Natural or Whats easyer

[meow_mix450]

Hey,

Everyone here has there own opinion on this and i just wanted to know what do you guys perfer. For all the reptiles they all need different needs. But what would you pick.

1. Make the enclosure all natural, and nature looking.

2.Or making it easy with simple hiding spots such as a coconut hut and news paper as substrate.

So really if your really a show kinda guy or just simple that doesnt want a lot of work:D

Meow

[djc3674]

I like to keep things easy. We have 2 boas, 1 bp, & 1 leopard gecko. I use newspaper as substrate, a water bowl, hide boxes, a heat sorce, and something to climb on. Nice and simple.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Depends on the animal. I don't think a coconut hut would work for an Anaconda, do you?

[HeRpZ03]

I'm more of the person who sets up something natural, more appealing and makes a great display item in a room. The only hassle is cleaning it but what can ya do, theres a downside to everything :P

[HeRpZ03]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Depends on the animal. I don't think a coconut hut would work for an Anaconda, do you?

It mite if you have coconuts the size of volkswagen beetles :D

[Kimo]

Natural...regardless of the fact if you intend to show the animal off or not, if ur lazy...u shouldn't own an animal period

Just My 2 cents

Kimo

[Brock]

I think it was the meaning behind the question: natural or simple?

All of the animals in my signature are housed in as natural enclosures as I can provide. They are all voracious eaters, grow well, breed well, I have never had a single problem in 4 years of keeping them, they can survive going a more than two weeks without food because they are so healthy prior to, sheds are good, personalities (with the exception of my male veiled who was bought as a juvie) are very friendly, and I would think it's save to assume they feel more comfortable - hiding spots, variations in tempurature with shade and stuff, comfortable and variable basking/lounging spots, and better excersize.

I think as long as diet and other neccessary needs are met, it doesn't matter what methods you use, but in my opinion and experience, a natural setup is easier than an easy one.

-Brock

[djc3674]

Natural...regardless of the fact if you intend to show the animal off or not, if ur lazy...u shouldn't own an animal period

How do you asscociate a simple set up w/ being lazy? Your comments make you seem quite ignorant. What your saying is since I use newspaper instead of a loose substrate that "looks" natural, I am lazy? I am willing to bet my boas could care less weather they have a nice plant in their enclosure or not. As a matter of fact, they would probably destroy anything I put in their enclosures that you would consider "natural" looking. They have climbing branches that they use occasionally, so anything more would be overkill.

As many times during the month, my snakes soil the newspaper, it is much easier to just throw it out. With loose subtrates, if you spot cleaning, you are not getting it all out. You would literally have to change all of the substrate everytime your animal deficates.

I don't know if you have any larger reptiles, but my 7ft boa urinates a ton and his crap is like a German Shepard's. I will stick to what works for me thanks!

[hhw]

I'm with Jeff here; it depends on the animal.

Natural is not necessarily better. If you go simple (which I interpret as utilitarian), you are still meeting all the needs. You just aren't doing it in an as aesthetically pleasing manner. On the other hand, for some animals, the fundamental requirements entail naturalistic items. In this case, utilitarian and naturalistic are the same thing. Either way, just go with what works best for you.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Exactly what hhw said. Totally.

[Kyle Barker]

i agree. But if i had the space/money i would do it all natural. So i just do natural for my lizards due to their activness. Day geckos just arnt as much fun without plants!

hey jeff, you have any idea whats happening with the crb at crystal? they said they have never had one before when i took it back. i was told to take it back there, i did leave it there. did they figure out what was happening? im so confused.

[Derrick]

I've seen too many people with natural displays who dont take care of it after the initial setup. Crap and urates dont look to bad when its stirred into repti-bark. It doesnt sit on newspaper for half a day at my place.

I have a full time job. herps are a hobby I do whats best for them and still allows me a life. natural displays especially substrates are a breeding ground for bacteria.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ah man, you didn't give it back gravid did you?? ;)

They never contacted me though. I just heard through Don that the breeding loan might be over. But past that, I never heard a word my man.

[mykee]

I used to have a few of my balls in natural settings, I'm assuming you're talking about glass aquariums and the like. I found it impossible to maintain proper husbandry in these enclosures, and regardless of what I thought looked better, a rubbermaid/rack system maintains better husbandry in my situation, so that's what I use.

[Linds]

hhw is right on the money, imho. I would also like to add that it is nearly impossible to successfully create a truly naturalistic atmosphere for reptiles. We can try and make things "look" sort of natural, but there are so many things that come in to play in the wild to make those conditions successfully liveable that we simply cannot replicate, even in large enclosures.

[snakehunter]

Depends, for my anole and housies, i have a big natural viv. but for my balls and hogs its aspen, hides and bowl, but hte hogs dont even get hides, they DONT USE THEM.

[Brock]

I think this post should have been in a specific forum. Snakes are usually kept in simple enclosures, and lizards and amphibians are usually kept in natural enclosures. You can kind of see the differences of opinions variate between snake keepers and lizard keepers.

[meow_mix450]

ya sorry about that, thats why i mentioned everyones got there own opinion on this. A lot of snake keepers here do there enclosure simple.

Meow

[concept3]

i personally olny use natural, I wouldnt want a pet that just lived in a rubbermaid and the olny time I saw it was when i was cleaning its cage, BUT on the other hand if i was breeding bp's or any other snake for that matter it would be to impractical to have a natural setup for two dozen snakes. To sum it up I personally think its what the animal is for, breeding or pet. I keep lizards and frogs though, so I dont really know what is best for snakes.

[BoidKeeper]

I think natural nice to look at set ups are for the keeper not the kept.
However, like most said you meet the animals needs and the animals need will determine what the cage looks like.
In my snake room all the cages are newspaper/plastic hide box set ups. In the livingroom though I keep one natural cage for my Amazon because I think arboreal snakes look best in a "natural" set up. Also when non-herpers come to visit my snakes they are expecting my room to look like the same displays they've seen at a zoo so also for that reason I keep the natural set up in the livingroom.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Jeff_Favelle]

I think natural nice to look at set ups are for the keeper not the kept.

Yep. What Chewie said.

[Kimo]

I wasnt implying that people who go the easy route, are all lazy...just stating that "lazy people" shouldnt own animals, that goes for dogs/cats to not just reptiles, but to tell you the truth, the only reason why i have natural set-ups is because i beleive it makes for a happier, healthier animal, now do keep in mind, thats MY beleif, and im entitled to it, and will continue to keep my reptiles in as natural a setting as possible, yes it's more expensive, but hey...in my eyes if i wasn't willing to provide the best for my animals...i wouldn't have gotten them int he first place...but thats just me

Kimo

[Bartman]

I just do whatever is best for the animal...such as my savannah monitor for example. I COULD keep it on paper towl and make my life a little easier, i think, but it is better for them to be on dirt so i do it. My geckos live a longer life on towel paper so i use it, etc. I just go for health first...