questions about a new enclosure....

[Tedzilla]

We will be getting our new gu from varnyard this week, and we are working on building his home... we were thinking about some different ideas and want to get your opinions on whether our idea is workable?
We are thinking about a two story enclosure where the top level looks like most of the other enclosures we've seen. Cypress mulch bedding and a powersun bulb at one end for heat and uv. At the other end we want to cut a hole in the floor and have a ramp leading to a completely dark, enclosed "underground" burrow. We are hoping this will be more similar to the burrows they would use in the wild. Has anyone seen or done this? Will it work? Will our new yearling just disappear in his hole and never come out? Haha. We want him to have a nice safe burrow, but we would like to see him too from time to time.

 

[Toby_H]

I do like your Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Å?double deckerÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ idea, but I donÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t know if a dark bottom box is your best approachÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

When Tegus go into their hide box or burrow, they are typically sleeping or resting completely still. They do not need very much room at all to do this. They also are comforted by the safety of the sidewalls pressing against them. So if they had a big empty box, they would appreciate the darkness but long for the snugnessÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

Tegus are Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Å?terrestrialÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ and not Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Å?arborealÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢, but my 39Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã? female B&W does plenty of low level climbing. She commonly goes from the floor to the back of the couch where she cuddles against the fish tank and watches the little meals, I mean fish, swim around.

So I think you should use the Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?Å?double deckerÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ approach to double the floor space in your enclosure. This likely wonÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t change much about it at all, other than adding lights to the bottom. Just make sure you include enough space for 9~12Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã? deep mulch bed for the Tegu to burrow in.

The mulch bed is not Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??requiredÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã? You could make a hide box and pack that hide with bedding material of choice. But IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢ve found my girl burrows rather extensively having a nice thick bed covering the full floorspace.


An ideal picture of what IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢m thinking is a 6Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢ x 3Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢ cageÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ a 3Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢ ceiling on the lower levelÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ 12Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã? bed of mulch on the lower level (additional hide box optional)Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ a fluorescent light on the lower level (UVB optional)Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ A ramp leading to a door on one endÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ 2~3Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢ ceiling on the upper levelÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ fluorescent UVB centered in the topÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ Heat lamp (UVB optional) on the opposite end as the ramp/doorÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ Random other objects such as logs, stumps, etc for something to climb overÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

This will keep the lower level cooler for restingÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ the upper level warmer for baskingÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ UVB available in the entire upper level (not only under the basking light)Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ lots of floor space to crawl onÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

You could also build each level separately allow each level to fit through a typical doorway.


WowÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ I really really like the idea you inspired in meÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦ really really like itÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢m interested to hear more detail on what you were envisioning and what you think of any of my ideasÃ?¢ââ??¬Ã?¦

 

[Tedzilla]

Love the tips! We are actually planning on the bottom level just being about 3 by 3. The other side of the 3 by 6 base we were thinking about making into a separate storage cabinet for extra substrate, bulbs, etc. We are using cypress mulch on the top level, but maybe coconut husk for the burrow? Suggestions here would be great! What do they like do dig around in?

 

[Toby_H]

I use Organic Cypress Mulch for mine... It's readily available on the East coast and midwestern US... I hear it's harder to find on the West coast...

 

[Tedzilla]

Our tegu will be arriving tomorrow! We are almost done with the enclosure, and still have to figure out a few things like lighting (think we will go with the powersun 160?) and we are looking into a fogger too. it's pretty dry here in Colorado so she'll need that extra moisture.

 

[isdrake]

Our tegu will be arriving tomorrow! We are almost done with the enclosure, and still have to figure out a few things like lighting (think we will go with the powersun 160?) and we are looking into a fogger too. it's pretty dry here in Colorado so she'll need that extra moisture.

You must be so excited.

Just a little tip for future reptiles. It can take awhile before getting the right environment (heat, lighting, humidity). So it's better to have that part completely ready before the reptile can move in.

Good luck with your Tegu.