Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As a follow-up to colubrids's question about racks versus aquariums, I'd like to ask whether most people on here prefer an aquarium or one of the front-opening cages like those at Boaphile (www.boaphileplastics.com/) or Showcase Cages(www.showcasecages.com/) for holding kingsnakes.

When I bought my first cages back in October, I bought aquariums because that's what the most reputable pet shop in my area carried. I didn't have much confidence and halfway believed that I'd end up killing a snake. I liked being able to go to someone who knew more than I did and just buy whatever that person told me to buy. I had seen the Showcase Cages website and was in love with those cages. However, I couldn't find anyone who'd used them and figured that if I bought an aquarium from the pet store I might get more support for my questions. I've spent most of the past five months regretting that decision.

Now, I'm starting to think that the aquarium is better for kingsnakes. If I tried to put five or six inches of substrate in a front-opening cage, I'd have substrate falling all over me every time that I open the cage. An aquarium is made to hold a fluid, and in the sense that it spills easily, substrate can almost be thought of as a fluid.

I still wish that I had bought a front-opening cage for my ball python. I think those cages would be easier for maintaining humidity and a slightly higher air temperature. (Obviously, the solution is to get a front-opening cage for my ball python and get another kingsnake for my other 55 gallon aquarium.)

I'll have a chance to test this idea if I decide to get a mountain kingsnake or thayeri this year. For either of those, I'd likely get either a 20 long or 29 gallon aquarium if I go with the aquarium or a 24x16x18 front-opener if I go with the Showcase Cages product.

As always, I'd appreciate any comments.

Thanks,

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

first off i like to use the front sliding tanks for bigger snakes cuz there easier to get them out.. in the first pic those tanks are 6ft long they house a red tail in the bottom, and a pair of B.P's in the top, the second pic is a vision 48" that houses a bull snake. for the rest of my collection i have them in aquariums and tubs, the problem for me with the aquariums is you cant stack them so im limited with space cuz my wife "said so" and i have to keep them in my office or my enclosed patio

Posted by: wburke17 at Sat Mar 25 00:48:15 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

first off i like to use the front sliding tanks for bigger snakes cuz there easier to get them out.. in the first pic those tanks are 6ft long they house a red tail in the bottom, and a pair of B.P's in the top, the second pic is a vision 48" that houses a bull snake. for the rest of my collection i have them in aquariums and tubs, the problem for me with the aquariums is you cant stack them so im limited with space cuz my wife "said so" and i have to keep them in my office or my enclosed patio

What about keeping your wife in your office or enclosed patio ? heehee kidding the top enclosures are real nice . I imagine you made them .

I have bought ONE visionarium front sliding door cage and have found that I am not real fond of it because of the substrate issue. I am sure they are great for some but not for me as I have kings , and Milks mostly. I think ultimately I feel good about my aquarium set ups and feel somewhat quilty about those I keep in the rack and unless I hear some good feedback on why the rack would be better I will probably make it a point to switch them all over to cages. I just want to continue to learn and educate myself on how to provide the best overall care possible with all husbandry conditions taken into consideration. I feel my only real avenue to learn from is from the snakes themselves of course as I watch them from day to day and from here where there are more long term experienced keepers. I appreciate the knowledge and opinions from this forum.

Posted by: wftright at Fri Mar 24 23:03:16 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

As a follow-up to colubrids's question about racks versus aquariums, I'd like to ask whether most people on here prefer an aquarium or one of the front-opening cages like those at Boaphile (www.boaphileplastics.com/) or Showcase Cages(www.showcasecages.com/) for holding kingsnakes.

I use 2 aquariums for my 2 kings and just bought a vision cage for my 1 milk.
I like tanks way better because acrylic/plastic front scratches SO EASY its unreal . Its beyond annoying. My fingernail scratched it last night.
The tanks allow you to place lights and anytype ceramic heat bulb,etc ontop of it.
The tank will also take UTH heat better than plastic.
The plastic however does hold heat better and is way way lighter but strong so easy to move or stack ofcourse glass you cant do that.
Tanks hold heat nicely if you tape styrofoam to them . You can get blue styrofoam 1 inch sheets used to ship dry ice that really holds heat well. If you dont insulate a tank it holds heat real bad. Its day night difference with insulation of anytype.
You can also place sheet of aluminum foil over screen area that doesnt have the light and that to holds heat great.
However if your one of the lucky people that make your own cage than plastic cages with glass fronts and screen tops would be amazing. I am now changing my acrylic front in my vision cage to tempered glass and wont go near acrylic again.