Cage Size Mystery?

[PeachyKeen]

Following through on my "Boa Fever" I've decided to take the leap and start off with a Colombian Boa constrictor...for now :p
I'm looking at getting a male, so anywhere from 5-7ft. So far, Animal Plastics has the least confusing website to cruise myself through. Would a T8 be fine or should I jump on the T10?
I don't have money to spend all willy-nilly unfortunately (besides random vet visits, food, and other cares and necessities), so this would be the final cage. Would I need bigger? Any other brands recommended that won't cost me all my limbs?
Any advice appreciated :)

[Minkness]

Are you planning on getting a baby ir an adult? Because a baby would need a much smaller enclosure. I have a hog island that is several months old and still in a 10 gallon tank. I am looking at the T8 from AP for my soon to be full adult male boa, but even now he is in a 3x2x1 enclosure and doing fine.

It can take years for a baby to reach adult size, giving you plenty of time to afford different, more appropriate caging along the way until settling on the final adult cage.

Good luck!

[PeachyKeen]

I was definitely going to get smaller if needed be. I'm leaning more towards the sub-adult range but have been looking at juveniles. Would it be alright if I divided the T8 until it could use the whole space? I really don't mind waiting on the purchase of a showy vivarium. I always have to plan way ahead for things wayyy down the road, lol. I guess this was more of a "what will I need for future notice". I've also heard conflicting things on size requirement. Thank you.

[Minkness]

Yeah, I was originally gling to go woth a 6x2x2, but I just don't really think I need that big of an enclosure for a not even 6 foot adult snake that spends most of his time sedintary. And, I get him out alot, so he's exersized that way.

Getting a larger cage and dividing it should be fine, but then...that is entirely your choice. =)

I will be slowly rebuilding my whole enclosure set up to have all AP wnclosures. Most of them will be larger enclosures divided for smaller snakes. Like the T8 divided for my kings.

[PeachyKeen]

Yeah, I was originally gling to go woth a 6x2x2, but I just don't really think I need that big of an enclosure for a not even 6 foot adult snake that spends most of his time sedintary. And, I get him out alot, so he's exersized that way.

Getting a larger cage and dividing it should be fine, but then...that is entirely your choice. =)

I will be slowly rebuilding my whole enclosure set up to have all AP wnclosures. Most of them will be larger enclosures divided for smaller snakes. Like the T8 divided for my kings.

Okay, sweet. Again, thanks for the info. :)

[Minkness]

Any time! I'm sure that others with actual AP experience will pipe in at a more reasonable hour than 2am lol

Uhg..I need to sleep.....

[PeachyKeen]

Any time! I'm sure that others with actual AP experience will pipe in at a more reasonable hour than 2am lol

Uhg..I need to sleep.....

Haha, I can 100% relate. I suppose I shall be patient.

[bigsnakegirl785]

You will eventually need a bigger enclosure, unless the snake stays below 6'. Length+Width should be equal to or greater than the snake's length, and I feel a 6' boa seems a bit cramped in a 4'x2'. That's just my opinion though. All my boas currently use 100% of any vertical or horizontal space I offer them, they're just out at night so you might miss a lot of their activity.

Dividing the enclosure is perfectly ok, if you go with the 6'x2' the divided half will last until he's 5', which should last until it's 3 years old if fed properly, 2 years if it's a fast grower or fed a little heavily. If you go with a 4'x2' the divided enclosure should last until it's 4', which generally is a 1.5-2 year old boa.

[PeachyKeen]

You will eventually need a bigger enclosure, unless the snake stays below 6'. Length+Width should be equal to or greater than the snake's length, and I feel a 6' boa seems a bit cramped in a 4'x2'. That's just my opinion though. All my boas currently use 100% of any vertical or horizontal space I offer them, they're just out at night so you might miss a lot of their activity.

Dividing the enclosure is perfectly ok, if you go with the 6'x2' the divided half will last until he's 5', which should last until it's 3 years old if fed properly, 2 years if it's a fast grower or fed a little heavily. If you go with a 4'x2' the divided enclosure should last until it's 4', which generally is a 1.5-2 year old boa.

Getting the smaller would actually work out for me since I've also been wanting to give my ball python a nice AP enclosure once he got bigger and it'll be around the time that the boa would need a new one. Also, about the time I'll be settled in a new home with a new career (I get things don't last :) ) Well, I guess that made it a bit easier. I'll still wait for more replies to come in. Thanks for the info.

[aaron_cg]

I have had a few Boa's in my care over the years and I have found tubs work better for the health of the animal. Too much space all the time can stress them out.

AP are definitely good quality cages and make expanding a collection extremely easy since they are stack-able and easily reconfigured. But, I would reserve those for adults and those species that like to move around more (carpets, kings, rats, etc...)

The other advantages for tubs are that it keeps husbandry easy, takes up less space and saves quite a bit of money until they actually need the big enclosure.

[PeachyKeen]

I have had a few Boa's in my care over the years and I have found tubs work better for the health of the animal. Too much space all the time can stress them out.

AP are definitely good quality cages and make expanding a collection extremely easy since they are stack-able and easily reconfigured. But, I would reserve those for adults and those species that like to move around more (carpets, kings, rats, etc...)

The other advantages for tubs are that it keeps husbandry easy, takes up less space and saves quite a bit of money until they actually need the big enclosure.

My Ball Python is currently in a tub set up and I actually like it this way. People who aren't knowledgeable sure do look at me and the tub funny. I definitely wanted to get Sid (my BP) an AP cage once he got bigger but if the boa can use it first and then transition Sid into it later, it could work out. I do plan on dividing it for the boa so it's not so spacious. Looks like I'm possibly getting a 1 month Anery Boa Constrictor. Waiting for the breeder to reply :) But I will be keeping the Boa in a 18qt tub until I can finally order the AP enclosure. Is that size okay? I don't think I could stick with a tub the whole time with a Boa do to the difficulty of finding sizes of tubs near me.

[bigsnakegirl785]

My Ball Python is currently in a tub set up and I actually like it this way. People who aren't knowledgeable sure do look at me and the tub funny. I definitely wanted to get Sid (my BP) an AP cage once he got bigger but if the boa can use it first and then transition Sid into it later, it could work out. I do plan on dividing it for the boa so it's not so spacious. Looks like I'm possibly getting a 1 month Anery Boa Constrictor. Waiting for the breeder to reply :) But I will be keeping the Boa in a 18qt tub until I can finally order the AP enclosure. Is that size okay? I don't think I could stick with a tub the whole time with a Boa do to the difficulty of finding sizes of tubs near me.

What are the dimensions? If it's the 18"x12" one it might last you a few months depending on growth rate (by few I mean 4-6 months), if he's a slower grower it could last you awhile longer. I have my 2' anery motley in a 66 qt tub but it will last until he's 3.5', I don't tend to go any smaller, but most of the capacity is from the height (it's 12.25" tall). You can get a tub with less height (and less qts) so long as it has adequate floor space. I would get a tub large enough for a 3' snake min, as that will last them about a year.

You can use it if you want, just be sure to upgrade when he needs it. You can order pretty much any size tub online, so look on Google if you're having trouble finding larger tubs.

[PeachyKeen]

What are the dimensions? If it's the 18"x12" one it might last you a few months depending on growth rate (by few I mean 4-6 months), if he's a slower grower it could last you awhile longer. I have my 2' anery motley in a 66 qt tub but it will last until he's 3.5', I don't tend to go any smaller, but most of the capacity is from the height (it's 12.25" tall). You can get a tub with less height (and less qts) so long as it has adequate floor space. I would get a tub large enough for a 3' snake min, as that will last them about a year.

You can use it if you want, just be sure to upgrade when he needs it. You can order pretty much any size tub online, so look on Google if you're having trouble finding larger tubs.

Okay, thanks. I found a 36"Lx13"Hx17"W Hefty Latching tub. Google rarely wants to work correctly for me but I could be wording things incorrectly :rolleyes:. I just hope they get back to me before it starts getting super chilly. I have left over UTHs that are multiple sizes, have two hides that should work (if not, I can easily exchange them), and a herpstat 2. The only things left to get are the tub, thermometer, and a heavy water dish and possibly a branch or ledge.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Ah ok. Sounds good then, that's even bigger than my 66 qt tub! Sounds about the size of my 105 qt tub that I've got my sunglow in or possibly the 120 qt the ghost girl is in. I would definitely put a lot of hides in there! Probably start out with something like 6 or 7, and add some vines or something. A month old baby is going to be tiny.

Make sure your room stays warm, too, since it's going to provide your ambients. UTHs aren't good by themselves in rooms below 75-80F, I like to keep mine 80-85F. UTHs only provide a hot spot, and it isn't going to be enough if room temps get below their minimum temperatures. For boas that's 75F, but they really shouldn't go under 80F if you can help it. 75F is good for a cool spot with warmer ambients throughout most of the enclosure with a nice hot spot, but can cause RI's if that's what the ambients are.

[PeachyKeen]

Ah ok. Sounds good then, that's even bigger than my 66 qt tub! Sounds about the size of my 105 qt tub that I've got my sunglow in or possibly the 120 qt the ghost girl is in. I would definitely put a lot of hides in there! Probably start out with something like 6 or 7, and add some vines or something. A month old baby is going to be tiny.

Make sure your room stays warm, too, since it's going to provide your ambients. UTHs aren't good by themselves in rooms below 75-80F, I like to keep mine 80-85F. UTHs only provide a hot spot, and it isn't going to be enough if room temps get below their minimum temperatures. For boas that's 75F, but they really shouldn't go under 80F if you can help it. 75F is good for a cool spot with warmer ambients throughout most of the enclosure with a nice hot spot, but can cause RI's if that's what the ambients are.

Alright, I'll make sure to make it size-appropriate for the little guy. My downstairs stays cold but upstairs it sticks between 72-81F on a cold day. I have a small space heater that I run while I'm awake which boosts it to about 84F. Summer weather is 77F-90F. What's a better heating option besides a lamp?

[bigsnakegirl785]

Alright, I'll make sure to make it size-appropriate for the little guy. My downstairs stays cold but upstairs it sticks between 72-81F on a cold day. I have a small space heater that I run while I'm awake which boosts it to about 84F. Summer weather is 77F-90F. What's a better heating option besides a lamp?

In a tub, it's best to heat the room to proper temps, but with some modification you could put a CHE or RHP in it. Just takes a lot more planning to make sure it doesn't melt the plastic, since both heat stronger than a heat lamp.

Although temps can drop during the night I wouldn't let the room get below 80F on heat tape/pad only. Ambient heaters can increase the temps a lot easier, so mid- to low-70's at night shouldn't be a problem with a CHE or RHP.

[PeachyKeen]

In a tub, it's best to heat the room to proper temps, but with some modification you could put a CHE or RHP in it. Just takes a lot more planning to make sure it doesn't melt the plastic, since both heat stronger than a heat lamp.

Although temps can drop during the night I wouldn't let the room get below 80F on heat tape/pad only. Ambient heaters can increase the temps a lot easier, so mid- to low-70's at night shouldn't be a problem with a CHE or RHP.

Those were guesses but where my ball python is, the temp is up to 86F. Chilly night but really warm up here. It's generally constant at 80F during the night (I'm a night owl myself). I can easily replicate these temps in the room next to me. After Quarantine, the boa will be in the same area. Would that be okay with just the UTH?

[bigsnakegirl785]

Those were guesses but where my ball python is, the temp is up to 86F. Chilly night but really warm up here. It's generally constant at 80F during the night (I'm a night owl myself). I can easily replicate these temps in the room next to me. After Quarantine, the boa will be in the same area. Would that be okay with just the UTH?

As long as it's in the 80's you're golden.

[PeachyKeen]

As long as it's in the 80's you're golden.

Okay, awesome! :)