Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For Mothers Day my husband and kids got me a hatchling GTP, they also got a great big cage for him. At Brandons suggestion I threw together a little rubbermaid tub and it seems to be working quite well. My problem is that it is a pain to clean and the process requires moving the snake out of the cage which isn't always easy. It would probably be easier if I used papertowels instead of cypress, but I like that the cypress keeps the humidity up and I don't have to spray him down alot. I also don't have "branches" that are easily removed but I was in a hurry to get the cage up and running. I was looking around for someone that made small cages, something that would be more functional and still be secure for my little one, but can't find any. I know everyone probably prefers the tubs, but is there anyone that makes a cage suitable for a hatchling? BTW he is doing great and pounding pinkies every week! Thanks.

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Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

Cool mother's day gift. Beats the macaroni necklace I gave my mom.

IMO I would keep him in the tub. As for the cleaning problems-
- you probably know about the 4 plastic coat hanger method for making perches? Well make one of those and at cage cleaning time just have something close by that you can rest the whole perch (with baby comfortably resting)on. In practice I just keep an identical but empty tub right next to the one I am cleaning. Take the perch/ snake from one cage, rest it on the other, Dump out the mulch, rinse, nolvasan, new mulch, new water bowl, re-intro snake /perch, done!. To me tubs are the by far the easiest cages to keep the cleanest. They are portable, light, durable, submergible, easily cleaned, disinfected and easily replaced.
Also,in reference to using mulch (which I am not neccesarily against, I do use cypress for my adults sometimes) I don't know what part of the world/country you are in, (I am in perpetually humid Atlanta), but, you may be suprised that a small tub with newspaper and water dish (especially if heated) will have a somewhat high humidity anyway. I only mist (and then only very lightly) during sheds, and my water dishes are as far from the heat sources as possible. My chondros seem happy. However, if you are in Denver or something that may not be the case.

Having said all that, you can find 5 gallon aquaria and screen tops at petshops. But then you have a glass (hard to clean, breakable, not easily repaired/ replaced), screen top cage. Not that this wouldn't work, but to me it just seems easier to achieve all neccesary components of the system via the tub. In fact now that I think about it, (if you could heat one appropriately) one of those little plastic "critter keepers" or whatever they are called might do the trick better than an aquaria anyway.
At anyrate, good luck, beautiful little snake.

Again, i would keep hatchlings in tubs. I've tried moving hatchlings too smaller display enclosures and ran in to nothing but trouble (in other words it seems too stress them out).

Make some removeable perches, you'll find them too be a must have. If your encloures are drying out too quickly tape up some holes. Hatchling tubs should stay humid for a few days made properly.

I know a lot of keepers who mist tubs once a week (if that).

But if you must have a display enclosure I would give any of the cage builders a call im sure they will build something for you...

Or you can build them your self with some acrylic, drill and acrylic bond. I live in an apartment and dont own any tools.. I'm sure you can figure out how too make them yourself.

Go to www.herpcages.com

Doug Barr makes a superb small cage for GTPs. Finely crafted, super customer service, and a great guy to deal with. He makes a 12inX12inX16in cage for $42 that should work well for you. He also has some nice holders for removable perches. Bill.
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

I agree, I love Barrs cages! Not that there is anything wrong
with going the Tub route, I just like to have more of a display
set up for my aboreals.
I have used a Barrs cage for my ATB for 3 years now, never
had a problem with it as far as temps/humidity. These cages
IMO are great, good quality and very durable plus super lightweight.
I just ordered the 12x12x16" and the 20" cube for my GTPs that are coming in. Eventually I will move them up into either the 24" cube or something with more width. I use tubs for quarantine.
-April

Thanks I'll give it a try do you think the 12 x 12 x 16 is too big for a hatchling - I'd hate to move him into something that he doesn't feel comfortable in. He's doing so well right now.

Thanks,
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Tosha

"Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed." Don Wood

"Of course, that's only my opinion...and I believe I am God." =) Chris Bianco

7.33.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Dessert Tortoise (Pope John Paul)
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 Pool skimmer rescues for this season

since I don't have any real experience with GTPs yet I am not the best person to answer this... however, I think it would be fine, what I would suggest is using lots of fake plants and such to provide lots of cover. Mainly important to make the little one feel secure and safe. I would drape vines over the perches and put bushy-fern like plants on the bottom to fill up space. I plan to use the 12x12x16 for the one I am getting which was CB 2003, so not a hatchling but not too big yet either. Good luck!!
-April