Is this sufficiently cluttered?

[trailblazer295]

I'm setting this cage up for an MBK that I'll be buying as a juvie. Missing are cold hide, primate skull and water dish. Cold hide will be back right infront of the wooden stump. Skull will be center under the light and water dish front right. There is a hide back left behind the plants under the RHP and on the UTH. The heaters aren't plugged in yet but they will be independent on Ranco stats already wired and ready to go. Also have a zilla temp/humidity sensor to monitor conditions. I've read babies won't be stressed in a adult cage if cluttered. It's a 24x24x12 pvc and have a stat in my snake room/office to monitor ambient room temps. I don't know when the reptile store will have an MBk in yet so I'm holding off turning the heaters on.

[EL Ziggy]

Looks like a beautiful habitat for a MBK. I like the branches. It shouldn't need more space until it's about 2.

[sirtalis]

Pretty cool

[Albert Clark]

Very well thought out enclosure and kudos to you! MBK is a great choice.

[trailblazer295]

Thanks guys, I had a vision in my head when I bought the pieces. I'm happy with how it all came together. I wasn't sure the long piece would fit without cutting but it did perfectly. I wanted the skull the only non natural looking piece I want in this cage. I black snake slithering out of a human skull is just cool. Sadly finding a nice looking natural water dish an adult MBK can fit it in hard to find.

[lady_bug87]

Looks good to me.

Make sure its easy to clean. They poop a ton. The only thing I would change is the substrate. I HATE aspen.

[trailblazer295]

Looks good to me.

Make sure its easy to clean. They poop a ton. The only thing I would change is the substrate. I HATE aspen.

It's at chest height being on top of a chest. Well my chest height anyway.

Do you know of a better bedding for an MBK? I know they like lower humidity then BPs and I know from experience that aspen drys the crap out of it. I know all reptiles keeps their snakes including an MBK on cypress so I have considered it. But I already had this aspen so I used it.

[lady_bug87]

I'd use that reptibark crap. Looks like mulch. I used to use it for my pit. I may start using it again

[trailblazer295]

I'll look in to it thanks.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I like aspen for my colubrids. lol It clumps very nicely, making it easier to clean, and it's easy to spot feces and urates in the bedding, although I do have to turn it over and sift through it since they can burrow. It might be more problematic for a python or boa, as they also tend to excrete a lot of liquid (some more than others >.> ) with their urates and feces.

Overall, looks good to me! The clutter depends on your individual snake, and on how old it is. A younger snake would like more cover than an adult as they're very tiny and naturally prey for just about everything.

[EL Ziggy]

I like aspen for my colubrids too. I prefer the sani chips over the shredded aspen because it's less dusty.

Native Earth Aspen Sani Chips 2.2 Cubic Foot Bedding | Pet 360 (http://www.pet360.com/product/9215/native-earth-aspen-sani-chips-22-cubic-foot-bedding)

[jossh27]

Looks good to me.

Make sure its easy to clean. They poop a ton. The only thing I would change is the substrate. I HATE aspen.

do you hate it for any reasons other than personal preference?

I'm new to keeping snakes, but i think aspen is great... it looks nicer than newspaper, seems to suck up and help dry out any liquids and feces and almost clumps the crap together to easily spot clean. also its fairly cheap which is a big plus if you have multiple snakes... i understand you wouldn't want it for snakes that need humidity, but for a mbk its great, no?


cage looks awesome TB!!

[lady_bug87]

I find it dusty, I don't care for the smell, i prefer reptibark.

[trailblazer295]

I'll be switching to finer aspen later. I already had this from my BP so I'm using it up.

[trailblazer295]

Picked up a glass bowl in a dollar store today sufficient size for an mbk for awhile. Seems stable enough not to be tipped over. Can buy a size larger if needed later. Just need a hide, skull and of course a snake :yes:

[lady_bug87]

You're almost a big boy!

[trailblazer295]

I looked a bit taller and more distinguished in the mirror this morning.

[lady_bug87]

I looked a bit taller and more distinguished in the mirror this morning.

Proud of you.