Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a new snake enthusiast and would like to know which cage I should get for my ball python (baby). After doing a week of research I've come across two cages that I like: Vision's Visionarium (with breathable corners & collapsable) and the Critter Kit that is sold at PetCo. I really like Vision's cage better but I don't like the sliding door because it looks like the snake could easily open it when it matures and I would prefer a top entrance. Any input would be appreciated before I get my snake. I already have a back up storage/cage (the designated feeding cage) that I could use if my snake gets in earlier than I thought. Thanks.

I hate to comment as I have not seen either cage in person, but I do want to comment on the sliding door issue.

I greatly prefer sliding doors. The only time I prefer something else is for venomous live-bearers and in some cases for lizards that dig, although even there I try to make sliders work.

And I prefer any door style to top opening. Keepers disagree on hinged down, hinged to the side, and sliders, but very few like top opening cages (save for lidless rack systems).

Hopefully you can get some feedback on the security of the Visionarium sliding doors.

What species are you getting?
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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)

Well for my first snake I'm definately going for the ball python because it's highly recommended (from anapsid.org) as a beginner snake. If that works out, I would like to get a Saharan/Kenyan Sand Boa as my next snake around August (it was the one that was extremey friendly at PetCo). I want to work my way up to the Columbian Red Tail, since my friends who helped me pick out a snake all have red tails. I would have gotten a red tail but all my research said that it wasn't a good choice as a beginner snake. I was just afraid of the sliding door because some of the articles on anapsid.org had mentioned some species of snakes were able to figure out how to open doors and it would be such a hassle to try to find him if he ever got out of my room. I just recently found out the Vision cages/visionariums can come with a lock so that will probably be best. Hopefully by next year I can post signatures of how many snakes I have and stuff. I understand the numbers but I'm not familiar with the scientific names yet. What type of snake do you have? Also thanks for the input.

The visionariums are good enclosures from everything I've heard for smaller species. Also imo Kenyan Sand Boas are far easier to keep then Ball Pythons (less likely to be picky eaters.) I keep BCI, Balls, and Kenyans. The Balls although great first time snakes can occasionally be big headaches.

Also BCI are excellent first time snakes, they stay reasonably sized, are usually fairly well tempered, and you can find an abundant source of quality animals.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

I thought the sand boas would be easier. The one I held at PetCo was extremely calm and the clerk said it was one of the easiest. The next day, I brought along my experienced snake friends and when they saw it, they found problems with the snake. It wasn't moving as much (it was in the process of shedding), it had a small stub near its tail, and wasn't eating properly (according to another clerk). My friends and the clerk convinced me to go for the ball python instead. My friends were afraid the snake would die on me within a couple of months. They got me to change my mind when the ball python curled into ball (more like a cinnabun) in my hand. I tried looking for sand boas on the internet (and boy are there pretty ones out there for very reasonable prices) but none available til August of 07.

Definetely a good idea to get Sand Boas (as most other animals) from somewhere other then a chain petshop. I would just keep your eyes open here on the classifieds or at breeder sites for when Kenyans come available if you still want to add 1. Good luck.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
Boas make the world go round.

Yeah, I know now. They were selling a normal sand boa for $109 and when I saw that people sold them for $45-50 I was shocked. I could get a nice colored one for the price they were selling it. Someone in the other forums posted some really pretty sand boas (I realy like the flame morph). I'm a little sad that the sand boa I bonded with at PetCo might die though (according to my friends). I hope he/she makes it.

I wish I could see that sandboa. I think they make a better 1st snake, although they do burrow out of site most of the time. But snakes are generally secretive, so it goes along with the territory with keeping a snake.

Sandboas are often slow anyway. They aren't active like a kingsnake or cornsnake would be.

They are also very tough.

With that ball python you're going to need to keep him hydrated. A weekly or every 2 week soak in very shallow (like an inch or less) water for a few minutes helps.

The Vision cage would be fine for the sandboa all of its life. The ball python will grow out of it. For the ball python, you'll need overhead heating for that cage, since the glass doesn't hold air temp very well.

Check out www.herpcages.com and www.precisioncaging.com for some inexpensive and very effective cages.
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Mark

Like Randy said, I would not hesitate to get a Boa constrictor as your first snake, especially if you have friends with them.

Pictured below is one of the snakes I keep. Often called the Red Tailed Green Ratsnake. I don't like that common name as 1) they often do not have red tails, 2) they often are other colors than green and 3) they really are not ratsnakes. I often joke that they should be called the polymorphic racer-like snake.

The other snakes in my profile are very similar and can even interbreed.

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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)

there are cons about pet stores and i never liked pet stores anymore. the stub tail on the sand boa is normal and they are great snake. you can also look into getting kingsnakes or milksnakes or even cornsnakes they are so easy to care for and come in alot of nice colors and patterns. if i were you i would order a snake over on kingsnake classeieds ads and it's worth it.
the reason why pet shops or non snake person said ball python are great for begingers is because they are calm snakes but beside that there are more easy to keep snakes out there than a ball python.
as for cage your best bet is www.herpcages.com the 24x12x12 is $50 plus $10 for shipping so that's $60 for a cage you cant beat that. i have some of those cages and i really love them. i also have vision too and i like them. other is animal plastics cages i love those too. good luck

I really like the color of that snake. Are those snakes easy to take care of?

LOL, not at all. Generally considered one of the more difficult to keep and breed snakes. Other snakes are harder to breed, but they are easier to keep.
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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)