Do you guys think an 8'x2' cage is to big for an 8' retic?

[Sublimeballs]

First let me state that the retic in question is a jampea dwarf female that's just under 8 , and I don't expect to get to much bigger(10-12 max judging by the slowing of her growth). I know some snakes don't do as well in larger cages, added stress and whatnot. But I can't imagine with how active retics are that they wouldn't benefit from the extra space. I've got a great deal I can get on a boaphile 8x2 so I want to know should I get it? She's currently in a 4x2.5. Let me know what you guys think.
Thanks.

[marvelfreak]

Get it with out a doubt she will love the extra room.

[Sublimeballs]

Get it with out a doubt she will love the extra room.

That's what I was hoping to hear, thanks chuck. And it's only gonna cost me a male mojave ball python and like $50.

[marvelfreak]

That's what I was hoping to hear, thanks chuck. And it's only gonna cost me a male mojave ball python and like $50.
That's a heck of a deal.:)

[Mikoh4792]

The idea that snakes don't do well in larger enclosures is a myth.

The correct saying should be snakes don't do well when kept in large open areas without hides. It also depends on the snake. Ball pythons like to hide, while most carpet pythons like to perch most of the day and don't really care for a hide most of the time(at least none of mine do even with 3 hides in each enclosure)

They should have room to stretch out and climb, while having access to hides.

Your girl should be fine in that enclosure

[Sublimeballs]

The idea that snakes don't do well in larger enclosures is a myth.



I've had ball pythons completely stop eating because of slightly premature upgrade from a 28qt rack to a 41qt rack. Same hides, water bowl, temps everything. Ate the same day I decided to move her back to the 28qt. BUT that's a ball python.

Now I just gotta get a radiant heat panel, temps are gonna be fun to get right. Last big cage I had was for my argus monitor and wasn't to hard to get cold side temps right with a 150+ degree basking spot.

[Mikoh4792]

I've had ball pythons completely stop eating because of slightly premature upgrade from a 28qt rack to a 41qt rack. Same hides, water bowl, temps everything. Ate the same day I decided to move her back to the 28qt. BUT that's a ball python.

Now I just gotta get a radiant heat panel, temps are gonna be fun to get right. Last big cage I had was for my argus monitor and wasn't to hard to get cold side temps right with a 150+ degree basking spot.

How many ball pythons have you had do this? Because I've had no problems like that switching my ball pythons to larger enclosures.

I've kept juvie balls in 4x2x2's with plenty of cover and have not had feeding issues.

When you say you used the same hides, do you mean only the hides from the previous enclosures? Maybe there was too much open space.

[Sublimeballs]

It was just the one female ball, very possible she felt to exposed by the extra open space. Yeah it was the same hides ect.. After she put on another 200 grams she had no problems switching tubs at all.

Well the guy sold the cage out from under me after making the deal but he has another boaphile 8x2 that has some cracking/seperation. I'm a handy person but I'm not exactly how I would go about the repairs. I'd love to hear some opinions, here's a couple pics he sent of the damage.

[Sublimeballs]

And another pic

[Mikoh4792]

what is that? two cages combined or next to eachother?

There might be a better way to do this but i'm thinking a solvent that will bond the plastic to eachother in between the cracks.

[JWFugle]

personally i wouldnt, i have a boaphile for my female dwarf retic ironically but any of that bonding stuff could let off harmful chemicals for your snake to breathe in. and you obviously cant leave in uncovered lose too much heat and she could scrape herself on any sharp edges.

you could call boaphile and see what they could do. ive heard they are very good to work with and very personal. a bit slow for some but good none the less

[Sublimeballs]

I decided against this cage.

[Terranaut]

The pic of the split corner was shown on here a while ago by another member askng how to repair that. Strange

As far as the cage too big thing....I also agree there is no such thing.
The above ball python example is perfect. So you almost doubled the area but used the same amount of stuff inside. Same hides and same water bowl. You should have added a hide or fake plants. It isn't the viv size that matters but the amount of wide open space that can be too much for a snake.

[kelzerman]

Anyone here own a boaphile if so is it an expanded foam pvc?

[Sublimeballs]

The pic of the split corner was shown on here a while ago by another member askng how to repair that. Strange


That was me, this is an old thread.

[Will0W783]

I think an 8' x 2' is great. Retics enjoy moving around and will be very active if given the room. In my opinion, most people who keep giant pythons do not provide them with enough space. It's very difficult to provide a 14'+ snake with a cage large enough to allow them to stretch-you'd need a whole room.

[LarryS]

Anyone here own a boaphile if so is it an expanded foam pvc?

I don't actually own any cages, but yes Boaphile uses 1/4" pvcx

[kelzerman]

I don't actually own any cages, but yes Boaphile uses 1/4" pvcx
:shocked: 1/4" for an 8' cage?! I could see using 1/2" with multiple braces but wow.

[mclund]

Anyone here own a boaphile if so is it an expanded foam pvc?
I own a whole stack of them. Yes they are expanded PVC. Mine are a lot newer than the one pictured, but they have held up very well.

[mclund]

but any of that bonding stuff could let off harmful chemicals for your snake to breathe in.

PVC solvent once cured has no smell at all. It is commonly used in bonding the PVC cages together.

[dave himself]

In my limited knowledge I would put the retic into the bigger viv. I put my girl into a 6x2x2 with plenty of cover and she showed no signs of stress :)

[kelzerman]

I own a whole stack of them. Yes they are expanded PVC. Mine are a lot newer than the one pictured, but they have held up very well.

This one looks like it was not only heated, but it looks like there was a great amount of stress in that location. Properly engineered that shouldn't be an issue...

PVC solvent once cured has no smell at all. It is commonly used in bonding the PVC cages together.

^^^He is correct my friend.

[Terranaut]

This was from November and the OP has stated he is not getting this.