Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see at Tractor Supply they have "fire rings" 48" across, about a foot and a half high, for $62. All it really is is a section of metal culvert. I was thinking of contacting a culvert supplier and getting a section (larger in diameter) at what I can only guess would be a much cheaper rate (direct from the source).

Pros: ready-made, no corners, portable, sturdy, looks decent.

Cons: have to set it in the ground (maybe with a few taps from a rubber mallet along the top) to discourage burrowing; could potentially flood when it rains if you don't drill drainage holes in the walls, possible heat issues due to the reflectivity of the shiny metal (could paint the interior surface though).

Anybody use a similar setup?
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

haven't used this set up. I just use cinderblocks. They work great and it is easy to expand or move if you ever need to do so.

I just use Pine 2"x12" and have hinged tops with hardware cloth, to keep out preditors. Question to the above post Tim? with the cinder blocks, and I have seen that used a lot and they certainly have there merits, but do you worry about preditors? Maybe you dont have many where you live, but we have many here in Iowa and I am not willing to take the chance. Last year we had 3 baby raccoons hanging out by the BTs enclosure and the garden pond every night for about a month till my neighbors yellow lab got a hold of them and snapped their necks and left them laying in our front yard, it was sad, my wife was very upset. Life can be brutal for a wild animal and such is the way of nature, I certainly except that reality, but at least my BTs are safe.
Jeff
-----
Upon catching her breath she took a deep gulp and said,"you certainly have been blessed with an impressive set of regius's"
1.0 pastel Python regius
0.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
0.2 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
1.4 Kinosternon baurii
1.0 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.1 Ambystoma tigrinum
1.1 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.1 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
1.1 heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus

I live in the country and have coons and such here too. We have dogs that keep them away from our turtles and chickens. The dogs don't bother either of them.

Well that explains that. Obviously that works out very well for you, good thing your dogs are not the turtle/dog chew toy kind If I lived in the country were a dog could run free, I would have a Weimeriner but I don't think it would be fair to keep one in town.
-----
Upon catching her breath she took a deep gulp and said,"you certainly have been blessed with an impressive set of regius's"
1.0 pastel Python regius
0.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
0.2 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
1.4 Kinosternon baurii
1.0 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.1 Ambystoma tigrinum
1.1 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.1 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
1.1 heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus

Funny you say you would have a Weimy...that is what I have (well, one of my dogs). They don't "run free", we have 2.5 acres of yard to run in though.

Nice, 2.5 acres perfect, not too much to maintain, not to small. I love the Weimy's my grandpa had a couple, and then my dad had one, so it's kinda a family thing at this point I guess. Do you bird hunt them?
-----
Upon catching her breath she took a deep gulp and said,"you certainly have been blessed with an impressive set of regius's"
1.0 pastel Python regius
0.1 mojave Python regius
0.1 normal Python regius
0.2 Terrapene carolina thriunguis
2.3 Terrapene carolina carolina
1.4 Kinosternon baurii
1.0 Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
2.1 Ambystoma tigrinum
1.1 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.0 anerythristic Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis
1.1 Iowa snow Thamnophis radix
1.1 heterozygous for amelanistic,carmel, and stripe Pantherophis guttatus
0.1 anerythristic motley Pantherophis guttatus

no...don't hunt with them. Would like to, but no time.

I have used heavy gauge metal sheets used to make gutters. I used it to cover the sides of a wooden frame which became my night time pens (we have many raccoons in the area) and also as dividers within the night time box. When using it as a divider I folded over about 5 inches so it would not be sharp in case I got my arms close to it and also for extra rigidity and support. I'll find a picture and post it.

Picture of the night time pens and the materials I used.