie In reference to Message Id: 1698705 I am new to the group (and with monitors)
If the nile was kept in the conditions you’ve describbed, It could easily be much older than a few months. I’ve seen monitors kept in similar conditions that were twelve inches long at one year plus. Size is not an indicator of age. My niles were four and fourand a half plus at one year. First the temperatures you are after are surface not ambient temps. In order to measure surface temperatures, you’ll need an infra-red temperature gun. You can purchase one of these on-line at proexotics.com or at a Radio Shack or auto parts store. The bulb and the che seem a bit much for a fishtank but If you are able to keep the temps you’ve mentioned using them then they are fine. The temps might rise when you seal the top of the tank, then you may have to switch them to lower wattages. High seventies to 130+ are the temperatures you should be looking for. If anything, I would lower the temperature on the cool end a bit. The contact paper over the screen should work. Maybe use some duct tape to seal any gaps. As far as humidity levels go, I try to guage this according to the amount of condensation on the glass. If the substrate is moist, not wet, and the inside walls are dripping with moisture, cut out small sections of the contact paper on the hot end of the cage. When the cage is too wet, I let the walls dry out then seal the top again with the new vent holes and wait to see if the moisture collects as before. I repeat the process untill there is condensation on the glass lower down near the substrate on the cool end of the cage. It’s not uncommon for monitors newly introduced to new surroundings to refuse food, especially, if they were kept in crappy conditions before. Keep offering food. If your setup is correct, eventually, it will begin to eat. Eco-bricks are ok but sandy dirt is ideal. Maybe add some sand and dirt to the eco-earth. Only do necessary maintenance to the cage, water changes, spot cleaning and so on and offer food. Do not handle the critter and eventually, it will realize you are not a threat. My niles, are like night and day. The one I would like to believe is a female, is much calmer and gentle. She will allow me to touch her without becoming defensive. The male is full of piss and vinegar. Sometimes he will allow contact but mostly he’ll his and ready himself for a fight when his space is invaded. Neither show any fear of me whatsoever, and Marvin actually displays dominance behaviors toward me. If I sit on the floor near him, he will come over twitching his head and get on my leg in an attempt to subdue me. Niles will climb if given the opportunity. They like to have a good vantage point where they can observe their surroundings from above. They will use verticle space. Seven feet with some good sturdy logs for climbing would do one good. Roger |
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| 04/11/08 11:28am |
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BansheeRacer25 View Profile |
Message To: Sidbarvin In reference to Message Id: 1698739 I am new to the group (and with monitors)
Bill |
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| 04/11/08 11:39am |
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Nermie View Profile |
Message To: Sidbarvin In reference to Message Id: 1698739 I am new to the group (and with monitors)
i was curious though my monitor seems to be a much brighter hue then most of the little guys ive seen photos of are these like basicly everything else that has a varying color hue within the species(like tabby cats and the colors and pattrens) ill try to get a photo up today to see what ya all think im gonan have to wait though till it decideds it wants to bask |
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| 04/11/08 11:42am |
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