Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a BCI with a wonderful, spacious wooden cage. Unforunately, he's not in that wooden cage because it's outside and he's in a very large aquarium in my office. He's 6ft and although the tank is minimally adequate, I really want to move him into the wooden cage outdoors. The problem is in knowing where to place the cage. We live in Central Fl and have a nice warm, humid, shady yard. If he stays in the backyard, my husband is afraid someone will steal him or that the snake will be put off by the nighttime activity of our cats and the local possums and rats that cruise by. If we put him in the garage, I'm afraid it will be too dark and hot, even though there is a window and a screen door and the temps do not exceed our normal low 90's at the peak of summer. It's important that Toby stays happy and calm because he is part of an educational program and is around children quite a bit. He is very laid back and slow and we like to keep him that way. Any suggestions?

I am intrested to see how this question will be answered, i live in central florida as well and i've consitered the same thing. (i am over in the melbourne/cocoa area) Hell if anything it might get TOO hot for some species, a noon-2pm the direct sunlight can get into the high 90's. I think a important aspect is to place the cage were there is only direct sunlight on part of the cage, so they can thermoregulate, so half shade half sun.
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Russ
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Apollo)
1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa (Odin)
1.0 Guyana Red-Tail Boa (Ares)
0.1 Pastel Salmon Boa (Minerva)
0.1 Rosy Boa (Athena)

Melbourne, Fl

I housed six larger females in my garage in Melbourne, without any issue for over a year. I used a light on a timer. It would get in the low 90's some days last summer. I would avoid anything with direct sun light on any part of the cage. The sun moves around quite a bit over the year, so you can start out great and then be in trouble and not realize it. I have trouble with rats on a porch because of this. If you do go outside, you will have to deal with the cold as well.

Get a nice light and an appliance timer. Stay in the garage.

Cheers,
Al

This is exactly what I do with all my snakes (boas, ATB's, yellow rats, corns and tiger rats) and I am in South Florida. They all do wonderfully and breed for me too. Even though the temps hit the low 90's at times in the summer, it's usually only for a few hours in the late afternoons. Night time temps quickly drop back down to the low 80's. I would go this route instead of outside for sure. Too many variables with outdoor enclosures, the least of which is the weather.

Billy

>>I housed six larger females in my garage in Melbourne, without any issue for over a year. I used a light on a timer. It would get in the low 90's some days last summer. I would avoid anything with direct sun light on any part of the cage. The sun moves around quite a bit over the year, so you can start out great and then be in trouble and not realize it. I have trouble with rats on a porch because of this. If you do go outside, you will have to deal with the cold as well.
>>
>>Get a nice light and an appliance timer. Stay in the garage.
>>
>>Cheers,
>>Al

We cleaned out a spot for his cage today and got everything situated. We'll probably move him out there tomorrow. It just seems better than outside. My hubby is a little concerned about the boa losing his calm demeanor since he's around humans on a daily basis, so I guess we'll just have to make it a point to visit him often.

Laura