New caging idea for our future??

Danis-delectables · #1 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 04:27 PM

We have a nice big living room. Right now we have 1 snake but will be having another soon. I was thinking and wanted to run it by ya all to see what ya think.. We are planning to build new enclosures for them. Bigger ones. Right now our RTB is in a 55 gallon long tank (she is only 2 ft long) But my idea is to build a corner one in each corner of the living room (there is a window that will be in between so its not to close.. The tv will be in between with room to spare. Do you think that would work or would it be to much noise? It would kinda look like one huge wall unit with the snakes on the end in corner enclosures.. Any and all ideas welcome.. Thanks
Dani

Bry · #2 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 04:40 PM

Sounds like a nice idea. I'd wait a little while until he grows some more before building a larger enclosure. He still has a ways to go in the 55 gal.

Bry

Danis-delectables · #3 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 04:43 PM

It wont be for a while yet. Only when they are close to being to big for the 55 gallon.

JuliusSqueezer · #4 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 04:47 PM

corner cages work well for chameleons and Iguanas or might work for an arboreal snake if the traffic isn't too heavy...but not usually the best idea for a boa unless the corner expands out a really really long way. What are the proposed dimensions? How will you provide a good gradient (hot and cold side)? Another thing that I see more often than not with this type cage is that people tend to build them very tall to make up for the floor space. Tall cages eat up humidity and you have to keep in mind that the higher a basking light is, the more it cones out and evenly heats the bottom..killing your gradient and requiring a much hotter bulb to heat it. You never said you were going tall like that so I know I'm jumping to conclusions :P anyway...It doesn't really much matter what shape the cage is. Triangle is fine but for it to work, it will have to eat up a lot of your living room to be heated properly....I think. Give us some measurments, materials and heating thoughts to consider please

Danis-delectables · #5 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 05:26 PM

I dont have the specifics yet. this is just a thought that I had. Its way in the future since they are still little. If you say its not to good I will change it to 2 square ones. Our living room is HUGE so space really is not to big an issue. (I want them in the living room where they can be appreciated) I love to watch them when they are climbing and doing their thing. Thanks JS this is the first of my posts you replied to and I am so happy to have had your advice finally LOL

Kent K25 · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 06:44 PM

Dani, like JS said the corner idea could work if you really like that idea. I'm not an expert on custom cages and all the factors he mentioned, butif you like the corner idea do as he said, once you are closer to doing the project shoot some figures on here and see what he and others with more experience think. Sounds like it would look cool if you could make it work.

JuliusSqueezer · #7 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 07:52 PM

LOL...it may still work if you have the space. I went in my living room with a tape measure and did a rough draft of what I would suggest for a corner cage for a boa. It is very rough lol...but it should work. I would put it on some kind of stand ...If you want to make it stackable then you will need to use a radial heat panel or put s light fixture inside caged off to prevent burns. the orange shows the heated area...just experiment with bulbs and heatpad/UTH settings till you get the right temps. Leaving the back corner pointy will indeed give the snake more room...but you will be hating life when you have to crawl half your body in to clean the cage. Thats why I cut the back off the way I did. Good Luck and take photos.

JuliusSqueezer · #8 (**permalink**) 04-10-2004, 07:57 PM

Notice how the heat from the light cones out. the further away it is the more it spreads. A more focused beam of heat provides a warm area and allows the gradient...I am not undermining you ...I just see this mistake made a lot and am taking an opportunity to explain while it's etched out LOL...heating really tall cages from above...by the time the heat gets to the bottom of some of these cages the whole cage is the same temp.

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