Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I've had my pueblan milksnake for 5 or more years now. She's currently in a 10 gal tank. I was considering switching to a "starter chameleon" cage which I might be able to get a good deal on [translation --"Cheap!". This would be quite a bit larger than her current domicile but mostly in the vertical. So my question is, if I were to get said cage and put some branches for climbing in it, would she be likely to make use of it or would it be a waste of $ ?

[Btw, did post on the 'Enclosure' section but doesn't look like anyone had been there recently.]

: )
Pavel

She might use the space, but it is not needed.. In my opinion you would be better off with a wider tank than a taller tank..

~ Mike Russo

I think it would be a wast of money. Get something with a larger floor area. If it's a adult I imagine it could use more roaming room than a 10 gallon aquarium provides. I assume the cage you were talking about getting is a screen cage. If so they are not good for a pueblan milk. Milk snakes need more of a terrestrial style cage (more floor space). Screen cages will also get too dry as they dont hold in humidity. I would spend your money on something like a 20 long aquarium. Randy W.

n/p
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

The best luck I've had with my puebs and other milks was to use a simple setup consisting of a Sterilite box from Wal-mart with holes burned into the sides with a soldering iron. I use a small heat pad underneath one end, newspaper substrate, crock or ceramic dishes for water, and empty boxes (cereal, etc.) for hides. If the humidity is low, or shedding is imminent, I either switch to a bark substrate to hold humidity or add a humidity box made out of a smaller plastic box with a hole cut in the side or top. I place a sponge inside the humidity box.
The sizes of boxes I use are:
6 qt. (shoebox) for hatchlings
23 qt. (sweaterbox) for subadults
32 qt. or larger (underbed box) for adults

MAKE SURE you either weight the lids or design a rack or they will almost certainly escape. I keep mine in homemade melamine racks and have had no escapes.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Sorry, I forgot to actually answer your question. My puebs and hondos have never shown any interest in vertical space, even when placed in taller aquariums.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Wish I could keep all my Campbells vertically so they don't pull a "gotcha" every time I go in there. Thinking about a long plastic holding tube. Save a lot of space in the process. Breeding won't be a problem if a larger tube is used !!!!!!!!!!!

Mike

I rather suspected that might be the case. Glad I asked first to make sure though.