Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK well We just moved into tis Really nice house the thing is im stuck being in the basement. The basement is far too small for an 8 foot cage. So i was wondering can I put my burm in the closet? The closet is under the stairs very nice I can put carpeting down and all.......Its 6'x30" I was just wondering how the heating and ect. would be done thanks alot..........
MIke

ps: is it ok to put a small burm in a large cage and whats the minimum size they should be before mvoing into a large cage.

The only issues I can think of off the top of my head is ensuring that the animal is unable to excape. If there is the tiniest of gaps in any of the boards you snake will either find away through or injure itself trying. Also you definitely would not want to carpet the floor. I would suggest linoleum. Put it on the floor and a foot or two up the walls. This will aid in the cleaning process. The lighting and heating process will be just like you would do in a cage. Just in a larger scale. You will need more heat sources and possibly more lights. The biggest concern will be maintaining humidity levels. It can be done but in the end I think it would be better to look for an alternative. But that is just my opinion. Todd

Todd, you hit everything on the head as usual. Since I have personally seen someone who did the exact same thing, Todd's advice is right on. This other person used Pro Product Radiant Heat Panels (large ones!) that were affixed to the top of the cage while a very large Kane Heat mat set to a thermostat rested on the floor; this provided plenty of heat. He also installed a warm air misting system that kept ambient humidity levels in the 80% range.

>>The only issues I can think of off the top of my head is ensuring that the animal is unable to excape. If there is the tiniest of gaps in any of the boards you snake will either find away through or injure itself trying. Also you definitely would not want to carpet the floor. I would suggest linoleum. Put it on the floor and a foot or two up the walls. This will aid in the cleaning process. The lighting and heating process will be just like you would do in a cage. Just in a larger scale. You will need more heat sources and possibly more lights. The biggest concern will be maintaining humidity levels. It can be done but in the end I think it would be better to look for an alternative. But that is just my opinion. Todd
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Arn't the dimensions going to be a problem as the snake grows. When burms are larger they are rather terrestrial in nature, and a closet is all height, with little floor space. Even if the floor was large enough (a walk in closet?), you'd be heating a lot of unusable space.

Ian

Thanks for everyones help.......I don't think humidity will be much of a problem since the washer and dryer will be running almost every night thanks to my mom and that gives plenty of humidity....either way I will provide a humid hide for him. But Anyway I was thinking of maybe Putting a small space heater on the floor of the closet protected by wiring so the snake cannot burn itself. That will give me good ambient temps. Then I will use the idea of the kane heat mat for basking spot and a largew flood light hanging from above for lighting also protected by wire. So everyone let me know how that sounds......
thanks
M(Ike

Also does everyone think the 6'x30" is enough space for an adult right now he is only 3' Do you think he is too small to be put right in this closet cage?

Space heaters and big snakes are a recipe for disaster; don't do it. If you want to use a space heater, keep it outside the cage but make sure it is a high quality space heater...they are a real fire hazard if not used properly. I did find info on one that is supposed to be pretty good but I can't find it at the moment (email me if you want the info). 6' x 30" will most likely not be big enough for a large adult burm. Many will disagree but that's just my opinion based on my own experience. But it will do for the short run and you can always turn it into a real nice boa constrictor or carpet python cage with the vertical space that you have.

>>Thanks for everyones help.......I don't think humidity will be much of a problem since the washer and dryer will be running almost every night thanks to my mom and that gives plenty of humidity....either way I will provide a humid hide for him. But Anyway I was thinking of maybe Putting a small space heater on the floor of the closet protected by wiring so the snake cannot burn itself. That will give me good ambient temps. Then I will use the idea of the kane heat mat for basking spot and a largew flood light hanging from above for lighting also protected by wire. So everyone let me know how that sounds......
>>thanks
>>M(Ike
>>
>>Also does everyone think the 6'x30" is enough space for an adult right now he is only 3' Do you think he is too small to be put right in this closet cage?
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

space heater should be fine, just make sure its outside of the enclosure,eg. a screen hole that the heater dispurses its heat from. But have it on a trip switch, so when it hits a certain temp, it shuts off(such as mid 80s for an avrage ambiant temp. not to high). And on one side have a basking spot in the high 80s-low 90s. You could also use plexi glass to line the walls to keep in humidity. just make sure you have proper ventalation.