Posted by:
3y3c3
at Fri Jun 20 03:40:24 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by 3y3c3 ]
Hello group, I was just curious, and whenever that happens this is the place with answers for me! You guys rule! My albino baby girl burmese python Belladonna has been mite free (knock on wood) since I received help from this exact forum. Thank you all, I truly appreciate your guys' input!
New Subject: Cages. Everyone uses they're own ideas and i'm no different. I prefer cheap when they are young, because they are going to outgrow it double quick so there is no reason to set up a nice fancy shmancy cage that it's just going to occupy a short while. However, I'm coming to a time where my largest Burm, a Boy named Caber is getting ready for what I coin his "permanent home" and i'm not quite sure what that is yet. I know he is only 9 foot long, so he has a few feet left to grow theoretically, meaning my thought processes are leading me to believe a 4 foot by 8 foot by 3 and a half foot tall "home" will do nicely. I am a woodworker, and have been for many years, and am thinking I am going to build this monstrosity out of wood, and line the interior with plexiglass or a spray that acts as plastic once dried (and providing its non toxic to my pride and joy).
I've had an idea to make two "trays" for the home. One tray will allow for an impressive reservoir that is filtered, circulated, and oxygenated, with pH adjusted water, becauase that is what I drink and know of the benefits of such a brew. I also know that my Boy is obsessed with the water and stays in it for great lengths occasionally. I am going to accomplish that by having a valve drain on the front side of the home so that I can just empty it into a 5 gallon bucket a couple of times and then scrub it down and refill it. The other "tray" I want to have two or three hide boxes that I can access by a panel that can be removed from the side closest the wall once I roll the tray out (since it will be on caster that are concealed within the tray's frame). the center of the tank is going to have grass, because I love plants and have had gardens all my life, and my snakes seem to love the grass, and it is very easy to maintain, and can withstand a lot of abuse. this will be in a large flat tupperware you can get anywhere, with the same drain on it for when I soak the grass and prepare it for organic fertilizers once a year.
I am going to be setting up a misting system, because it'll help keep the humidity up for the snake and the grass, and I rely on ceramic heat emitters for a constant temperature, and that makes sure to eliminate a lot of humidity. I'll be using three certain flourescent lights for the grass, and as a by product the snake will get some extra d3 and full spectrum lighting, but it wasn't put there for him!
I also am setting up a ventilation system that will allow a gentle breeze through the cage when he decides to make his mess for me, because we all know what a great smell that is!
Here are my problems!
When I build this monster, I am going to have to do it in panels, theoretically, so that when I move I can take it down easier instead of having to remove windows to get the thing through the window frame! Does anyone have suggestions on a spray plastic film that I can use to coat the raw wood with so that it is waterproof?
What should I use for a climbing branch? I want a fairly nice looking home for the snake because I love him and want him very well cared for, and though they dont climb often, my snake does tend to take to the trees when I take him on walks in the forest with me. Branches are bug filled dirty things though, and I have no idea how to sterilize a log. I want whatever it is to look fairly natural, or at least aesthetically appealing.
And finally, what would be a good front for this cage? I was thinking sliding windows would be nice, but they dont allow central cage access very well, and that is where the grass will be, so I need to be able to get in there to cut it weekly.
I know it's a lot of work, but I want to keep and breed these magnificent animals, and the caging has to be done right as well as many other things. I'll be getting a house with property in March, wic is necessary for me to breed quail, rabbits, chickens, and pygmy goats as well as regular goats. I've farmed many animals before, but nothing is more entertaining than snakes to me, so raising all this other cattle so they have a healthy, organically raised food selection is important to me. I just get confused by some of the simple things, and would like others advice before I continue with what I got.
Thanks to all who read, and thanks to all who reply and thanks to all who've helped before!
You all rule, and someday, I will have my 8 favorite burmese pythons!
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 Caging for Burms - 3y3c3, Fri Jun 20 03:40:24 2008
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