Here is my latest attempt at an artificial rock cut snake enclosure. It’s currently home to my adult Baird’s rat snake Obi, but would work for most any snake from that region. I have several alterna that might end up in this cage, or something similar.
It can be lit and heated from the screen top.
At the bottom is a chamber that serves as a dark cool hide. I have a plastic box with moist sphagnum moss that is heated from below that I put in when she is in shed. That area is accessed thourgh the stacked hides on the bottom left.
In the center is a drawer hide.
I made a slot in the back into which I can slide a UTH
I have the temp at 85F with an in line rheostat. It took a while to dial the temp in, but it holds fairly stable.
Obi always holes up in this hide for 2-3 days after a meal, so I assume she likes the direct belly heat.
Obi is ~4.5’, and I feel this enclosure provides her with adequate space. The interior dimensions are 30’x12’x33’, which give her plenty of space to stretch out.
She uses every inch of space, and I never know where I’ll find her hanging out.
Here is one of my favorite alterna crawling on the cut. He’s a little small right now, but he eventually might inherit this cage when he gets a little older.
So far I’m happy with how this enclosure performs. Obi seems to be thriving in it, and I think she benefits from the added exercise she gets from cruising the cut. She is definitely more active than she was in her 40 gallon breeder.
Cheers,
MZ
