BOAS_N_PYTHONS
12-01-04, 01:11 AM
Hi there folks:
We are not to sure where to post this but since its cage related and more, decided this would be the right section for the forum.
People over the months have asked about our cages and equipment we use and replying to each email takes some time so I thought do a post for reference for all to see and add there own equipment as well.
These are our custom cages I built a few years back when I was on holidays in 2001, and 2002. The tall units are the ones we use for boas up to 7 - 8 feet. The slimmer designs are for Blood Pythons, Carpets Pythons, Rainbow Boas and anything in that range of size. I love the tall units but wish I made them 4 display views instead of 3 but I was giving the boas alot of height space incase I used them for other species like Emeralds Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons. These cages are 3/4 plywood material, wood glued, wood screwed, primed, painted, polyurathane and silicone. Each has 3 sources of fresh air, a sitting ledge for the boa to bask if it wants, sliding plexi glass 20x stronger than real glass doors, locking mechanism, radiant heat panels and temp probes as well as thermostats and humidity devices. I built 8 of these, was fun after all done but the work well that was not fun :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/BNPcages000.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/BNPcages003.jpg
The slimmer design are made from all the extra wood from the taller units. I built 10 of these.......again alot of fun :)
Nothing in these at the time of the photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage000.jpg
All my other cages are same as other as melamine style for the 6 foot plus boas. I need to get some pics of those but many people make the same design which mine are the same.
For the people who love and use Rubbermaid products here are some I use as well. Here you see 3 types used by alot of people and all are found at your local Walmart. To get an idea of size the black shoe box is your standard size and I use them as hide boxes. The others are in the same photo so you can see sizes available.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage005.jpg
These are your standard show box type that work for all baby snakes and some others as well that stay small.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/02%20-%20BOA%20MORPHS/naconsalmonboa058.jpg
These here are not kept as neat with large boids but smaller boids do fine in them. But in this photo it was to show the boa so the overall photo was set up at the time. I think current count on Rubbermaids hits 249 these are from shoe box to the large types you see here, this does not include water bowls....Walmart watch out I am not done yet :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/01%20-%20BOA%20CONSTRICTORS/cleopatraredtailboa131.jpg
People ask on heat equipment as well. I am so "pro" on the radiant heat panels, I know and believe these are the best. I won' t get into a heated discussion on it but the pros - cons are enough to make you want them. In the end nothing beats radiant heat :)
In this photo you see the ceiling of the cage where I decorate it a bit to hide the hardware. You also see in the photo a red circled area this is the probe from my thermostats that control the heat panels (currently 4 years).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage002.jpg
Alot of people use heat tape and we are now using it as well on rack systems and for the ones who are new to what heat tape looks like here it is. Below are sizes 12", 4" and 3".
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/heattape000.jpg
Also used alot are human heat pads, they comes in 2 - 3 sizes we only use the 12" x 24" type more for mobile cages or quarantining. With 3 setting you can reach your reptile' s heat range easily. We use all of it or a portion and place the rubbermaids on them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/humanheatpadheater000.jpg
Now if your playing with heat and your reptiles best heating conditions, this is where you do not go cheap. Everyone needs a heat gun of some type. Mine was what I could find back in the day and price was decent. No these days things have been improved and made real expensive anywhere from $40 - $1000 plus in both USA and CANADA dollar. I got mine at a closing out Canadian Tire store so find the deals if you can but don' t be without a heat gun in your hobby, why trust those thermostats, cheap dimmers and so on when you can have this as a back up. I prefer ones with a laser pointer so you get a better idea of the heat direction you taking temps of.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/temperaturelazargun000.jpg
Now those thermostats come into play as well. I use 2 types and soon feel I will evolve to the new design completely. Here you see the basic units you can find online at beanfarm and such. Price at that time was $30 - 40 I think but I ordered 30 of them as well so who knows :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage003.jpg
They are solid units lasted me 4 years now and work great as long as you place them in the right area of your can you will achieve proper heat conditions for your reptiles.
These next ones are the new design. I love them on the rack systems and with use them in multi-cages very soon as well. They cost more and come in many versions from different suppliers. This model, I prefer the most now I need the price to drop under $200 with shipping included. I am using 1 right now and have great results and hope to order another 10 - 20 hoping this gives me some decent discount ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/double_thermostat_000.jpg
Well this is all good but you need some kind of thermometer too, right. And the answer is yes. Everyone has there method and price range as well as what they prefer. I went with these types. I prefer the ones with probes. Both are found at your local Radio Shack and other stores as well.
These small units run around $20 - 30 and are as they look small, portable and simple to work with and can be (C or F) as well, they even tell you humidity so yes they need to be in your cages.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/thermometers000.jpg
The larger units run around $40 - 50 but are a sweet deal in our collection, the probe is 6 feet long, tells you temps and humidity, has a memory feature incase you wonder on highs and lows. We place them in the cages as well putting the probes near heat and the device on the cooler end, so yes we see a big difference in these cages and the boids love the correct warm and cool ends. Radio Shack loves me but thinks I am weird buying 40 of these from 3 stores in 1 day...........they all wondering how much temp info does this guy need....lol.
Good books to read would be.
THE BOA CONSTRICTOR - MANUAL, by Philippe de Vosjoli
THE LIVING BOAS, by Jerry G. Walls
THE REPRODUCTIVE HUSBANDRY OF PYTHONS AND BOAS, by Richard A. Ross MD
THE GUIDE TO OWNING A RED-TAILED BOA, by Glen Drewnowski
BOAS - A COMPLETE PET OWNER' S MANUAL, by Doug Wagner
ALL ABOUT BOA CONSTRICTORS (VIDEO), by Rich Ihle, Tracy/Dave Barker
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/bnpbookandvideos000.jpg
All these sources are great information and can help any boa hobbiest.
Useful websites to find some of these products, simply press on the names.
THE BIG APPLY HERP (http://www.bigappleherp.com/)
THE BEAN FARM (http://www.beanfarm.com/)
HEAT GUNS 1 (http://www.infrared-usa.com/)
HEAT GUNS 2 (http://www.tempgun.com/main.html)
RADIANT HEAT PANELS (http://www.pro-products.com/)
THERMOSTATS (http://www.boaphileplastics.com/thermostat.html)
Everyhing else you can find at local Walmart, local hardware stores and local Radio Shack.
Well thank you all for viewing and reading this post. I hope it was helpful to the newbies and some of the pros trying to get new ideas. I know when I first started this is what I was looking for in, information to start a set up for a boa, python, monitor and so on in reptiles. Many people here help out alot and the posts are informative. I just created this post to show all those basic questions put into 1 post that I hope helps out and may be considered by the forum as useful information in the useful information spot on the forum.....maybe a mod can take care of that ;)
Cya...
Tony Pharosx :)
We are not to sure where to post this but since its cage related and more, decided this would be the right section for the forum.
People over the months have asked about our cages and equipment we use and replying to each email takes some time so I thought do a post for reference for all to see and add there own equipment as well.
These are our custom cages I built a few years back when I was on holidays in 2001, and 2002. The tall units are the ones we use for boas up to 7 - 8 feet. The slimmer designs are for Blood Pythons, Carpets Pythons, Rainbow Boas and anything in that range of size. I love the tall units but wish I made them 4 display views instead of 3 but I was giving the boas alot of height space incase I used them for other species like Emeralds Tree Boas and Green Tree Pythons. These cages are 3/4 plywood material, wood glued, wood screwed, primed, painted, polyurathane and silicone. Each has 3 sources of fresh air, a sitting ledge for the boa to bask if it wants, sliding plexi glass 20x stronger than real glass doors, locking mechanism, radiant heat panels and temp probes as well as thermostats and humidity devices. I built 8 of these, was fun after all done but the work well that was not fun :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/BNPcages000.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/BNPcages003.jpg
The slimmer design are made from all the extra wood from the taller units. I built 10 of these.......again alot of fun :)
Nothing in these at the time of the photo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage000.jpg
All my other cages are same as other as melamine style for the 6 foot plus boas. I need to get some pics of those but many people make the same design which mine are the same.
For the people who love and use Rubbermaid products here are some I use as well. Here you see 3 types used by alot of people and all are found at your local Walmart. To get an idea of size the black shoe box is your standard size and I use them as hide boxes. The others are in the same photo so you can see sizes available.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage005.jpg
These are your standard show box type that work for all baby snakes and some others as well that stay small.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/02%20-%20BOA%20MORPHS/naconsalmonboa058.jpg
These here are not kept as neat with large boids but smaller boids do fine in them. But in this photo it was to show the boa so the overall photo was set up at the time. I think current count on Rubbermaids hits 249 these are from shoe box to the large types you see here, this does not include water bowls....Walmart watch out I am not done yet :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/01%20-%20BOA%20CONSTRICTORS/cleopatraredtailboa131.jpg
People ask on heat equipment as well. I am so "pro" on the radiant heat panels, I know and believe these are the best. I won' t get into a heated discussion on it but the pros - cons are enough to make you want them. In the end nothing beats radiant heat :)
In this photo you see the ceiling of the cage where I decorate it a bit to hide the hardware. You also see in the photo a red circled area this is the probe from my thermostats that control the heat panels (currently 4 years).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage002.jpg
Alot of people use heat tape and we are now using it as well on rack systems and for the ones who are new to what heat tape looks like here it is. Below are sizes 12", 4" and 3".
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/heattape000.jpg
Also used alot are human heat pads, they comes in 2 - 3 sizes we only use the 12" x 24" type more for mobile cages or quarantining. With 3 setting you can reach your reptile' s heat range easily. We use all of it or a portion and place the rubbermaids on them.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/humanheatpadheater000.jpg
Now if your playing with heat and your reptiles best heating conditions, this is where you do not go cheap. Everyone needs a heat gun of some type. Mine was what I could find back in the day and price was decent. No these days things have been improved and made real expensive anywhere from $40 - $1000 plus in both USA and CANADA dollar. I got mine at a closing out Canadian Tire store so find the deals if you can but don' t be without a heat gun in your hobby, why trust those thermostats, cheap dimmers and so on when you can have this as a back up. I prefer ones with a laser pointer so you get a better idea of the heat direction you taking temps of.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/temperaturelazargun000.jpg
Now those thermostats come into play as well. I use 2 types and soon feel I will evolve to the new design completely. Here you see the basic units you can find online at beanfarm and such. Price at that time was $30 - 40 I think but I ordered 30 of them as well so who knows :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/cage003.jpg
They are solid units lasted me 4 years now and work great as long as you place them in the right area of your can you will achieve proper heat conditions for your reptiles.
These next ones are the new design. I love them on the rack systems and with use them in multi-cages very soon as well. They cost more and come in many versions from different suppliers. This model, I prefer the most now I need the price to drop under $200 with shipping included. I am using 1 right now and have great results and hope to order another 10 - 20 hoping this gives me some decent discount ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/double_thermostat_000.jpg
Well this is all good but you need some kind of thermometer too, right. And the answer is yes. Everyone has there method and price range as well as what they prefer. I went with these types. I prefer the ones with probes. Both are found at your local Radio Shack and other stores as well.
These small units run around $20 - 30 and are as they look small, portable and simple to work with and can be (C or F) as well, they even tell you humidity so yes they need to be in your cages.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/thermometers000.jpg
The larger units run around $40 - 50 but are a sweet deal in our collection, the probe is 6 feet long, tells you temps and humidity, has a memory feature incase you wonder on highs and lows. We place them in the cages as well putting the probes near heat and the device on the cooler end, so yes we see a big difference in these cages and the boids love the correct warm and cool ends. Radio Shack loves me but thinks I am weird buying 40 of these from 3 stores in 1 day...........they all wondering how much temp info does this guy need....lol.
Good books to read would be.
THE BOA CONSTRICTOR - MANUAL, by Philippe de Vosjoli
THE LIVING BOAS, by Jerry G. Walls
THE REPRODUCTIVE HUSBANDRY OF PYTHONS AND BOAS, by Richard A. Ross MD
THE GUIDE TO OWNING A RED-TAILED BOA, by Glen Drewnowski
BOAS - A COMPLETE PET OWNER' S MANUAL, by Doug Wagner
ALL ABOUT BOA CONSTRICTORS (VIDEO), by Rich Ihle, Tracy/Dave Barker
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v520/BOAS_N_PYTHONS/09%20-%20CAGES%20and%20EQUIPMENT/bnpbookandvideos000.jpg
All these sources are great information and can help any boa hobbiest.
Useful websites to find some of these products, simply press on the names.
THE BIG APPLY HERP (http://www.bigappleherp.com/)
THE BEAN FARM (http://www.beanfarm.com/)
HEAT GUNS 1 (http://www.infrared-usa.com/)
HEAT GUNS 2 (http://www.tempgun.com/main.html)
RADIANT HEAT PANELS (http://www.pro-products.com/)
THERMOSTATS (http://www.boaphileplastics.com/thermostat.html)
Everyhing else you can find at local Walmart, local hardware stores and local Radio Shack.
Well thank you all for viewing and reading this post. I hope it was helpful to the newbies and some of the pros trying to get new ideas. I know when I first started this is what I was looking for in, information to start a set up for a boa, python, monitor and so on in reptiles. Many people here help out alot and the posts are informative. I just created this post to show all those basic questions put into 1 post that I hope helps out and may be considered by the forum as useful information in the useful information spot on the forum.....maybe a mod can take care of that ;)
Cya...
Tony Pharosx :)