Help to list iggy viv contents!

[Bradders100]

Could someone please help me list the things I would need to build Ludos new viv!

Things like light bulbs or radiators, how many to use, best wattage, best UV to use, Would he like a pool area?

Can I use live plants etc, if so, does anyone know which ones are safe?
Stuff like that really!
I really want to do this properly and would like some input from owners to see what they find works or doesnt work

Thanks

Oh I know the viv has to be huge, jsut need a list of whats best to put inside it!

[reticmadness79]

glad youve got him was gonna fetch myself
Anyway what size viv are you building for the iggy

[VW_Rick]

I have (in a 4x3x2 HxWxD for 6month old sebastian):

> 150W Spotlight with ceramic fitting on heatproof wire
> Ceramic Heater on ceramic fitting (soon to get dimming thermostat)
> 2ft UV strip bulb with all the UV transformer and all that stuff
> 2 Heatmats, one is 2ft long & one 1 ft long.
> Temperature gun, (I've got the exo terra circular stick on themometers & humidity reader and seem to work pretty well but ths is defo on the list)
> 1.5ft hollow cork bark
> Pothos plant (hanging from the ceiling)
> I've forgotten the other 2 plant name... (would like some wandering jew)
> The Iguana Den - Iguana Diet - Non-Toxic Plants
> Driftwood and some big stripped branches etc..
> Some vents if you're needing them for your viv build..?
> Maybe some mesh to make a guard for bulbs if he can get close enoguh
> A basking shelf for a big ig (?)
> Something for water
> Fake ivy plant
> Few timers for the plugs (most've them are utter sh*t and have broken though)
>A Grater
> A good rock
> A multiplug thing

I feed him on the the rock and keep it in the shaded area so the food doesn't dry up, although I do have some on the hot side on the heatmat so that they hold the heat through the night a bit.

I've been collecting a few pieces of driftwood over the years and got some gorse bush, stripped the leaves of it and bleach soaked it. (really awesome intricate little bush for climbing, suppose he's a big un though. anyway...). I've got a really cool bit of tree ivy aswell (the ones that wrap round big old oak trees) and bleach soaked that, looks really cool and jungley.

If I had a big iguana and so a big viv, I'd get the megaray bulbs in on the case, don't think the strip bulbs are really up for UV'ing a big viv.

I put the 1ft heatmat on top of the 2ft one to make that side even hotter for the thermal gradient. & have one side of the viv with no heatmat on and really shaded for the cool area

For the bottom of the viv I use that non slip stuff, you can get quite big sheets of it at B&Q for about a fiver each, (4ftx1ft), quite thin though so might end up being expensive! Wish I'd have seen this earlier, coulda got green!..

Struktur Non Slip Material

I do think a pool is cool but needs a lot of cleaning (daily) because they like to 'defecate' in the water & chances are he'll drink from it. Could be viable with a drain plug. If I had one i'd use a pond mister on a humidity thermostat (not seen these but then again i've not been looking), theyneed to be under 3-5 cm of water though.

Sorry didn't seem to sound patronising just wanted to map it all out in my head!

Best of luck!

[Bradders100]

Thanks

And I'm planning on building a big viv.

About 8ft x 6ft hopefully I want to build, hes already 4.5ft ^^

[VW_Rick]

editted that post quite a bit, you might wanna reread! never remember everything even when the viv's right infront of you do ya?!

[reticmadness79]

i would recomend 2 5ft tubular heaters (225 watts each) on a pulse stat this will control the ambient temp,box them in with a mesh front,then a powersun or may 2 for basking spot and uv,also add a couple of red spots for night time basking spots on a dimmer stat.plenty of big sturdy branches and add a shelf half way up for his food bowl,a water bowl big enough for him to get in to.if you want any more ideas look in my album in profile,as i build alot of big vivs.

[Bradders100]

lol fair enough

I have some of that stuff already i.e. grater and vents haha

Got a long way to go :P

get paid soon though, but most of that is towards vets for him first and maybe some more of the smaller bits like decor etc

then 2 weeks later, I get paid again before xmas

[Bradders100]

Originally Posted by reticmadness79

i would recomend 2 5ft tubular heaters (225 watts each) on a pulse stat this will control the ambient temp,box them in with a mesh front,then a powersun or may 2 for basking spot and uv,also add a couple of red spots for night time basking spots on a dimmer stat.plenty of big sturdy branches and add a shelf half way up for his food bowl,a water bowl big enough for him to get in to.if you want any more ideas look in my album in profile,as i build alot of big vivs.

Awesome thanks

Taking a look now :P

EDIT:

Ooooo thats awesome!!!
I'm thinking of moving my room around and building a big 'L shaped' viv in the one corner

What do you think?

[reticmadness79]

would not be that difficult,good look with the build and post some pics up when you start
if you need anymore advice give me a shout,or of you get stuck

[Bradders100]

awesome tar