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So I guess I better! They see me as I walk by their big screen cage, and both have managed to flag me down.

A familiar look known to all Gophersnake keepers.

reako45

Well, did ya feed 'em or just let 'em suffer?

btw, that looks like an interesting enclosure, how's that work? Looks like they're doing great but aren't you worried about them nose-rubbing the screen?
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Website: SerpenTrack

I fed them right after I took their photo. I can empathize with them being hungry; a thing on the Top Ten List of things I hate is waiting for my food to be served in a restaurant!

The cage on the right is what I use for my bigger pituophis. It is 2 ft x 2ft x4 ft. I laid it on its side with the door facing up and put a piece of Mylar on the bottom, closed off the one end that used to be the bottom with more screen, installed a 4 watt UTH under one of the hides (operated on thermostat), put a deep layer of aspen in it.

The sheet is normally draped over it to prevent drafts at night and also prevent the cats getting interested in it, or the snakes seeing the cats. The yellow rope is so I can pick it up and move it. The cages are very lightweight. I used the cardboard boxes the cages came in for further bottom stability.

My biggest concern was how to provide belly heat; after much monitoring with both installed thermometer and infrared thermometer, I feel safe with this system.

I also watched for nose rubbing but even when they are hungry they don't rub their snouts on the aluminum screen. I check for this frequently.

My colony of Western fencies also like their big screen cage (not with snakes, of course!). No snout rubbing with them, either.

In the summer I can put these cages out on the front porch for some filtered sunlight, which everybody likes.

Very interesting and creative "out of the box" (pun intended) thinking. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
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Have a nice day

Website: SerpenTrack

Thanks! I am always trying to think of new ways to do things.
I forgot to mention I also have a piece of 2 ft x 2ft x4 ft 1/2 in x 1 in hardware cloth on top, so if a cat gets on top of the cage the weight of the cat (and I have some fatties!)will not push the door in. I only have one cat who is a terrible prankster bent on mischief, and even he has not been able to breach the cage defenses. If he can't see the snakes the cage has no interest to him. I don't feed any of my snakes in their habitats, so there is no mouse odor to tempt the cats. The mouse odor is very interesting to any cat; the other day I had brought in a bowl of live pinks to feed my little baby pyros and the phone rang so I set the bowl of pinks where I thought they were safe, and when I came back the bowl was empty!

My big Pacific Gonzo has one of these cages, also. She comes out and watches the activity in the living room. Having the large space seems to make them feel more relaxed.

You mentioned Gonzo watching living room activity. I wonder if it's just Gophers or are all Pits notoriously nosy. My big female SD Gopher also loves to watch "current events" (=goings and comings in the living room) to which she's alerted by the vibrations produced from openning and closing the front door.

reako45

I think what it is with pits being "nosy" or observant of their surroundings is they are active hunters who go looking for prey, whereas other species, like my pyro kings, are ambush predators, waiting for the prey to come to them; i.e. the lizard goes into the crevice and meets up with the lurking snake. Pits have good eyesight, too, better than kings.
I try to give my pits as big of habitats as I can manage to accommodate their urge to be active.


RV sewer hose press fitted to join a pair of 105 quart tubs together for my sub adult pair Lorenzo and Zumbida.

Man, you're definitely out of the box! I've thought about stuff like that and have been wondering about cheap tubing, excellent idea with the flex hose, offers traction and you can accordion it in if a stubborn snake tries to hide inside.

Right on!!!
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Have a nice day

Website: SerpenTrack

Most of my pits and rats are curious and seem to be attracted to and interested in any movement...I think they like TV for that reason, just like cats.
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Have a nice day

Website: SerpenTrack