tokay setup question

TroyL · #1 02-09-2011, 09:22 PM

I have 2 tanks that I can use for setting up my tokay viv. The first is a 30 gallon standard. The 2nd is the same footprint of a 20long but its actualy alot taller.. Think its roughly 35 gallon tank. My question is what tank would be better for my tokay. I know the 35 is like 32" long and the 30 is 36 long. With the height that they are does it matter if they set normally or would it be better to invert them to make them Tall and lots of climbing space? any suggestions would be great. I am wanting to put both live and fake plants in it. I am starting them in a 10gallon inverted. Just need to think about getting the big tank planned so That it is ready when it starts growing big.

Troy

**Riverside Reptiles** · #2 02-10-2011, 11:22 AM

Troy, the taller the better for a tokay. They will absolutely utilize whatever vertical space you give them.

Ozymandias · #3 02-10-2011, 11:30 AM

an option you also have is standing one of the tanks up fitting a door on it to get the most vertical room, this is the basic idea on a smaller scale.

TroyL · #4 02-10-2011, 12:54 PM

So on end it will go. So with the tank setting on the end.. I am guessing you put the heating pad on the end which is now the bottom of the viv. Will it produce enough heat to keep the encloure warm enough or am I going to have to use another form of heating to keep it about 90*? I am planning a top soil, peat moss and coco fiber substrate for the live plants on the bottom and will have a few pots attached to the back using "The Stuff" in a can to make the back drop for it.

Ozymandias · #5 02-10-2011, 01:40 PM

i have found that the UTH aren't that really good with heating to the 80's and 90's from under a layer of soil and LECA so i use heat lamps on my tokay viv

thehotchik1000 · #6 02-10-2011, 02:38 PM

Yes heat lamps are the only way to go. Uth just don't do much bc they don't spend anytime on the ground. You could get a lamp stand or build one to clamp the lamps on to and position them in front of the tank. For this you will need to have screen on the front. Which you could build relatively easily.

TroyL · #7 02-10-2011, 06:20 PM

Ok so using a heat lamp how exactly to you do that since it is setting on glass? Or Just above the glass. Won't the glass get to hot and break? When using heat lamps I have only used them on the mesh wire tops. So heating a enclosure through glass is totally new to me.

Troy

thehotchik1000 · #8 02-11-2011, 01:08 AM

The lamps aren't on the glass nor ever should be. Thats a fire hazard or a burn or bulb explosion waiting to happen. You will be heating through the front which you can have a regular screen top as the door. I have cresties that I have in 10g tanks stood on their end. I use UVB bulbs for the live plants. The fronts are the wire mesh screen tops that are held on with screen clips. I have a lamp stand in front of the cages. All that is is a big pole with a base on the bottom. The domes come with clamps and I clamp it on to the stand. I position it pointing in to the tank through the front which is screen. This is the only way you are going to be able to heat this type of setup. They aren't that expensive. Frankly you could make one cheaply. To be honest though this is a really ineffective setup for tokays. Because they need alot of humidity and heat its so much more effective to get like an exoterra. Those have the 2 front doors and the screen top. So they are an easy setup. I use the tanks on end with my cresties bc they don't need the heat. All of my tokays though are in exoterras. I find them to be a hell of alot more efficient and easy.

TroyL · #9 02-11-2011, 09:32 AM

Gotcha on heating through the front. i have an exoterra 18x18x18 setup that I keep my leo's in. It is a great setup but not sure that it would be big enough to swap them out of it for a tokay to go in there. wouldnt the 18 cube be to small for an adult tokay?

**Riverside Reptiles** · #10 02-11-2011, 10:46 AM

Another option for heating is heat cable taped to the back or sides of the enclosure with metal "duct" tape. THis should ONLY be done with a thermostat.
Here's an example of the heat cable: Save on Flexible Heat Rope for Reptile Cages
And here's an example of a low cost, decent thermostat that allows use of up to 3 heating devices: BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control
The metal "duct" tape can be purchased at any hardware store for just a few $.