 Recent Herp Discussion | | | | | | | | Online Users: 108 | | 61 members and 47 guests | | 100110, 1Wildlifewarrior, ad, Administrator, aspidito, bkn351, Brigsy, CassM, Chris89, cris, DerekRoddy, dickyknee, Didgeman, disasterpiece7.0, dmx69errulz, dragon lady, feral1, gar1, GARTHNFAY, Gavin, gregsydney, Hawk, Hetty, hobbo, jakethesnake, jase_ale, jasontini, Jewly, jimmyd, Jungleland, junglepython2, Jungle_Freak, Jye and Peady, lauren87, licky, mattyandnat, MissJane, missllamathuen, mistymtn, m_beardie, nikay11, Noisy, OzExcalibur, pythons73, RedEyeGirl, reptilegirl_jordan, reptile_boy_6, rmcneill, Rooboy15, ryanharvey1993, Sean#1, sej66, shooshoo, snakes4me2, tree, val46, VixenBabe, waruikazi, wokka | |  | 
08-Nov-07, 05:16 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Dec-04 Location: Wangaratta Age/Gender: 19  | | |
Hi all,
Just wanting to know if an enclosure 1.5m long by 65cm high and 50cm deep would be big enough for a mertons as an adult? or possibly a pair?
Thanks. |
08-Nov-07, 05:21 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Dec-04 Location: Somewhere near Brisbane | | | | There is no way it would be suitable for an adult Mertens. An adult would need something like 2m long by at the very least 1m deep and 1.5m high. This is a minimum and even then isn't really adequate.
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08-Nov-07, 05:21 PM
|  | Roadkill Subscriber | Join Date: Aug-05 Location: Western Sydney Age/Gender: 25 | | | | Too small IMO.
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08-Nov-07, 05:22 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Sep-07 Location: melbourne Age/Gender: 12 | | | | I doubt it, considering they get pretty big, get advise from other ppl aswell though
Cheers |
08-Nov-07, 08:59 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-06 Location: mornington peninsula,vic Age: 33 | | | | i read an article by a german breeder who uses that sized enclosure to house and breed a pr of mertons,he states they are only 80 cm,s long though,just for the record,hes the author of the monitor book available from the herp shop ect recently,personally though,they grow to arounfd the 4 foot length,there not lazy so keeping them in a cage that size is not really recommended,they need a large water area,i believe the smallest id use for an adult or pr of them would be a 6 x2x2 aquarium with a top around the same size on top,use the aquarium for the water area,and make land areas in the top half,thats a minamum,id prefer to make it at least 3 foot wide,when my 3 grow bigger,im making them a large enclosure,with a pond inside,as an exhibit style enclosure,like what u see at zoos,i think mertons would be perfect for that,along with alot of others |
09-Nov-07, 11:49 AM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Newcastle, NSW | | | | I kept my pair in an enclosure that I built...an aviary outdoors which was 2.4m x 1.6m wide x 1.8m tall...they thrived in that and are a treat to watch...they are definately a species that needs to be given room to move (like any monitor really).
Simon Archibald |
09-Nov-07, 02:36 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-06 Location: mornington peninsula,vic Age: 33 | | | | simon did u keep them outdoors year round in newcastle? |
09-Nov-07, 05:01 PM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Newcastle, NSW | | | | Richard,
Yes I kept them outside year round with their pond heated to 26 degrees during winter and a large plastic tub upturned with a low wattage heat lamp in it, which was also a dry hide. The female laid a clutch of 6 eggs in the pond during wet cold weather in that May also.
Simon Archibald | |
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