>>I am looking for input on what you would consider reasonable caging requirements for snakes and lizards. We are attempting to fight some proposed regulations, and one of the parts refers to caging requirements. Their proposed requirement are confusing and restrictive, so I am asking for other recomendations to bring to them. Do you know of any ordinances that you believe is fair? Do you know of any industry standards based on animal sizes?
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>>Any input/discussion is appreciated.
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>>Thank you.

I have my own considerations of sizes although most vary depending upon species. However the difference between minimum and proper sizes are huge.

Snakes - Length equal to that of the animal, other dimensions as appropriate

Lizards - Depth equal to that of the animal, other dimensions as appropriate

Of course there are other dimensions of the enclosure as well to consider.

Arboreal - branches no smaller than the width of the animal

Diurnal lizards - Basking spot should be twice the sq footage as the animal

I usually use common sense when comes to caging however common sense now a days isn't so common.

When I say dimensions as appropriate I mean to the size that is safe for the animal and the keeper.

Lets use an 8' Burmese as an Example

At that size the minimum cage IMO should be 8' in length. The other dimensions I usually use (width equal 1/2 the length) and height (between 1/4 and 1/3 the length) However for this species I wouldn't recommend a depth of the cage more than the length of the keepers arm. If a greater depth is desired the height should be equal to that distance. Meaning and 8' long 2' tall cage should be no deeper than 30". If one wants a 31" deep cage the height should also be 31". A 36" deep cage is 36" tall.

This is what I consider a safety factor and it doesn't apply only to Burmese but any large Boid.

There are no fast rules, but most of what I've stated above holds pretty true. Using the same width to height ration or 1 to 2. A 6' Green Iguana would need a cage with a floor area of 6' x 12'. The trick is the Height by my rule the cage would only have to be 3-4' based on the height equals 1/4 to 1/3 the length. That is where common sense comes in, although one could use the cage height should be 2/3 the length for arboreal animals. Result in a 8' tall enclosure, which IMO is a healthy sized cage for a green Iguana.

Just my opinions treat them as such.
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Jeremy Payne
JB Reptile

1.0 Snow "Kahl"
0.2 Triple Het Moonglow "Kahl"
0.1 Orange Tail Hypo Het Leopard
1.0 Ghost
0.1 DH Ghost
1.1 "Kahl" Albino
1.0.2 Hypomelenistic
1.3 Pastel Hypo
0.1 Anerthrystic
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0.1.2 Morelia Viridis

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