My name is Joe and I have a Reptile Room! I have a collection of different snakes, lizards, and turtles which can always change. I'm very interested in the creation of new and upgraded enclosures for our reptillian friends. I enjoy watching the animals roam the enclosures, it's very satisfying seeing them use every inch I give them.
Follow along with me as I build the room, build giant enclosures, and follow my reptiles as they grow and change.
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Follow me on InstaGram @herpasaurusrex Tag YOUR Reptiles and Enclosures with #wynningreptiles
I have also created a video "So, you want a plated lizard" with most if not all that information. I wouldn't recommend live plants as they will destroy them with their size and sharp claws. You can use all the fake plants you'd like! I have had success with temperatures from 65* low and 110* for a basking spot. I usually base my temps on their country of origin. Hope this helps!
@TheReptileRoom1 Would you be up to doing a upto date video, for care guide ect because like you said there's literally no information around these guys
Yeah my girlfriend and I rescued what we thought was a Sudan plated lizard yesterday, but we think it’s actually a Madagascar plated aka this from your video, suppppper hard to find info on, they like it dry? Humid? Really struggling finding care guides
They best way to gain trust with any of your lizards would be to use food. Use tongs and get the animal to start feeding from them. Then you can move the tongs closer to you or your other hand (balled in a fist) if it comes over to pick your had (to see what you are) you're on the right track
I don't want the mirror to reflect all the light, it will make shooting video terrible. There is also the chance the animal will see the reflection and try to fight itself causing damage and stress that's completely unnecessary
I'm getting my first Basilisk in about a week. I just found your channel and loved the info. My new guy is a youngster so hes's going into a small enclosure for a while, but your enclosure looks like something that I could build. Would you mind sharing your plans? Good info, and I've subscribed and liked this video. I look forward to watching and learning more.
Very cool, congratulations! I got mine as a youngster also and have a couple videos of his first enclosure you should check out. I do not have official plans for that enclosure but I can jot some notes down and send them to you later! Thank you for your support!
respectfully, after research due to their soft shells, its not ideal to use any small rocks but sand and or mud. These turtles ( I have one) a very soft shell and tend to dig a lot. Great video!
While I agree with most of what you say, they do live in mountain lakes full of rock. So just keep an eye on them and make sure nothing is going wrong! Most of keeping these animals healthy and happy is watching them!
I had a yellow throated plated lizards years ago, it looked a lot like that male major plated lizard you got(except it has a slim figure). And that was the best pet lizard I ever had. Little guy could swim, climb, eat fruit’s and crickets. Mine was like a dog, it used to love getting petted and just climbed on my head or shoulder and just chill.
That is super cool! I have seen a few plated lizards act like that lately. They are very cool and each of mine have a very different personality. Our biggest is our nicest one to handle.
Ive seen Sudan Plated Lizard, but this is the first time I seen a Major Plated before. It looks like a fuse version of a Yellow throated and Sudan. If I were to ever get a lizard again, it would definitely be a plated lizard@@TheReptileRoom1
I am really thinking about obtaining a Basilisk... it will be between those, or a Water Dragon... Have not made the decision as of yet, though. You are doing some pretty good work with them dude.
Thank you! My Basilisk is still doing really well and I would recommend one. The water dragons are very similar care but don't have the cool sails that I like a lot. Good luck with your decision!
I originally got 4, they were misslabled and a bargain. Unfortunately the hatching only survived about 45 days. We tried really hard but I think the stress of import, then shipping, then we got them probably ly had something to do with it.
Thank u i just had a plated lizard given to me because someone abandoned her:( there's not many videos about them. Its a shame shes very cute idky someone would leave her
Rhey are very underrated lizards. I think too many people get caught up in colors and morphs now and don't appreciate the animal. Be sure to check out some other videos I have of them. Good luck!
@@TheReptileRoom1 you’re welcome! I honestly have no idea how we even accomplished it. So far they have only given us males! Three from last years and what looks like two more males this year. I’ve got my fingers crossed that if they give us eggs next year we’ll get a female.
@yinyang1346 I wonder if the eggs might change sex with temperature like leopard geckos. Try splitting a clutch and put one box a few degrees warmer and one a few colder.
That will depend on what you use to construct it. I used 3/4 furniture grade plywood, a heavy pond liner, and 1/2 acrylic panels. I was thrifty and got the acrylic for free and reused my plywood. If I had to buy it I'd imagine this enclosure cost close to $1000 in materials. Acrylic is the big price killer.
If you're thrifty and change the enclosure design you can make them for less. I just had this stuff laying around. If you didn't use acrylic you'll save a TON. Try using a wire mesh for the sides. I have had success with that as well. Or finding an old big bird cage on Craigslist and some sweat equity!
Tbh, if you were apprehensive at all about getting the lizard out, once you were in the enclosure, why not just slowly tip the box onto its side... and it'll run out? lol. I dont always thinks its absolutely necessary for us to grab our reptiles by hand. Yes, it helps and is fastest, but if it's a more skittish species, I usually factor OUT manual removal…whenever possible, I try to corner them into a box (when i needed to move them) and then simply open the box when its time to let them out again. And i let them crawl out on their own. Same with mail orders. You see these unboxing videos, snakes, and everything-people film themselves excitedly taking the animal out immediately by hand. I’d say just set the container in the enclosure and open it, and let them find their way.
I agree, we typically let animals climb themselves out of any container we move them with. Unless we have to grab them we have stayed fairly hands free with our lizards lately. It's helped gain trust with them.
The plateds are doing very well. I haven't witnessed any breeding but their colors are more intense which usually means they either in season or getting into season. Fingers crossed!
Another basilisk keeper has had his females eat other items also. Mine is not a fan at all haha. I still offer some fruit and veg to him but always with a superworm topping!
Get those damned water troughs out of those enclosures, the humidity must be through the roof in there. A small water dish (without bubblers) is all you need. The Zonosaurs can have some humidity, but the Sudan Plateds should be very low humidity and a very hot basking site about 120 f. I always fed mine dog food (dry and wet).
I will not be changing the water. They are very active and run in and lay in the water! Super cool to watch. Their basking spot is very hot. If I shrank those and removed the bubbles i would need a full time employee swapping water lol. The water also helps hold heat in. It's all part of the ecosystem.
I have a vintage cabinet I remaking. I am worried about poisoning our snake with the old products on the wood. should I sand and repaint with waterproof paint? I don't want the wood to warp from the constant moisture. what would you suggest for product to use? I intend to line the bottom with glass and silicone caulk to keep the bottom dry. any help would be appreciated.
That sounds like a cool project! Luckily the snake shouldn't be affected by the original finishes on the wood. You can certainly sand and repaint. I do not have any specific product I use for that. A basic latex water soluble paint should suffice. Low voc paint if available is even better. That should make it last a considerable amount of time.
I like your tunnel system idea. This could work for lizards that are solitary, but you want to breed. Each can have their own enclosure, and maybe a central enclosure for mating. I'd add a way to gate off each tunnel in case one lizard starts following the weaker one and bullies it. Having owned habitual systems for hamsters as a child, make sure its easy to remove the tunnels for cleaning.
Oh, well I'll completely disagree as he is one of the nicest guys in the reptile hobby I have met. Knows his stuff and can help any one with reptile or oddity related questions.
I won't keep mine in anything smaller than his 8'long x 5.5' deep x 8' tall. Tons of lighting and heat are also required for indoor enclosures. His outdoor enclosure (for summer only) is 16'x12'x8'
That will be a good enclosure for sure! Half the bottom as a nice deep filtered pond and you can do what I did and keep a small turtle with him for company!
@@TheReptileRoom1 ok! I might try that out, but I feel like it will be even harder to take care of them with the turtle, I have experience but I only have a bearded dragon and leopard gecko and don’t know much about turtles
I literally thought a Lizard on a Plate was a display thing like they do those preserved bugs. Very surprised and glad I learned something lol! I gained some humility and knowledge. Subbed!
I’m back to comment on all your videos, but what would be the best tropical lizard other than a green whole, I do have a good amount of experience with lizards but I’m trying to find a good tropical one, do you have any info on a good one?
Lol I appreciate the comments! Have you seen our pastropholis praying? The African green keel bellied lizard is super cool and stays a smaller size. The basilisk is our other tropical lizard and we have a rhino iguana which is a very cool dude
I'm not sure what you're budget range may be but Custom Reptile Enclosures makes some decent size ones for 2 to 10k. You really need a lot of floor space, water space, and height. I'm not aware of many that are purchasable. My enclosure is 5ft x 4ft x 7ft tall. That's about as small as I'd recommend.
They need land space. Water space and height. So my best recommendation is to go as big as you can! In my opinion there are no off the shelf solutions for a basilisk.