I need advice about a cage for a rattlesnake, please.

[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

I've had snakes my entire life. However, I haven't had any in a few years. (I've had hot rattlesnakes before.) I'm rescuing a full grown Red Diamond Rattlesnake from a person who no longer wants it. I'd like to know what type of cage you recommend, and recommend avoiding. I was thinking of an Animal Plastics 36"x24"x12" with sliding acrylic, with a heat pad on one side. (Is it big enough?)

Any advice, really, any advice, is apprecaited and will be taken to heart. Thanks for your help. Keith (I live in San Diego.)

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[JuliusSqueezer]

I don't like sliding doors for hots. ESPECIALLY lightning fast striking crotalus unless you have a way worked out to close the door without having your fingers in range. Drop down doors double as a shield. Dual drop down doors are your best friend. A slide in divider is even your better best friend on cage cleaning day.

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

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[JuliusSqueezer]

Doug Barr at herpcages.com makes a really nice 4x2 cage with dual doors and slide in divider.

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[BWSmith]

I also would suggest a little taller than 12" as it sometimes makes hooking difficult on larger snakes. And as mentioned, I am a fan of bottom hinged doors. Sliding can be cumbersome to close quickly if need be.

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[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

Thanks guys. But do you think a 36" x 24" x 18" is big enough? I'm planning on getting a Visions or AP cage. Thanks

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[JuliusSqueezer]

That's good for something up to about 3-4 feet to maybe even 5. Just keep your hands out of there because you are in strike range anywhere in that cage. I like 4 foot cages personally. I just get 2 and 4 foot cages and skip the 3 footers all together. It makes stacking less a math problem. When my babies outgrow the 2 foot cages, they go right into 4 footers.

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[BWSmith]

you couldn't pay me to use Vision cages again.

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[SoberGuy]

Originally Posted by BWSmith

you couldn't pay me to use Vision cages again.

Really? Why not?

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[BWSmith]

They are death traps when dealing with venomous. Particularly the lip over the door.

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[lethargiic]

Originally Posted by BWSmith

They are death traps when dealing with venomous. Particularly the lip over the door.

prime location for snakes to hide out no matter what they are and even with the non-hots..if they're snippy and the see a hand in there..........

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[BWSmith]

Yah. Luckily when I was using Visions I saw a rattle hanging down.

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[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

I won't be using a visions cage then. (They are conveniently located just outside San Diego so I thought I'd take a look.) Avoid Visions cages. [check]. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

BW, is there a specific cage that you prefer?

[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

Thanks for the advice. I won't use a Vision caage. Ironic they call them Vision cages when you can't see the snake set up to ambush you. Anyway, BW, is there a specific cage you recommend or do you make your own ???

[Oops - I didn't see the second page of posts so I posted twice. I didn't think the first took.]

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[BWSmith]

Right now I use Precisions. But they are still a bit short for my liking, although it has only posed aproblem on the larger snakes. I have not used them, but several respected hot keepers have told me that Animal Plastics is supposed to be very nice.

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[Crotalus Ruber Keith]

I tried ordering a cage and calling Precision at (614) 268-4320 numerous times. I can't get through and no one calls me back. Does anyone know if Precision is still in business?

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[JuliusSqueezer]

Check out Barrs cages too at herpcages.com. The 4 foot cage with the slide in divider is really nice. You can clean one side at a time without disturbing the snake...change the water...whatever. I have one but I'm currently keeping it divided full time and housing a couple of copperheads in it but it would be a great setup for a flighty, fast striking rattlesnake if that happens to be an issue. It's a bit sturdier than the precision cages too. All of my precision 4 footers are sagging in the middle a bit and bowing out in the front ever so slightly.

[Ghroller]

Precision though they make good cages... impossible to communicate with... Try E-mailing him seems t be the best way

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[osculum]

i use vision cages, a lot of people don't like sliding doors for rattlers, but i haven't had a problem with them, just make sure they're not on the bottom of the stack as long as they're level with you when you're working with them which is what mine are like, no problems, and they're easy to lock too.

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