Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone uses sliding glass doors on there burm cage...larger burms..12ft
I like them alot but they just dont seem that secure with a big snake..

Jason

Not anymore. When he was around seven feet long, I built a cage for my burm that had sliding plexiglass doors. Every time I opened the cage, he would press against the doors and eventually he figured out that if the door was unlocked, he could push them open himself. Eventually, he figured out that if he pressed against the locked doors hard enough, the plexiglass would bow out and he could get his head in the gap and rip the doors out of their track. After several escapes, I switched to conventional hinged and padlocked doors.

Doug

I use vision cages which have sliding glass doors. They are heavy tempered glass with won't bow or bend at all. They are also lined with rubber on the sliding part, so they don't slide easy (I.E. a snake can't slide them). You can also get locks for them.

I'm currently building a cage with sliding GLASS (not plexi) doors but for my Ball cage. I wouldn't even think of making one for a burm, especially a big one. All they have to do all day long, while you're at work, is figure out a way to escape. Sounds kind of cruel when looked at that way. Not only do I use hinged doors but I use strong hinges as well. I also do not mount anything into the cage they could use as leverage to pop something loose. In the cage I had before I saw mine try this. He wasn't big enough then but he is now and his new cage is double walled, double locked, the whole 9 yards. Not for a burm man!
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

I have seen them used lots for big snakes butthey never did look that secure...sounds like they arent..And i have only used them for smaller snakes
I like them better than drop down doors but i think there will be an exception here.

Thanks

Sliding glass has been great for me, I keep all my larger snakes in 6x3 Animal Plastics cages with sliding glass and locks, 0 escapes, not enough my 13ft female burm can push them open. I used to have plexi glass which you can get locks for, but it scratches very easily. I believe there is no problem with sliding glass as long as you have locks.

I have a nine foot male who is in an enclosure (don't like the sound of "cage"with sliding doors with locks. He has never tried to escape, but has "sniffed" around the edges - 0 escapes so far. I have not seen a problem thus far, but I will keep my eyes open.

-Marco

I won't take the chance. Just because something has never happened does not mean it can't. Sliding doors can be pushed up and completely removed from their track even when locked. I'm not saying every animal will eventually figure this out, they may not. The point is it is possible and we've heard it several times, make the cage (enclosure) escape proof. I've watched my burm pop loose carpenter staples that held a wire screen to keep him from the bulb. He did it with his nose. They could do the same thing to the locking mechanism on a sliding glass door and literally lift the glass. You want to take a chance? I don't.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

Lifting the glass is what i was most concerned about...it does seem that they could do it fairly easily just buy pushing up with there body. In reality they could probobly just break the glass also.

Thanks

No problem. I just finished making a 48X18X18 inch cage for my ball pythons. Everything included, wood, glass, hinges, RHP, humidifier, lights etc. the darn thing cost me $338. Building your own was supposed to be less! Granted you won't find anythin like it in the stores. It looks more like furniture or a china cabinet but still way to expensive. I will say it should provide perfect everything for it's tenants and easy to maintain.
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DZ

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

That is a hefty bill...probobly works well though..I am wanting to try a couple of the rhp's for my female when i build her a new cage