Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My wife sprung the B-word (baby) on me a while back and is now hinting that I should build an outbuilding for the bulk of my herps, since they're in what will apparently be the nursery. In some ways I'm exited about it--more space, I'll be able to operate it strictly for herps instead of as a dual purpose room, etc. I'm also unsure about some things.
Our weather here ranges pretty drastically; any given winter it will get to 0 degrees for at least some part of the time, and during the summer we will hit over 100. We also get high winds, tornados, hail storms, and minor flooding. And drought.
In between saving up monies for it, I thought I'd bounce ideas off people that have done something like this, and ask for ideas, things to include and things to watch out for.
Things I will include--
heat/ac
insulation
at least a utility sink and hose spigot
toilet (this way I can claim my house is 2 bathroom if I sell it)
concrete or tile floor
really good wiring and outlets every 6-8 feet
extra wide doors
ceiling fans (probably 2) to keep air moving

I'm thinking my interior dimensions should be at least 16x22 (wide enough for 2 8' cages on the back wall).

Anyone got suggestions for something like this? It's a bit too pricey for trial and error.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Sounds like fun. here are a couple things just off the top of my head.

I kinda feel a toilet is madaory to flush things away.

Also if you start keeping your eyes peeled you can find a large metal industrial sink from a closed business. You know the deep douuble sink type that garages and places use. It will come handy for tubs . A small sink just won't cut it.

I have always wanted sliding glass doors in mine. Don't ask me why. Just asthetics.

There are probably lots of used things you can start accumulating for your snake room fro failed businesses. I would also check out closed restuarants for the attached kitchen tables and sinks.
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www.Bluerosy.com

sliding glass doors = zero space for escapees to sneak under the door! but maybe between them?

No, I don't think they could get in between the doors; at least not with the design of my old sliding glass doors. You'd have to leave it cracked or something...

I was just saying I liked the sliding glass dorrs. I did not reccomend them specifically for snake purposes.

But they do allow a lot of light in. And again if you were to sell the house. An outback office/gym,studio would be more appealing with some large sliding front glass doors.

Just a personal prefernce and not hard to find some used ones to install.
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www.Bluerosy.com

Oh yeah,

Sliding glass doors are awesome. They would be great for light and add a better more open feel to the snake room. Heating and cooling might be a problem though...

When I lived in the rockies, we had those for the main entry into the house. You just have to get some of the better ones that are double paned with high quality glass. Not cheap but really nice.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

temps 0 to 100, high winds, tornadoes, hail storms, fooding, drought,------whew. ever thought of moving to so. calif? good luck, sounds like quite a project. theOLDherper 'pete'

my brother lives in Bakersfield now...no way in hell am I following I'm a Texan and I *like* the southwest with it's weather issues. I may move to NM at some point after some family issues get resolved though.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Before you build a BUILDING for your snakes take a personal inventory. For every person here on the forum today there are at least 2 decent, hard working folks that used to be here all the time but got burnt out or life got in their way of keeping herps. There is no shame, many of my best aquisitions have come at their expense, LMAO. In another thread you mentioned never having bred snakes before, you havent even gotten to the point of losing your favorite breeder yet. An occasion that has caused even the staunchest herper to want to quit. It will happen, it happens to all of us. But be honest with yourself and your family, this hobby is akin to having not just a boat but a tempermental wooden boat. The AVERAGE person stays in this hobby 3-4 years. Thats a big commitment and you cant figure on "getting rich selling snakes" or Donald Trump would be doin it. Its one thing if you could partition the basement or incorporate unused space like a garage. Once you are talking about zoning, permits, plumbing, heating, without accounting for racks and stuff to go in them. Even with low material cost and as cheap as TX land is it might not be the economy to drop $10 K on something that will be half your wife's. LOTS of things to consider, take your time and be honest with yourself.

Personal inventory's part of why I'm doing this. I'm thinking it'll come down to this, or forgoing my snakes, or not having a child--which the wife won't accept.

I've kept for a long time--14 years, since I was 12--but this is the first time I'm setting down to seriously breed animals. As a kid I bred geckos some, but until recently a large part of my animals I just sort of ended up with. There wasn't any direction towards what I was doing. I've kept some really cool animals but they were all by ones and twos; I've never tried to piece together an actual breeding group.
I have zero plans to make this a sole source of income. But I enjoy keeping and it's one of the few things I'm semi-competent at. I'd like to devote some serious time and energy towards the hobby, and I'd like to be able to produce some high quality off spring (if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right).
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

np

>>np
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

>>np
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

Keep it up guys, maybe I'm the one who should think about moving-------theOLDherper-pete

WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA ---GIRLS! Poor Peter.

Great spring break season this year. Scenery was wonderful on the beach and boardwalk. Ohhhh to be 50 years younger--I can dream can't I?.-----theOLDherper-'pete'

Hey, nothing says you can't enjoy the scenery right?
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.
6.6 African House snakes
3.2 reticulated pythons
.1 corn snake
4.2 Florida Kings
1.2 speckled kings
1.2 ball pythons
0.0.1 Argentine boa

...at least give credit to the song's writers..Not that dolt.

:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Mark, I cant consider myself a beach boys fan....but DLR's high pitched "GIRLS!" that I'm into, LMAO

>>np
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

Why not consider getting a 40' insulated container? If you have room in your yard for it and local zoning will permit it,it could be the ideal snake room. Bob Applegate explained how he set one up for his rodent house and if you decide to get out of the snake breeding you can easily take it off your property. Just a thought.-----theOLDherper-'pete'

Actually building a snake house can be used for many things like a gym, office, workshop, studio etc. The fact that it has a toilet, sink and has ac/heat is a huge plus for an outbuilding. Something like this is especially great for man who wants his peace and to get away from the wife.

I say it is a great way to increae property value and certainly would make a buyer choose this house over another.
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www.Bluerosy.com

I have been seriously thinking about this myself! I don't know how much it would cost but I know they are abundant. Just check the bargain trader and you'll see many advertised. I have my snakes and mice in a small utility bathroom right now and I have to clean the mice frequently so the smell does start creeping out into the house, lol. I have a large yard and live near the country so this would be perfect for me. Now i just need some money, ha ha.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

...
click on the link below.....
:Mark
Link

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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Now I have several hours of my life that will be lost watching all these vids, lol.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra