Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For a moderate sized Crotalid say WDB for instance which would be more advantageous? a top opening cage or a front opening cage

Feel free to taylor fit this to all types of snakes not just crotalids but elapids or arboreals whatever

Thanks
PatrickR

PS this is not really a faux post to trick you guys into telling me which cage I need to buy but rather to find out what people prefer in the real world

Not claiming to be an expert or anything.
I use top opening cages for all of my pit vipers.
That would be eastern rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths.
Since they generally strike "outward" in a generally upward direction, I prefer to come at them from above which you just can't do with a front opening cage.
I know quite a few people who have been struck by their rattlesnakes while they were trying to offer them food (mostly with tongs or forceps) through the opening of a front opening cage.
Just my own personal preferences in response to your question.
Karl

In my experience they are the best. Having tried almost every type of cage out there, this is the safest I've come across when dealing with an agressive snake. "Top slides" are slightly better than "top lifts", but if you have to get your hand out of the cage in a hurry, it's a more natural movent to just PULL back then to pull up and out.