Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm exploring some options for upgrading my caging to something nicer or maybe a rack. I'm currently leaning towards Vision Cages. Has anyone any experience with housing milks in them? In particular, the smaller ones that can really only be heated by heat pads? Any input here? Specifically, how to best monitor temps?
-----
-Paul

I use a rack system, with rubbermaids and flexwatt heat tape for all of my snakes. I find it works best when trying to establish a thermal gradient.
-----

Erik Melander
All Eyes On You Web Media Productions
erik@alleyesonyou.ca
www.alleyesonyou.ca

Well, I've got Hondurans, so I'm trying to decide exactly how big of a rubbermaid rack I would need. My largest female is five years old but not very long, just robust. I want to make sure I've got room for the two young females who are rapidly increasing in size. Anybody got any idea how big I should go?
-----
-Paul

Young Hondos will squeeze out between the glass bypass doors.

Visions will be fine but really only for adults. You can get the Model 211 or 221 and have more than enough room for a large adult Honduran. Thing is, these cages have a lip around the door tracks. You will find your snakes will hide up there sometimes, and you'll have to "look" with your hands to find them. Not a big deal with non-venemous snakes.

I am partial to Neodesha cages. The 36" model is plenty for an adult or two. The 24" model can house anything from hatchling to smaller adult.

Yeah, those were the models I was looking at. I'm curious about heating them though. With those smaller models, it's heat mats only.. and how easy is it to wire a thermostat into them?
-----
-Paul

I have a few vision 211 cages that I house my mexican milks in. I have run flexwatt tape and a helix thermostat along the outside bottom of them. The heat tape and the thermostat are the best investment I have ever made since it takes the work out of keeping the snakes comfortable and my heating bill in check. The heat tape is simple. All you need to is plug the heat tape into the thermostat, and then put the prob in the cage, and then set the thermostat to the temp you like.
Good Luck, its simple: Jason

I have kept smaller snakes in vision cages before by replacing the two panes of glass with on solid pane that spans the whole length of the groove. I bought some glass pane handles online and can easily life the glass in and out of the pane for access. It actually looks much better as well, so I often use a single pane for snakes that don't need it.
-----
Chris Harrison