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Post by SnakeGirl on Nov 19, 2008 23:26:40 GMT -5
Here's a quote from the herp queries section of Reptiles Magazine, January 2008 issue:
Question: "What do you consider the number one problem in herpkeeping today?"
Answer: "Herpkeepers have many challenges to contend with, including providing a nutritious and varied diet, avoiding disease (or treating it if necessary), offering spacious cages that allow normal behavior and exercise, obeying rules and not running afoul of laws restricting what you can keep and where you can keep it, and providing optimal conditions for captives.
"Of these challenges, I deem the last one to be paramount. Many of us have reduced our animals' space and microenvironment choices in our zeal to possess large numbers of specimens. Rows of plastic-box "apartments" for breeding colonies reduces occupants' environs to substrate, a hide box, and a water bowl. With no room to bask at preferred temperatures (or under specific conditions of humidity or lighting) herps can't choose the optimal conditions that they'd select in the wild to stay healthy.
"I believe larger cages, with a range of temperatures, lighting (including ultraviolet light), and moisture, are the single best thing keepers can improve for captives. Spacious enclosures permit herps to move and regulate bodily functions to their advantage, and they allow them to make many choices we may unsuccessfully make for them within the limited little boxes popular today."
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Post by thesnakeguru on Jan 5, 2009 18:29:42 GMT -5
I AGREE!
I only have 2 racks.....but even it is larger than normal, I used 90qrt sterlites, which are 36"x15"x15" and I only house adult ratsnakes or juvenile boas in them until they hit 4ft then they get permanent enclosures.
Probably one of the reasons I'll never have ungodly amounts of snakes.
~B~
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Post by SnakeGirl on Jan 5, 2009 18:35:39 GMT -5
I AGREE! I only have 2 racks.....but even it is larger than normal, I used 90qrt sterlites, which are 36"x15"x15" and I only house adult ratsnakes or juvenile boas in them until they hit 4ft then they get permanent enclosures. Probably one of the reasons I'll never have ungodly amounts of snakes. ~B~ Brad, you already have ungodly amounts of snakes!!!!
In any case, I completely agree--I have one rack system for the hatchling ball pythons. I was reduced to using a rack for them just because there are so many to house at once when they do hatch. But all of the adults either have glass enclosures or stackables, and eventually, all of the adults will have stackables. They hold humidity so much better than glass tanks do, plus you can stack 3-4 high. So it's kinda the best of both worlds. Less space for more snakes, but not quite the little "snake apartments."
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Post by thesnakeguru on Jan 5, 2009 20:19:36 GMT -5
I AGREE! I only have 2 racks.....but even it is larger than normal, I used 90qrt sterlites, which are 36"x15"x15" and I only house adult ratsnakes or juvenile boas in them until they hit 4ft then they get permanent enclosures. Probably one of the reasons I'll never have ungodly amounts of snakes. ~B~ Brad, you already have ungodly amounts of snakes!!!!
In any case, I completely agree--I have one rack system for the hatchling ball pythons. I was reduced to using a rack for them just because there are so many to house at once when they do hatch. But all of the adults either have glass enclosures or stackables, and eventually, all of the adults will have stackables. They hold humidity so much better than glass tanks do, plus you can stack 3-4 high. So it's kinda the best of both worlds. Less space for more snakes, but not quite the little "snake apartments." ......nooooo that's not the case at all! But yeah stackable caging is definitely the way to go! ~B~
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mcem
Hatchling Serpent
Posts: 96
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Post by mcem on Jan 6, 2009 23:33:27 GMT -5
I use both larger caging and racks. The racks are fine in my opinion if you are picky about the species you put in them. I use them for hatchlings and small animals mainly.
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addaj
Baby Serpent
Posts: 158
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Post by addaj on Jan 20, 2009 12:32:02 GMT -5
Since all I have are ball pythons, racks are fine. In the wild they are spending 75%+ of their time in burrows just eating what passes by. Not a very active species...
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Post by tnsoccer19 on Jul 13, 2010 10:35:35 GMT -5
I have 3 BP's and 1 Brazilian Rainbow. The Brazilian doesn't climb or perch so a tub is what he gets for now. I have the equipment to make him a nice large climbing tank when his is bigger, Until then I am stuck in 2 bedroom apartment with a gf. not that much room.
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