Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey All-
Last week my Herp Society was participating in a Earth Day celebration. While I was there a former president of the Palm Beach Herp Society told me he had some caging he wanted to give away before he moved to South Carolina.
Since it was free I was not expecting much, so I went to his house afterwards and picked up a homemade 4'x2'x2' enclosure. Immediately I knew was the future home of my Errebenus.
I took some pics of it when I got home and since that I have cleaned it up inside and out and put down the first of what will be several layers of Thompson's Water Seal... I also plan to modify it by cutting a hole in the side or the back and attaching a hide box for my critter to feel safe and secure.
The metal screen a the top is aluminum and the holes are quite large... do you think I should replace it with a finer screen as not to create a nasty nose-rub on my snake?
Attached are some pics of the enclosure before I cleaned it.... I put the Armorall bottle in it to give scale...
Any feedback will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Justin

n/p

n/p

A good looking cage at a great price! I would redo the top with material smooth and solid. Looks like a lot of heat would escape straight up. Towards the top on both sides and maybe the back I would drill holes and mount round aluminum soffit vents with louvre side in. Good luck! (Means may you be fortunate in all things related to keeping your erebennus.)

why louver side in? I have an old homemade cage that I bought about 10 years ago that has those vents in it and they are louver side out & I've not had any problems.
I'm getting ready to install some vents in my new cages this weekend & want to make sure it's done correctly.

Thanks!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

If there's any kind of screening behind the louvre snake could rub its nose on it.

justin, that screening is actually stucco mesh and is too large loomed and very sharp edged. i would definitely replace it w/ something finer! 4' x 2' is ok for sub-adults perhaps but you'll need something bigger down the road. perhaps you could build an 'addition' onto it when the time comes......

The size is ok, but it it higher than I would want for indies as much of the vertical space will be wasted. I actually had a shelf built in my cage, and my Drymarchon utilize it. The biggest problem I had was with the water seal. That stuff leaves a residue on my retaining wall outside. That stuff cannot be good for drys. Also, with the chance of mites breeding in the wood and warping, I highly recommend plastic/pvc caging. Its also easier to see mites and is much easier to wipe down.

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Anthony Chodan

www.gradeareptiles.com

I recommend PLASTIC.

Enough said,

God Bless,

Fred Albury

After reading the replies I'm sure glad I asked, and I'm even more pleased to have gotten insight from more experience Dry keepers than myself...
I plan to replace the screen at the top & install vents like the ones suggested - two things I was thinking but I guess just needed to hear from you guys...
The good news is that I have plenty of time to decide as my Texas Indigo is still incubating : )
I have a smaller enclosure that she can live in for about a year I think, so that is plenty of time to make modifications to my cage....
Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate you help.

Take care,
Justin