Housing Questions

[Kaianuanu]

So I'm planning on getting a male blue hatchling in the (hopefully) near future. Anyway, I realize he will quickly outgrow the 55 gallon I'm planning on starting him out in. So I was thinking I'd build a large indoor pen for him when he gets older, and I wanted to plan it all out now. I'm still deciding on whether I want it to be a 6x4,7x4, or an 8x4. Anyway, my first question is, do you think a full grown male blue is capable of scaling a 3' plywood wall, it would be smooth on the inside, and any framework would be on the outside of the wall so he wouldn't have any foothold on the inside. Also what type of lighting do you think I'll need for this type of enclosure. I'm guessing a 160w power sun or two to start.

 

[Bubblz Calhoun]

3' wall with an open top, just a matter of time before he figures out how to get over it. More often then not all they have is time to figure it out. One way is how another member just found out that his tegu can tripod, all of them can and you'll see it eventually. Once you add substrate, a hide, basking platform, log or even a water bowl it will all come in handy during the escape process. When all else fails at some point hell start to rearrange and move things around or just tripod and jump for it. Once he gets a good grip on the edge its over.

 

[SnakeCharmr728]

From your post, it sounds like you'll have an open top? I think you will definitely have escape issues there but more importantly an open top wont keep humidity or heat. I have a few 8x3x30inches. That way it can still fit through standard doorways on its side. Lighting can be installed with ceramic fixtures from the hardware store. I have a 4ft long tube light for uv and arrival light so the other end of the enclosure isn't dark and then on one end I have 3 fixtures for bulbs. I use outdoor flood bulbs but whatever you chose you'll probably have to play around with what watt bulb works for your set up to get the temps