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Arboreal Enclosure
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Arboreal Enclosure
My boyfriend and I actually built the cage together, so some of you may have seen this post on the Amazon Alliance forum that he frequents. I just thought I'd share with you all as well.
I bought the shell at the Container Store for 29.99. Its about 12"x14"x42", and comes with 8 shelves that suspend from strings in the corners. It hangs from a 3 point hanger designed for a closet.
Here are the shelves. I cut a larger opening randomly in each one. This is not absolutely necessary as both snakes that I have in the enclosure are able to slip through the holes that are already there. This just meant I wouldn't have to take the shelves out and cut later, and I'd hate to not realize why one ATB spent so long on the same level when it was because they couldn't fit through anymore!
I bought a grommet kit at Home Depot for about 7 bucks and installed them as air holes. They come in 1/8" all the way to 3/4". I chose 1/4". 12 on each side is working out for me so far, but you may need to start with fewer and work more in until you get the right balance. Here you can see a few of them installed in the sides. This was actually the hardest part of the whole project.
I took a few of the shelves out and attached the ones I wanted. Then I attached bamboo poles to the string in various configurations to use as perches. Floral wire was used to hook them in place. Be careful to make sure the points of the bamboo aren't jammed against the walls. The enclosure is sheeted plastic and will eventually tear. Also check that the snakes weight on the bamboo won't make the cage rock too much.
For heating I use a 100 watt day bulb about 7 inches over the top corner. That corner stays about 90-91, with the rest of that level in the high 80s. I've checked the temps with a temp gun and the way it works out I have perches at 90, 87, 83, 81 and so forth all the way to 75 at the bottom. The humidity is easily controlled with a moss tray by moving it to various levels.
All in all the enclosure seems to be working out very well for me and the pair of tree boas that are living in it. It stays in the closet right now so they feel secure but I'm looking forward to being able to move it outside occasionally or around the house. |
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| Member reviews |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Clever idea, but far too many variables for me to concern myself with to feel comfortable using it.  |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
How do you heat that thing? Looks cool, but doesnt seem like it would hold heat or humidity well. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Quote:
Originally Posted by SC_INK
How do you heat that thing? Looks cool, but doesnt seem like it would hold heat or humidity well.
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I can see how it could do both very well, actually.
My concern would be the snakes being injured by the vents in the shelving or caught up in the "strings" that were mentioned.
I'm personally not one for the jerry-rig methods. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
i guess I just prefer horizontal heat gradient as apposed to vertical, even though its vertical in nature |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Oh, I agree. I've little experience with vertical ranging, but given the occupants, I rather think it's what they prefer, though it would seem to me that it would require a bit more energy to move up and down than from side to side.  |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Arboreal animals are designed to move up and down. in the wild they would move to the upper canopy to bask and then back down to take shelter in the shade. A vertical gradient is more to what they understand. And as the heat comes from a corner there is actually a gradient in both directions. With arboreals it is actually a warning sign if they spend too much time on the ground. This usually signifies a health problem.
The heat is pretty steady. Because the plastic allows it to escape smoothly there is no build up, it stays at a steady gradient throughout the day and lowers quickly for night. I realize this isn't ideal for alot of terrestrial animals but for the ATBs it works beautifully. They are ideally 72-77 at night and 75-85 during the day.
Humidity is controlled by ventilation and the fact that I have so many that require high humidity I go ahead and run a humidifier in the room. Makes things easier for everybody.
As for the strings and shelves, its not much different than the vines they use in my other setups. So far no problems. As they get bigger I may have to widen the gaps in the shelves but for the most part ATBs are pretty slender snakes. |
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Last edited by STausch; 01-28-2010 at 03:26 AM..
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Neat idea but I'd be concerned about snakes getting stuck in the smaller holes. Snakes often try to fit their whole bodies through holes only their heads can actually fit through. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Quote:
Originally Posted by mongoose5971
Neat idea but I'd be concerned about snakes getting stuck in the smaller holes. Snakes often try to fit their whole bodies through holes only their heads can actually fit through.
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I would cover the levels and leave a larger than necessary opening in each, personally. They are slender and resourceful snakes, it's true, but as I stated previously, too many problematic variables for my personal taste. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
With an ATB if their head fits their body will. This cage really wouldn't work for anything other than ATBs or green tree pythons possibly. We checked for the first few days and ours slide through with no effort. Each level does have 2 really large holes. With a watchful eye we won't ever have a problem. If they get close to not fitting we'll just change cages or use branches with no shelves. |
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Last edited by STausch; 01-28-2010 at 03:53 AM..
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
As the owners and overseers, I cannot protest your observations, but unless you've a video-camera and live feed available as well with eyes in the backs of your heads, I hope those beauties stay out of trouble whenever you need to blink. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
I'm glad for all the critiques, but I'm curious what differences you see between "normal" arboreal enclosures and this one. I agree this probably wouldn't work for a large scale breeder who didn't have the time to check and tweak things as needed. But the plastic holds heat and humidity far better than an aquarium would, and its designed to keep critters out, so it works just as well to keep them in. And the shelves provide an alternative to branches so the snakes can choose whether they would like a thin stick or flatter branch like perch. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Don't get me wrong, STausch, I think it's very clever, practical and efficient.
I don't think it's better equipped to hold heat and moisture as well as one of my glass vivariums, but they're a special-case, I think.
No, I think it meets all the necessary requirements, and I can't get over the innovation to be honest.
My only reservation is the crossing holes in the levels. I'd just be worried about someone getting stuck (however unlikely, and granted, it is next to impossible for an ATB, but I'll never put anything passed a snake).
Being a viv-oriented guy, I also think it would look need if it had grounded levels (with soil). Would need to get some sort of funky square halved containers with a rimmed hole in the center to do that, though. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
No offense was taken, I'm just curious. So many people have had snakes for so much longer than me that if someone had encountered a similar problem I'd want them to share. Your vivariums sound like they're awesome?? Eventually that will be a project for me as well, but hopefully for dart frogs  The holes are much bigger than they look. Our large female can double over and fit through without a problem. Although a gravid female would probably have some issues. Soil would be an interesting addition (and would make clean up easier) we've found some tupperware containers with a lip that would fit, but we're still trying to figure out how to anchor them so they can't be pushed up from below. All in good time. Thanks! |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Quote:
Originally Posted by STausch
Your vivariums sound like they're awesome??
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I'd like to think so.
I really need to get updated pictures. I upgraded every enclosure with digital thermo/hygrometers for Christmas. So much better than analog.
I had a 6x3x3 arboreal enclosure with a tree right up the center, ferns coming out of it. Cannot find the picture.
I intend on doing something similar with an A30 by Animal Plastics and using it for a juvenile Green Iguana. |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
I think most would be worried due to snakes have done serious and deadly things to themselves trying to get through holes and such. Here are a few examples in this thread. Aside from this, I see nothing wrong with it. As long as temps and humidity are good, it should be fine. Kind of cool actually.
Learn from my mistake |
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Last edited by 96Blacksunshine; 01-28-2010 at 05:34 AM..
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Quote:
Originally Posted by AGActaeonia
I'd like to think so.
I really need to get updated pictures. I upgraded every enclosure with digital thermo/hygrometers for Christmas. So much better than analog.
I had a 6x3x3 arboreal enclosure with a tree right up the center, ferns coming out of it. Cannot find the picture.
I intend on doing something similar with an A30 by Animal Plastics and using it for a juvenile Green Iguana. |
Wow, those are pretty cool. The big one sounds sweet too! |
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Re: Arboreal Enclosure
Quote:
Originally Posted by 96Blacksunshine
I think most would be worried due to snakes have done serious and deadly things to themselves trying to get through holes and such. Here are a few examples in this thread. Aside from this, I see nothing wrong with it. As long as temps and humidity are good, it should be fine. Kind of cool actually.
Learn from my mistake |
That was heartbreaking. I'll be triple checking every hole tonight. I can't imagine what I would do if I found one of my babies like that. |
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