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I am thinking about a Burmese Python cage (8'x3'x2') and have read about making a trap door or holding area in the cage for easier access to cleaning, feeding or whatever. Does anyone here know or understand what I am trying to explain? I am assuming this would extend my 8' span. I don't understand since I have never seen a picture of this, is how to shut a door within a cage for that size and strength of snake?

Am I making any sense here? I have all winter to think up this plan so I figure I would go ahead and ask now before I get too decided.

My old design for my Burmese cage incorporated 2 halves probally 5' for best use of material. In essence the cage would be two cages bolted together, then of course you could make a sliding divider between the two so that the snake could be isolated in either cage.

It actually not that complicated but could be a bit tricky. Not to mention the fact that its easier to move two 5' cages than one 8' to me the choice is simple.

Good Luck and post some pics of your ideas.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

I never thought of that even though I have seen cages built that way. Thanks! I am stuck on this sliding partition thing though. I need to see if I can find a picture or drawing of something like that. Perhpas it's just as simple as bolting the cages and having a board that you can attach via window latches on the inside? Beats me but I am on a mission to find out

It could be pretty simple. If you do bolt the cage together you could do something as simple as placing just over a 1/4" stack of washers inbetween each cage so that a piece of 1/4" acrylic could be slid between the two halves during cleaning.

If it were me I'd make that spacer a permanent part of the cage. Maybe make a large U out of 3/8" hardboard that is glued to one of the cage halves. The U would be on it's side with the opening facing the front of the cage. Or you could slide the plexi in from the top and have the U facing up.

It's not like you're building this cage for a King Cobra so you don't need to be too detailed.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Detailed in what sense Chris, while the venom of a King Cobra indeed has the ability to kill. The sheer size and often unpredictablitiy of a Large Burmese has an even greater threat. Simply because you never know what can happen.

I think in detail she would be more concerned with looks rather than with it being secure. However weather its made for a Cobra or a Burmese the divider still needs to contain the animal and its threat to one side or another.

So IMO I think the hardboard U with a divider that pulls out to the front will undoubtably be the best looking and the most practical with functionality.

She could even have a slight recess or groove to hold the door all the way around and have simple latches to prevent the door from accidently sliding out. I have seen Snakes open sliding glass doors. I would also make the door non-transparent so that the snake doesn't have sight of whats going on and you don't have to worry about what its doing on the other side.

Lastly when it comes to Large Burmese or any other snake that obtains such sizes. I always recommend more than 1 handler after they pass the 10' mark. It is just that much safer having someone watch your back and provide some assistance.

Good Luck

>>It could be pretty simple. If you do bolt the cage together you could do something as simple as placing just over a 1/4" stack of washers inbetween each cage so that a piece of 1/4" acrylic could be slid between the two halves during cleaning.
>>
>>If it were me I'd make that spacer a permanent part of the cage. Maybe make a large U out of 3/8" hardboard that is glued to one of the cage halves. The U would be on it's side with the opening facing the front of the cage. Or you could slide the plexi in from the top and have the U facing up.
>>
>>It's not like you're building this cage for a King Cobra so you don't need to be too detailed.
>>-----
>>Current snakes:
>>
>>0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)
>>
>>1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)
>>
>>2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)
>>
>>1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

>>Detailed in what sense Chris, while the venom of a King Cobra indeed has the ability to kill. The sheer size and often unpredictablitiy of a Large Burmese has an even greater threat.

I was writing more in terms of the greater ability of a King Cobra to escape or squeeze through into the other side of a cage while cleaning the other side.

I won't go into details, but I know somebody who was cleaning a king cobra cage and just happened to look over and see the snake squeezing back into the cage from its shift box.

Yikes!
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

I agree that would be a heart stopper, however with any large boid or venomous species I would still feel safer if the removable door was in some sort of track or groove to make it that much stable and secure.

Interesting to hear of a King Cobra squeezing back into the cage they are a large snake as it is must not have been the best built box.
-----
Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.11 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
0.0.1 Youth -coming soon-

I also like the idea of having two cages with cutouts at one end that bolt together to make a large cage. It would be very easy to bolt the cage together with some sort of spacer so that a piece of material could be slid in there to keep the snake on one end of the cage.

I have recommended the 5'x5' baltic birch plywood to a few burmese keepers here and they have used it to make burmese cages that are 10' x 2.5' -- much better than 8'x2' IMO.

If I were to keep large constrictors again this is what I'd do, no doubt about it.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)