>>Not ever having used the setup my self( seen pics over the years of Applegates), Could you break down how you achieve all the choices you are talking about?

>>

>>Just looking at the pic I can't quite see what you mean. All the posts over the last years of FR and folks advocating choices and being able to have many options in a cage has intrigued me.





Okay....

Behind all the drawers there is a heat cable.....The temps reach 90F in the back of the drawers (back heat) and in the back of the Upper Level (belly heat)....My snake room in air conditioned to stay around 72F sometimes aorund 70F.......

In the right drawer (underground) there is damp moss.....In this drawer there is darkness, humidity, heat in the back and cool in the front.....Females lay eggs here and much of the day light hours are spent here.....

In the left drawer there is a paper towel. It is dark there. It is dry there, hot in the back and cool in the front.......I feed in this drawer and they usually defecate in this drawer.....



Above ground there is light.....It is dry, but a water bowl is offered here (I rarely see them drink anymore).....It is hot in the back and cool in the front near the glass, except during the day time when it is dry and hot above ground due to the light. I use a 15 watt bulb protected by a mason jar......Above the light is a mirror that reflects light and heat to the above ground surface.....The lights are on a timer to match the daylight hours outside....the heat is constant........There is a screen in the back to maintain air flow (something I added) as well as Plastic tubs in the drawer to help with mold, but I coated them with toxic free water sealant......



When the lights go off and the snakes emerge they tell me they are "hunting" for either a mate this time of year, water or food.....I offer them food when they emerge....if they are full they will not emerge...They will set where they know they can digest their meal and "absorb" moisture........



With this I have seen the best feeding response of any Mexicana I have ever kept.......I have had them reach adult size within an 18 month period and breed successfully...... I have yet to try hatchlings in these set ups but the yearlings thrive in them through adult hood.......



I also have a rack system that I have implemented all that an Applegate Enclosure provides....and I have a nice little invention in the works that a few know about.....I haven't come public with it yet, but soon I will......



I hope this helped....I am by no means an expert and I have taken snake keeping to the next level using someone else's design along with a few of my own improvements.......I have seen great results and will continue to use these as long as I keep snakes along with the "invention" I have in the works.......
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John Lassiter

Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com

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