Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone here on the forum still use "Applegate-Enclosures?"
You know....the ones with the sub-floor penetrations into a wet hide drawer and into a dry hide drawer.....

Just wondering if there are any more out there....
I have 5 Applegate enclosures that house 14 adult kingsnakes and I don't think I would ever go back to racks again unless I get too many snakes...LOL
I am in the process of building some more.....

Here are some pics of what I am referring to.




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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Those are extremly KICK A$$. I wish ( could get some.

Nice setup!
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www.Bluerosy.com

>>Those are extremly KICK A$$. I wish ( could get some.
>>
>>Nice setup!

Thanks Rainer....They are awesome in my opinion too...All Feeding is done in the dry side...Eggs are laid in the wet/humid side ...sheddding occurs 'above ground'.....and all poop is done on the dry side on the paper towel.
I am going to have to build some more soon to house the ones I got coming up....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

If I remember correctly those are known to have problems with humidity... and that even for Applegate they just didn't work out. Molding over or something.... I could be wrong but I think that set up is way cooler looking than it is effective at providing good husbandry
Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com
twitter.com/TomsSnakes

>>If I remember correctly those are known to have problems with humidity... and that even for Applegate they just didn't work out. Molding over or something.... I could be wrong but I think that set up is way cooler looking than it is effective at providing good husbandry
>>Tom Stevens

I've heard of the humidity problem from a few folks.
What I did to 'fix' the problem is added an opening in the back of the enclosures with a fine mesh screen as not to injure the snakes' noses.
Also in the wet-side drawer I place dampened moss to achieve the correct humidity level. I dampen the moss twice a week and replace the moss once a month or so.... The wet drawers are lined with rubbermaid shoe box containers. Applegate did not place plastic tubs in his drawers. I haven't had a problem with mold nor humidity (excess or lack of)....All sheds are perfect every time. The snakes spend alot of the day time hours in the moist hide. As soon as the timer turns off the lights they emerge from the 'underground' and search for food. I place a meal in the dry side after the lights go out and they seem to know when it is feeding time.....

Here are a few pics I took after the lights went out and I placed a mouse in the dry drawer.....

I think the security, DOuble floor space and choices it provides makes it better husbandry than a breeder rack...Although I still have one of those racks full of snakes...LOL...Thus the reason I am building more....
Regards,
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

>>If I remember correctly those are known to have problems with humidity... and that even for Applegate they just didn't work out. Molding over or something.... I could be wrong but I think that set up is way cooler looking than it is effective at providing good husbandry

Also...There was an intricate misting system Applegate and others used that I have removed and discarded......
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

searching for enclosures for my new additions, you post an excellent set-up such as this. Design improvements seem very functional. I no longer appreciate racks either. Excellent alternative.

>>searching for enclosures for my new additions, you post an excellent set-up such as this. Design improvements seem very functional. I no longer appreciate racks either. Excellent alternative.

Thanks Rich,
I do like the fact that racks save space...but....
I wanted something not only to display the snakes well but also replicate the wild to the best of our ability in a simple way.

Nothing too elaborate...Just plain simple.
There are little things I like about them too. Like the fact that jars were used to protect the snake from contacting the light bulb. There's also mirrors on the ceiling to reflect the light and heat given off from the light bulbs. Heat cable is strung in the back on hooks behind the back of the drawers. I believe much thought was given in their design. There is a great temperature gradient in all dimensions. Choices of light, dark, cool, hot, moist and dry are all covered. I just made a few improvements and hope to replicate some more....

I can tell you that these Mexicana I work with have more of a feeding response than when I used to keep them in racks. I think the feeding response is due to all the options the snakes have for security, humidity, temperature and amount of light....

Regards,
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

John,...

Excellent design details, for sure!

I'm also sure that due to all those available conditions you provided is the reason your animals are thriving so well.

VERY cool!

~Doug

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

>>John,...
>>
>> Excellent design details, for sure!
>>
>> I'm also sure that due to all those available conditions you provided is the reason your animals are thriving so well.
>>
>> VERY cool!

Thanks Doug...
Mexicana have always had words such as Delicate and Finicky when one would describe husbandry/care for them...
Now they certainly aren't as ROBUST as Brooksi and Easterns, but they do well when taken care of correctly....

I agree with you...the reason these So-Called Finicky/Delicate Mexicana are thriving so well is probably the result of all the available options/conditions provided....
I appreciate all the kind words Doug...
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Killer set ups! If I was not in danger of sawing off my own appendages I would build something very much like that myself.

Kudos!
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Diego

SWCHR

>>Killer set ups! If I was not in danger of sawing off my own appendages I would build something very much like that myself.
>>
>>Kudos!

Thanks Diego for the kind words....

And if you read ALL the safety precautions on the power tools...You can do it too....LOL
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

They have safety precautions!?!
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Diego

SWCHR

>>They have safety precautions!?!
>>-----
>>Diego
>>
>>SWCHR
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Wow! Reading Applegates Milksnake book in which he describes them, I was never able to quite get an accurate image of the set ups he was describing. Now that I see what you've done, they're freakin' awesome! I'm gonna have to figure out how to build a couple of those!

reako45

>>Wow! Reading Applegates Milksnake book in which he describes them, I was never able to quite get an accurate image of the set ups he was describing. Now that I see what you've done, they're freakin' awesome! I'm gonna have to figure out how to build a couple of those!

Not very hard to construct at all...If one can read a tape measure and cut a straight line anyone can do it....

BTW...I did not build the wooden ones....I got them from David Weymouth who originally got them from Kim's Colubrids (Kim Caldwell). She had them built.

Thanks for the compliments....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Those are really nice John. I love the pics of all the snakes with there heads down the hole looking for the mouse. I was fortunate enough to visit Bob Applegate's place several years ago. I don't recall him saying anything negative about his setup, but then again he probably wouldn't have. I do remember two things: it was extremely clean, from the cages to the floors, just immaculate. And it all looked to be extremely well built and thought out.

I like racks too but usually keep my adults in more of a display type cage that I get from BARRS. They stack nicely and look really nice and are easy to see into so you can spot check them. But of course, I have a fairly small collection. You could never use cages like that with the collections some of you guys have. So rack systems are the answer.

Thank you for the compliments Mike.
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

I gotta say those are really cool. I've read about them but couldn't quit visualize it. They seem like a really good idea. Thanks for posting them.
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Kevin Harrell
www.harrellandsonsherps.com

>>I gotta say those are really cool. I've read about them but couldn't quit visualize it. They seem like a really good idea. Thanks for posting them.
>>-----

Thanks Kevin...I do like them alot.....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

You can put humidity boxes inside the cage as well. I use opaque rubbermaid or similar containers with a mix of moss and coconut husk...works great for my retics Have had great sheds since I started using them. I have a similar dry hide in the cage for most of them as well. Don't need the cut out floor and for those of us with less than zero building skills, a lot easier.

I like the idea and it looks nice, but it seems like a lot of work for very similar or identical results?

>>You can put humidity boxes inside the cage as well. I use opaque rubbermaid or similar containers with a mix of moss and coconut husk...works great for my retics Have had great sheds since I started using them. I have a similar dry hide in the cage for most of them as well. Don't need the cut out floor and for those of us with less than zero building skills, a lot easier.
>>
>>I like the idea and it looks nice, but it seems like a lot of work for very similar or identical results?

I did not build the 2 large ones.....
And it is easy to pull open the dry drawer pull out the soiled paper towel and place a new one in....and feed out of the same drawer....This ease cannot be achieved with a rack....I know I have both these and a rack (with a humidity box and all mentioned above).....
Plus I can read a tape and use a power tool....LOL

Regards,
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

last time I tried using a circle saw I did something wrong and sent a chunk of wood flying up into my face, cutting me pretty good. No likey.

>>last time I tried using a circle saw I did something wrong and sent a chunk of wood flying up into my face, cutting me pretty good. No likey.
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."