Viv for young BCI

[AGActaeonia]

Used a diff. phone to take the picture after I made a few modifications. Placed new stepping stones and replaced the basking area, straightened out those awful ferns.

All elements remain the same. Hides on either side below the foliage, UTH and CHE on the left-hand side.

Enjoy.

[X-Factor]

Oh man....that looks awesome Aren! What are the cage dimensions and size of snake?

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

Oh man....that looks awesome Aren! What are the cage dimensions and size of snake?

Dimensions are those of a standard 55g aquarium (one of my custom-designed lines; minimal heat/humidity loss, tastefully covered rear and sides to provide additional security).

The snake in question is my little Deosyni, 1.5ft March '09 Colombian Common.

Here she is, photo taken 07.01.09.



I was originally skeptical about providing her such a large enclosure at her size, but she enjoys it quite thoroughly. The "umbrella" there in the center (large open space beneath it where the heat filters through but she can remain hidden) provides additional security, though she opts to sit ON TOP of the thing more often than beneath it.

[X-Factor]

Having a small snake in a large enclosure is perfectly fine (and preferable IMO) if you do it the way you have done it....provide many places for hiding.

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by X-Factor

Having a small snake in a large enclosure is perfectly fine (and preferable IMO) if you do it the way you have done it....provide many places for hiding.

She's large enough - as well is the enclosure "busy" enough - that I felt comfortable switching her. She has much more room to roam rather than moving 6 in. to the left or right for warm / not so warm. She was quarantined in a 20g tall since she was born, but a few weeks ago I got tired of looking at the thing and grabbed the 55 and drug that in to the quarantine room instead, lol.

x3 attempts of trial and error produced what best suits her - and my ego (aquariums are baaaaddddd, pfffff).



As usual, thank you for the kind words and feedback, sir!

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[BlackLava]

i think it looks great very simple and pretty and still natural looking what substrate it that?

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by BlackLava

i think it looks great very simple and pretty and still natural looking what substrate it that?

Thank you, BL. As a fellow viv... er...? Lol... I account your compliments in the highest regard.

The substrate is T-Rex Jungle Bed, same as used in all my Python and Boa setups. Excellent stuff. When using aquaria, I swear by it.

[BlackLava]

ahhh, ok, you must need alot of that stuff lol

[nitram]

that looks badass... i been thinkin about gettin somethin bigger for mine, she is about the same size and i keep her in a 20gal. why do people say theyre bad? the humid. & temp in the tank is fine and i use them heating pads (1 under & 1 on the side). granted, i mist about once a day in the morning that skyrockets the humid to 80 but is about 55 at the end of the day.

really cool, i have a question, are those live plants? can you use live plants? can a siminar setup be used with cypress?

again, marvelous job.

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by BlackLava

ahhh, ok, you must need alot of that stuff lol

2 bags for 55s, 3.5/4 for 75s.

They're $11.00 a bag at the pet store, but I purchase 4 for $30 from a website I frequent. Lasts between 6-8 months.

It's the secret behind my success, so I gladly pay $60 a year to ensure perfect husbandry for my babsies. I know I could use aspen for dirt-cheap, but it's well worth it and zero incomplete sheds while using aquaria is hard to come by. I've had none since switching to it over a year ago.

[BlackLava]

wow thats not bad jungle bed is expensive everywhere i see it, so we dont use it i love the reptibark the most but its even more expensive than the jungle bed, so we just stick wtih the aspen. i bought a 43lb bag of american excelsior for $15 at the last reptile expo i went to i think ill stick with that one. ive already filled up about half of my cages and i havent even used 1/3 of it

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by nitram

why do people say theyre bad?

Some experience difficulty achieving the correct gradients. Boas do not prefer being visible on all sides. Many rub their noses raw against screen-tops. Glass enclosures are heavy and easily broken or cracked. Many will have whole lists to justify their distaste.

All of my setups are extremely expensive, well thought out and personally designed. I've no issues and my snakes are just as happy in them as otherwise, while I still maintain a tasteful atmosphere for myself as well as guests. They're beautiful animals, and nothing sets off their sublimity more thoroughly than a well-designed vivarium.

Originally Posted by nitram

are those live plants? can you use live plants? can a siminar setup be used with cypress?

They are not live plants, only expensive and very effective fakes. Live plants can be used, but it is seldom recommended. Snakes are in and of themselves difficult to maintain properly when housed in vivaria let alone additional concern needed for maintaining live plants that a large snake will crush while exploring, etc.

It can be done, and looks quite tasteful when achieved properly. If you wish more information on the matter, I recommend you read: The Art of Keeping Snakes by Vosjoli and Vivaria Designs by Jerry G. Walls. Both describe in detail how to design tasteful enclosures similar to mine as well as live vivariums and provide lists of safe plants to use as per the species of snake in question.

Lastly; yes, cypress is highly recommended for use with Colombian Commons and would suit a similar setup fashionably as well as effectively.

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by BlackLava

wow thats not bad jungle bed is expensive everywhere i see it, so we dont use it i love the reptibark the most but its even more expensive than the jungle bed, so we just stick wtih the aspen. i bought a 43lb bag of american excelsior for $15 at the last reptile expo i went to i think ill stick with that one. ive already filled up about half of my cages and i havent even used 1/3 of it

I'm unfamiliar with the American Excelsior... Is it aspen or is it a soil-based variant?

Yes. I used Repti-bark before putting them on Jungle Bed. So soon as the winter hit, I had incomplete sheds across the board. Keeping it moist enough (in a screen-topped aquarium) only provoked wood-mite infestations and I got splinters when turning the substrate while cleaning.

I'd opt to use it if an AP such as yours were in the equation, but I've found that Jungle Bed, Eco-earth, and other bio-substrates recommended by Vosjoli in The Art of Keeping Snakes are most effective in my line of enclosure use.

You of course know this but I say it more for other users looking in to making aquariums work for them than reminding you of what you long ago brought to my attention.

[BlackLava]

lol yea im not a tank fan personally, even though i have used them before. in summer here in north texas, tanks arent so bad cause its so hot and humid here, but once it gets cold, they are a nightmare. when i first bought satyr and missy, they were both in tanks (i got them while it was starting to warm up here), their humidity was a little low, but nothing a once-a-day misting couldnt fix. finally they got better cages though. now when i got maya, my normal retic, it was december and already freezing, so keeping her warm and humid enough was a nightmare

i was never able to get a diff kind of top for the tanks though, like acrylic or anything i was saving up for my newer cages LOL.

oh, and yes, american excelsior is a shredded aspen

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by BlackLava

lol yea im not a tank fan personally, even though i have used them before. in summer here in north texas, tanks arent so bad cause its so hot and humid here, but once it gets cold, they are a nightmare. when i first bought satyr and missy, they were both in tanks (i got them while it was starting to warm up here), their humidity was a little low, but nothing a once-a-day misting couldnt fix. finally they got better cages though. now when i got maya, my normal retic, it was december and already freezing, so keeping her warm and humid enough was a nightmare

i was never able to get a diff kind of top for the tanks though, like acrylic or anything i was saving up for my newer cages LOL.

oh, and yes, american excelsior is a shredded aspen

My screen-tops have a piece of plexi-glass fixed to the underside. This helps a good deal to maintain the correct gradients.

As for providing the proper levels, our heating and cooling are free in this apartment. Thermostat is set at 80 in the winter, 80 in the summer. In both cases the proper basking areas are maintained with a 78-80° ambient.

I'm cooling the Pythons as well as the Boas this year, so this winter it won't be as sweltering. Our lease is up in April and by that time the Boas will have their APs. The Pythons couldn't care less how warm or cool it is. They're maintained at the right range of temperatures of course, but I've seen neither go near the warm end of the enclosure since the spring, yet they continue to have BMs and so forth without going near a heat-source.

The Boas have lately begun lounging on the cool-end as well...

And speaking of which but so totally off topic... Both of my Boas have begun defecating without provocation (bathing) in their enclosures. FINALLY. Once a week for the most part (which means no more dust-pan clean-ups...

[BlackLava]

LOL ive almost been tempted to just turn the heat off ambient temps are around 84 and humidity is high in the cages and ive only really seen karleys genesis and my inferno pastel boa actually use the heat but im scared to turn it off in case they decide they need it, at least it will be there when and if they need it LOL

[AGActaeonia]

Originally Posted by BlackLava

but im scared to turn it off in case they decide they need it, at least it will be there when and if they need it LOL

Exactly!

I don't understand how you and Karley do it. She's full of how warm it is down there, and it kills me you guys manage.

I mean to come down there, but you'd better believe it will be in the winter, lol.

I'm from the "Land of Snow," after all. I'd be in stitches watching you two flounder in the 2 or 3 feet of average snow we get on a given January day.

[Special K]

Originally Posted by AGActaeonia

She's full of how warm it is down there [...]

Originally Posted by AGActaeonia

I'd be in stitches watching you two flounder in the 2 or 3 feet of average snow we get on a given January day.

It's not like we've not dealt with snow before.
Granted... It only stays for about an hour at a time, but we DO experience it!

[AGActaeonia]

We talk about the weather every day? Lol...

I'm going to do something drastic to you when I see you next, Karley.

"Lasts an hour."

Why must you tarnish my episodes of the World's Cutest with your non-fiction? Huh?

[Special K]

Originally Posted by AGActaeonia

I'm going to do something drastic to you when I see you next, Karley.

Originally Posted by AGActaeonia

Why must you tarnish my episodes of the World's Cutest with your non-fiction? Huh?

You're a pain.

With Love,
Truthful Texan