Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I've read in a number of places that placing boas (and probably many other herps) in a cage that is too large for them will cause the animal stress. I don't really think that makes much sense. In the wild, the animal doesn't have any walls... in a sense, the entire planet is it's cage, which (last time I checked) is QUITE large. As long as the animal has plenty of areas to hide in, I can't imagine a large space 'stressing' the animal. (I'm a total n00b, and this is just my opinion) I'd like to know if anybody has any information to support this 'stress' claim.

(Oh and just so you don't think I'm abusive, my BCI is in an appropriately sized cage.)

When you take an animal and stick it in an artifical enviorment, its not going to act exactly as it would in the wild. You can try as hard as you can but in the end, you'll never recreate "the world" for it.
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- Mike Fourquet

Cloaca Herpetoculture
www.CloacaHerps.com

I have been selling boas since 1980, and it has been my experience as well as the experience of the many customers I have had that there is no such thing as too large an enclosure. Lots of my customers choose to start with a cage that will last a long time, some even starting with a six foot cage. As long as the cage is made to feel "natural" with hides (half logs or nice driftwood with silk ivy stapled to it so the snake can be semi-concealed) I have experienced no problems. It goes without saying that the proper temps must be provied. I always advise to remove the snake and feed it in a small rubbermaid so when feeding the snake is in close proximity to the meal. I think the large cage gives the baby plenty of room to explore and exercise, and that they can become just as familiar with a large cage environment, and feel secure in it, as a smaller cage.Works great for me and my customers, so come on....give them room.
www.boastore.com

The real stress is in not having apropriate hides. Baby snakes feel most secure in a hide where the baby can barely squeeze itself into. Does not matter if that hide is in a 5 gallon, 10 gallon or 20,000 acre jungle.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC)
0.2 kids (CBB, selectively bred from good stock)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
12.24 BRB
11.13 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Iam with the rest of yall I have hsd no problem with inclosers bein to big as long as there is plenty of properly fitting hidin spot on both sides of the incloser it also helps to have a way for smaller snakes to move around the incloser a still feel hiden (vines, plants, rocks ect.)