Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[baloo]

i have finally cleared a space in my fish house so i can build a viv.
i'm not sure what to keep yet but from waterdragons to monitors and tegus my preferences are quite widely spread.
if i was to build a arboral viv it would be 52x48x30,lxhxw, and i'd keep water dragons in it
i have a heatplate with 225 watts but i wonder how do you create a temperature gradiant in a arboral viv. from bottom to the top with the top 3rd being the basking site or from left to rite?
reason i'm asking is i don't quite honestly know
i'm a big fish man

any terrrestial viv would be 75x42x30
due to a beam supporting the aquarium above i can't go any higher the 42" if i go wider then 52 inches

thanx for your help

[Scott W]

sounds like you have the right idea.

If you go for the water dragon viv, place a powersun (or similar) approx 1/3 from the side, and approx in the middle (front to back). This will give a heat gradient and if you provide enough branches they can choose their UV requirement too.

Just check the lower temps aren't too cold.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

[baloo]

i think i gonna stick with the heat plate or radiant heat panel. what ever ppl prefer to call it.
i don't need a guard and it sits nearly flush to the ceiling. only problem is it has to go in short side(15 inches) to the front the way you say to put a heatscource. as it is 31 inch long i guess i have to make the viv a little wider. even if i used a powersun i couldn't have it on all day as the room is fairly warm itself. it would be difficult to finetune in respect of the warmer summer weather. so in the end i would still need the heatplate for a permanent background heat in the winter.
i had to turn the heat up 2 days ago as my water temperature went down to 75.
my fish like it warmer then that