View Full Version : Arboreal ???
The last couple of days when I get up in the morning George has climbed up on his make shift humidifier {a large jar with a cheap water diffuser in it} He straddles the edge of the jar... I wouldn't think it would be very comfortable.
Can a retic be semi-arboreal? :confused:
Retics certainly are semi-arboreal. Babies have stronger tendancies than adults to climb.
It makes sense... It just never dawned on me! This is new behavior for him...
bigsnakegirl785
07-19-16, 09:25 PM
Retics are incredible climbers, they can climb fast enough to climb up a tree in pursuit of prey. I've seen several wildlife doc videos of it happening. It's a shame they're almost never offered climbing in captivity, because they are truly amazing in the trees and that's a whole side to their biology they're missing out on.
SnoopySnake
07-19-16, 09:42 PM
Mine loves to climb and perch, however mine is a super dwarf. They tend to be more arboreal than mainlands, but mainlands definitely appreciate climbing space too.
Well! ...this is something I will definitely consider when I get his next cage...
Sublimeballs
07-20-16, 01:22 AM
I've got all 3 subspecies if retic and can attest to all of them trying to climb at any moment. The SDs are almost always perched.
Ok guys... I only started thinking about snakes a year a go, and just pulled the trigger about 6 months ago, so I apologize for my lack of experience in this area...
I read a lot before I pulled trigger and I love to watch SnakeBytesTV hosted by Brian Barczyk. But what's got me puzzled is they really seem to care for the animals, yet have these huge snakes in these pull out drawer hardly big enough to hold the animal.
Now this lead me to thinking that maybe this was ok and the snake liked being in a hide all the time... I mean do the really need a highrise condo to be healthy and happy?
I know I am crazy for picking the snakes I picked in my living situation,{I live in a 740 sq. foot apartment}but I needed a challenge in my life and so far I am not disappointed.
At the age of 65, I am like a kid again, waking up on Christmas morning; I can wait for the sun to come up so I can go in and check on my boys... I try to let them sleep in, ha ha!
I have a floor space of 2'x6' for all three of my guys... Now I can go up, so my original thought was a 6'x2'x2' for George and 2'x2'x5' each for my other guys with their cages on top of Georges... But now I will have to rethink this... Hell I may have to move! HELP!
Sublimeballs
07-20-16, 09:07 AM
I'm gonna try and be nice here..... so much is wrong with what I just read. Ok, first off 6x2 is not big enough you're going to need at least a 3 foot wide cage if you're sticking with 6 foot long. Second, Bryan of snake bytes is known in the industry to have terrible husbandry.... don't get your housing ideas from him, his giants can't even regulate temps as they take up more than half the cage.
I'm gonna try and be nice here..... so much is wrong with what I just read. Ok, first off 6x2 is not big enough you're going to need at least a 3 foot wide cage if you're sticking with 6 foot long. Second, Bryan of snake bytes is known in the industry to have terrible husbandry.... don't get your housing ideas from him, his giants can't even regulate temps as they take up more than half the cage.
Well this is why I am here... To get the real scoop... Like I said, I may have to move... I know one thing, I am hook! Hook, line and sinker... These guys are going to be with me probably the rest of my life... At this point it's hard to say who will go first. Maybe I can revamp the room? I don't know I am going to have to think about this... Luckily I have time... Thank you for your imput...
So just to clarify, any snake racks with tubs must be a bad idea also?
Aaron_S
07-20-16, 10:19 AM
I'm gonna try and be nice here..... so much is wrong with what I just read. Ok, first off 6x2 is not big enough you're going to need at least a 3 foot wide cage if you're sticking with 6 foot long. Second, Bryan of snake bytes is known in the industry to have terrible husbandry.... don't get your housing ideas from him, his giants can't even regulate temps as they take up more than half the cage.
Plenty of retic keepers keep snakes in racks and tubs and enclosures where the snakes body takes up half of it. Prehistoric pets, while having taller enclosures (still no branches) they have similar floor space.
So just to clarify, any snake racks with tubs must be a bad idea also?
Incorrect. Snake racks are fine.
bigsnakegirl785
07-20-16, 01:05 PM
Ok guys... I only started thinking about snakes a year a go, and just pulled the trigger about 6 months ago, so I apologize for my lack of experience in this area...
I read a lot before I pulled trigger and I love to watch SnakeBytesTV hosted by Brian Barczyk. But what's got me puzzled is they really seem to care for the animals, yet have these huge snakes in these pull out drawer hardly big enough to hold the animal.
Now this lead me to thinking that maybe this was ok and the snake liked being in a hide all the time... I mean do the really need a highrise condo to be healthy and happy?
I know I am crazy for picking the snakes I picked in my living situation,{I live in a 740 sq. foot apartment}but I needed a challenge in my life and so far I am not disappointed.
At the age of 65, I am like a kid again, waking up on Christmas morning; I can wait for the sun to come up so I can go in and check on my boys... I try to let them sleep in, ha ha!
I have a floor space of 2'x6' for all three of my guys... Now I can go up, so my original thought was a 6'x2'x2' for George and 2'x2'x5' each for my other guys with their cages on top of Georges... But now I will have to rethink this... Hell I may have to move! HELP!
Brian is hardly the best example for proper animal husbandry. You don't necessarily have to give an entire room to a snake, but if you kept your snakes in the size enclosure he has them in, they don't even have enough room to properly thermoregulate. Unless the belly heat only takes up a small sliver of one side, they cannot completely get off the heat, and if it was that small it wouldn't provide a thermal gradient. They aren't proper enclosures.
Just because plenty of people do it doesn't mean it's ok. Giant constrictors are not suited for racks. These are animals that would actively pursue their prey in the wild, they don't just sit in one spot 24/7, and they're huge. They have no reason to hide, and many giant keepers will tell you the same. They don't need an enclosure "that's one giant hide" because they're top of the food chain. You cannot give a giant proper husbandry keeping them in a tiny rack.
Ian of Oldham
07-20-16, 04:36 PM
At my local rescue they are totally against racks and rubs, they will not rehome any snake that they think will be put in one
0.1.1 Royals 1.0 Corn 1.0 Boa 1.0 Carpet, O and a mad Cat.
All this makes a lot of sense and I not looking to put George in a tub, but I am trying to understand how small is to small as long as he can regulate his temp?
At what point is it considered inhumane?:wacky:
sirtalis
07-20-16, 05:13 PM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4FoUZ_6zv0
Given the space any reptile will use it
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4FoUZ_6zv0
Given the space any reptile will use it
No doubt about it this is cool... But I question if it is necessary for a snake in captivity... Does it affect his health if he can't climb?
There are two different methods that can be followed pretty reasonably in regards to givng enough space. Neither is "wrong" but some prefer one over the other. They are considered the minimum sizes so keep that in mind.
1. For every foot of snake there should be a square foot of floor space.
Or
2. Length plus width of the cage should equal the length of the snake.
As far as height, they will use it if it's given but it won't be detrimental if it's not. Also, you must account for the natural activity level of the specific species. More active snakes appreciate a bit more room to move and should be given it.
Some would say that if you only have a few snakes, why not go above and beyond the bare minimum? I can respect that outlook. Others will make a point that the snake doesn't care and it's others opinions that will clash with yours if you choose to do the bare minimum, which I am personally more inclined to agree with in most cases. My advice to you wouldnbe to find your own middleground as to what works for you and your snakes. :)
There are two different methods that can be followed pretty reasonably in regards to givng enough space. Neither is "wrong" but some prefer one over the other. They are considered the minimum sizes so keep that in mind.
1. For every foot of snake there should be a square foot of floor space.
Or
2. Length plus width of the cage should equal the length of the snake.
As far as height, they will use it if it's given but it won't be detrimental if it's not. Also, you must account for the natural activity level of the specific species. More active snakes appreciate a bit more room to move and should be given it.
Some would say that if you only have a few snakes, why not go above and beyond the bare minimum? I can respect that outlook. Others will make a point that the snake doesn't care and it's others opinions that will clash with yours if you choose to do the bare minimum, which I am personally more inclined to agree with in most cases. My advice to you wouldnbe to find your own middleground as to what works for you and your snakes. :)
This sounds right, I want to give my guys as much room as possible but real estate is minimal in a small apartment...
Ok if Brian Barczyk is not good at husbandry who else is?
bigsnakegirl785
07-20-16, 09:12 PM
At my local rescue they are totally against racks and rubs, they will not rehome any snake that they think will be put in one
0.1.1 Royals 1.0 Corn 1.0 Boa 1.0 Carpet, O and a mad Cat.
Good, I'm not a huge fan of racks being used beyond temporary housing for hatchlings. I don't plan on using a rack beyond the first 6 months of a baby's life, or quarantine for really small snakes. Imo racks aren't permanent housing options.
As for standalone tubs/rubs, I'm on the fence with retics. Retics will outgrow even the largest tub really fast, like within a couple of months. So, I could see not wanting to house them in one. As long as a larger enclosure ready by the time they outgrow the tub, I don't see a problem using one temporarily, but again, it's not a permanent housing option.
Ok if Brian Barczyk is not good at husbandry who else is?
Just ask around on forums and you will get knowledge from experienced owners. There will be a lot of conflict, so it's up to you to take in and digest what you receive and determine what works for you. What works for one person may not work for another, and I've made many adaptations to care throughout the last several years of being on this forum.
sirtalis
07-20-16, 11:26 PM
No doubt about it this is cool... But I question if it is necessary for a snake in captivity... Does it affect his health if he can't climb?
Definitely not required for its health but it would benefit, i'd imagine climbing to be a good work out for a larger snake
Ok! I think I might have my answer... Instead of my original 5x2x2 design, I can extend it out into the room a little and then down the wall in an L shape design. So the outside of the L shape will be 7'x4'8"... The longer part of the L will be 2' wide and the shorter only a foot and a half... But for height I can bump it up to four foot tall.
And for the other two {Ralph & Fred} I'll just have built the same cage on top and just split it for them... This is a ruff draft... It may change many times before the build but there is hope...
Good, I'm not a huge fan of racks being used beyond temporary housing for hatchlings. I don't plan on using a rack beyond the first 6 months of a baby's life, or quarantine for really small snakes. Imo racks aren't permanent housing options.
As for standalone tubs/rubs, I'm on the fence with retics. Retics will outgrow even the largest tub really fast, like within a couple of months. So, I could see not wanting to house them in one. As long as a larger enclosure ready by the time they outgrow the tub, I don't see a problem using one temporarily, but again, it's not a permanent housing option.
Just ask around on forums and you will get knowledge from experienced owners. There will be a lot of conflict, so it's up to you to take in and digest what you receive and determine what works for you. What works for one person may not work for another, and I've made many adaptations to care throughout the last several years of being on this forum.
I have this wall to wall to ceiling bookcase on the other side of my snake room... I was thinking it would hold about 100 king snakes... NO NO just kidding...In all seriousness this is some sound advise... Thank you!
Definitely not required for its health but it would benefit, i'd imagine climbing to be a good work out for a larger snake
My fear is I would have to have the fire department out to get it down!
Sublimeballs
07-22-16, 01:25 AM
Plenty of retic keepers keep snakes in racks and tubs and enclosures where the snakes body takes up half of it. Prehistoric pets, while having taller enclosures (still no branches) they have similar floor space.
.
Jay is also not known for his ethics. If you're providing a thermal gradient in the cage the snake can't take up more than half the cage or they'd never be able to get full off or on the heat.
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.