Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a carpet python guy who had an interest in picking up 1 CB Blackthroat, but have been unable to find on in the last year. my local Rodent supply place, which is also an exotic animal wholesaler, got in 5 14-22 inch young wild caughts in on an order that they didn't want. They had no standing order for them, and were not really caring for them properly, so, they let me pick them up for $100. So Now, I asort of "rescueing" these guys. I have the space, general reptile experience, and money to take care of them, though I'll probably only keep a pair, and sell or trade the remaining 3 once I have them established. They are all already vet checked, parasite free, and eating.

My Questions are: Does anyone have any good references for building outdoor caging for these guys? They are so big and strong, I want to do it right the first time. They should do fine outside during the day here in Texas for most of the spring, summer, and fall.

Second...Do i really need UV bulbs for them? I have seen the two different camps...whats the real deal? Or is it stil undecided?

Thanks,

ZX

You lucky duck. No they don't need UV, the vitamin D is in their whole food prey (but not insects). I live in central Texas and I have outdoor pens connected to their "rooms". I let them out when the temp is around 80F. I laid down cyclone fence to keep them from digging out, heaped in a pile of sandy loam on it, put up dog run panels and lined the inside with a smaller guage wire. Over this more wire. There are trees , grass and rocks in there and water pools. Ramps go up back into their house. Once it is plenty warm I just leave the hatches open. I keep these pens locked. Probably the cyclone fence kennel panels are overkill but thats what I had. Black Throats (albigularis) have TONS more personality than snakes.

"You lucky duck. No they don't need UV, the vitamin D is in their whole food prey (but not insects). I live in central Texas and I have outdoor pens connected to their "rooms". I let them out when the temp is around 80F. I laid down cyclone fence to keep them from digging out, heaped in a pile of sandy loam on it, put up dog run panels and lined the inside with a smaller guage wire. Over this more wire. There are trees , grass and rocks in there and water pools. Ramps go up back into their house. Once it is plenty warm I just leave the hatches open. I keep these pens locked. Probably the cyclone fence kennel panels are overkill but thats what I had. Black Throats (albigularis) have TONS more personality than snakes"

Do you have pics of your pens if so I would like to see them. I live in Az and am thinking of building pens for savs outside.

Is it true the summer temps reach 110F in Arizona? That is kind of scary to be outside. How hot does it get where you are? Wouldn't Savs likely go into cool deep holes in those conditions? And if they could not they might die.

Its true, 'monisters' love to be outside. But we must remember what escape artists they are. Also, big strong dogs like Rottwielers and German shepards are tremdously excited by a hissing, whipping monitor, so maybe my kennel panels are a good idea against a determined dog. I know no predator can break through them. And it is a metal frame that does not rot. Most of my monitors are young and can escape by wedging through the galvanised mesh if it were not lined with smaller mesh. Wandering kids or theives could let them out so pens should be locked. The monitors may not always come in when it gets cold at night and might need to be brought inside. Some people keep basking lights on 24/7 outside. I would imagine that would attract a lot of tasty insects for Savs.

Well I had planed on using two layers of wire. One is a Rabbit mesh, the other standard chickenwire on the inside. I had planned on running buried cinderblocks around the enclosure...so thats ten inches of concrete they'd need to dig under. The enclosure is only for the day time, and I'd bring them in at night...so I think I'd see them trying to dig out, what do you guys think? Are the buried cinder blacks enough?

Nope. hahahahaha maniacal laughter.

XZ they dig like bulldozers. And at the edge of the enclosure is where they are likely to do it. If you dug down a couple of feet and put in three layers of cinder blocks maybe.I am too lazy, so I wired the bottom and dumped in a cubic yard of soil. I put peices of plywood so they can make caves under it.

They would not be able to be outside at 110F thats for sure. That would kill most any living thing.