Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would have posted this yesterday but the system crashed and I lost what was a very long post.

Long story short my 8'+ 30pd Red Tail Boa managed to rub up against the sliding glass door of her cage. I use the typical sliding bypass doors in which the pane mearly slides up into the upper track and drops onto the lower track. For me its simple to use and clean.

Anyways she managed to press the pane of glass ( 15"x30" ) up, and well out of the cage. It dropped about 3' to the ground and she decide this would be a nice time for vacation.

My point is that had I used plexy or acrylic she would have defenetly flexed the door by now creating a similar circumstance. However, I use glass and not just any glass safety or laminated glass.

I am always pounding into everyone's head that laminated glass is the best despite the additional cost. Well last night was the proof to me that I made the right choice. Not only did the glass not get damaged but had plate or tempered glass impacted the floor in the same manner. I would have spent about an hour in a dark reptile room under flashlight cleaning up one big mess.

So for me that's proof enough, house large boids go with safety glass.

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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
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Jeremy,

That's impressive. A 3' drop with no damage. What kind of floor in your snake room? Was there any damage to the edges at all?
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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)

Chris,

Thats what I said!

Concrete floor with old composite tile.

No damage that I can see, if you would like I can look at the edges again. LOL
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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
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.9 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

I have the same type of cage setup and I am having a problem coming up with a heating system. How are you heating these cages?

Home made radient paneled walls, to complicated recommend RHP. I am personally going to use Pro-Products RHP in my next set of enclosures. Bob is a wonderful gentleman to work with

Best of Luck
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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
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.9 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Thanks for your response. I have 16 cages to heat and I was hoping that I could get away with some other form of heating as the cost is high. But, I guess that I have to bite the bullet.

I sure appreciate this post, this is an important thing to share! Scary to think these type doors are used for some good sized hot snakes that might be able to rub in the same manner and escape. Not just for the hot and big boid keeper, but any escapes are to be avoided in this hobby. I’m sure there are smaller lighter door glass in appropriately sized cages that could be lifted by some pretty strong colubrids too.
Maybe drilling a small hole in the track just above the top of the glass that you could put in a removable pin of some sort that would prevent the glass from being lifted without interfering with the lateral movement of the glass? Have to give this some thought for future suggestions. Anybody working on another suggested solution to this problem?

Here’s my quick example (good ol’ “Paint” program!)

Thanks for sharing bighurt!