The importance of secure caging and double-checking your routine EVERY time.

[Will0W783]

I figured I'd post this, because although I have years of experience with smaller snakes, I am not very used to the larger species. About a month ago, I agreed to "snake-sit" a good friend's two reticulated pythons while he took care of some things. The snakes are both quite docile and well-behaved, for the behemoths that they are. The female is 1.5 years old and over 10 feet long already. She weighs about 40 pounds. The male however, is 4 years old and somewhere between 12-15 feet and 100 pounds or so. He needs to go on a diet, yes I know. He is MASSIVE. They are in Vision style ABS cages with the sliding doors, and I immediately put cabinet door locks on both cages. Last night after removing the big male from his soak, I locked the cage but left the keys in the lock. Apparently at some point during the night the pressure of his coils against the door jiggled it enough to undo the lock..it's broken now and won't catch. When I went down to the heated garage this morning to turn their daytime lights on, I found stuff knocked down everywhere and the big lug up on top of the garage door looking around and surveying his domain. It took my fiance and I over 10 minutes to finagle him down and another few to get him back into his cage. I am posting this for other beginners and people who are thinking of getting into the giants as evidence that they are no joke. While you can have a wonderful experience with them and they are majestic and impressive, it is important to keep in the forefront of your mind every single moment of every time you spend with them that they are powerful and can be extremely dangerous. Fortunately, I have these two temporary wards housed in my garage, which can be locked off from the rest of the house so that in the event of an escape the animal could not get into the rest of the house, where we have our cats and dogs. I had thought that door locks would be sufficient, but it appears a different type of lock and probably a different style of cage is in order to properly house these fellows for the time that they are in my care. A lot of thought and planning has to go into getting ready for any of the larger species, and just as much planning and care must go into every day with them.
Enjoy the picture and take this as a lesson for what NOT to do!

[infernalis]

Hey Kim, great photo.

Even an adult Ball Python can make a mess of your house in just one evening.

the big thick heavy snakes will knock over everything that gets in the way.

and something to really think about, A giant can tip over a viv rack without even trying hard.

An escaped Monitor lizard can really mess up the works. I have heard tales of them escaping inside pet shops and destroying the place by morning when the shop opened.

[Will0W783]

Oh I know Big Boy can create a huge mess, hence why he and his gf are in my garage and not my main snake room. While the picture is somewhat amusing, I figured it would spark some good discussion on the proper keeping of giants and sharing of stories. I am not sure exactly how long these two will be with me, so any advice and tips from others more experienced with the big ones is welcome! Also I hope this can help other people thinking of getting a giant snake ensure security and safety before they bring it home. They're great snakes and I enjoy these two, but mistakes can happen with any animal..it's just more of an issue the larger the escapee gets.


The garage was pretty well "remodeled" as well--plugs pulled out of the walls, tools on the ground, bikes and shovels knocked off the racks, tubs and tires scattered across the floor. He made quite the nice mess for me to clean this morning, and I ended up late for work.


For size reference, that's a 6-foot section of door. The snake is slightly thicker than a 2-liter soda bottle...he is fatter than my thigh at his biggest point. The part angled towards you in the picture was extending about two feet, so 6 feet across the door, plus the foot or so of the neck and head, plus 2 feet on the side track, and 2 feet back, plus another 4 or 5 feet of tail end back around on the door. BIG!

[shaunyboy]

cool pic's pal and a great story

my wife unfortunatley still wont let me have a retic in the house.

i only want one to keep as my collections pet

im going to have to turn my attic (loft) into a snake room.then i might get her to agree if not i can always sneak it in.

then again i dont think my wife would be happy if she spotted a big guy like yours staring down at her should he escape...!!

for the record an adult carpet can make a fair mess if it gets out and about in the house.

cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

It was interesting getting him down off that door. I've had smaller snakes escape in my snake room before I figured out the best way to keep caging secure, and even a 3-footer can make a huge mess. With the little buggers, they get behind stuff and then you end up hurting yourself trying to move several hundred pounds of caging to get the renegade out and back into its cage.

[Will0W783]

This big fellow in the picture has some nose scarring from old nose rub, so he has a cleft lip and breaths very loudly. My first thought when I opened the door was, "Oh Fudge, Darth Vader is loose in my garage!"

[presspirate]

He looks like he'd enjoy the jungle gym at a playground. Great post Willow! This one ought to be stickied!

[Will0W783]

Oh man, I'd bet he'd love that...but he is far too large to take out in public...he's incredible. I love the big old lug, but he is no joke. My friend did a wonderful job raising him; he's such a sweet big fellow. Still, when you need 2-3 people just to move him, outings are not a smart move.

[infernalis]

He looks like he'd enjoy the jungle gym at a playground. Great post Willow! This one ought to be stickied!

That would be cool, until you went to leave, and the snake decided it didn't want to:yes:

[Will0W783]

Yeah...he isn't exactly easy to move...lol. He was less than cooperative after his last soak when I was trying to get him back into the cage. Trying to move 110 pounds of solid muscle that doesn't want to is not fun. I'm just glad he's generally an easy-going fellow. I am getting attached to the big bugger...

[marvelfreak]

Cool pic. Could you post pics of the locks you used? Sound like the ones on my boaphile cages. If so i got a tip on to make it harder for them to open.

[presspirate]

Yeah...he isn't exactly easy to move...lol. He was less than cooperative after his last soak when I was trying to get him back into the cage. Trying to move 110 pounds of solid muscle that doesn't want to is not fun. I'm just glad he's generally an easy-going fellow. I am getting attached to the big bugger...
I can see how you'd get attached to him pretty easy...I was looking at BHB reptiles yesterday and saw they have granites for $250....and I thought... :hmm:.....:no: I CAN'T:sad:

[Reptile_Reptile]

lol awesome use of emoticons... that being said i do that all the time when i see a snake that is buyable

[presspirate]

That's why I have to stay off Craigslist for awhile. at least until I get 2 more cages finished.

[bighog85]

Thats a good post Kim, people need to see what these guys are capable of. I keep a multitude of large tics and burms and I am constantly in awe at what they are capable of. I have to build all of my cages wide enough so that their coils cannot reach to both sides when coiled up because I have seen them just flex a bit and pop the screws holding the walls together right out. Just incredible strength and they certainly know how to use it. Once they find a weakness in their enclosure they will try and try until they get out. Especially the retics, burms are pretty lazy, lol.

[marvelfreak]

I can see how you'd get attached to him pretty easy...I was looking at BHB reptiles yesterday and saw they have granites for $250....and I thought... :hmm:.....:no: I CAN'T:sad:
I seen them on kingsnake.com for $150.00 couple weeks back.

[Will0W783]

This is the kind of lock I used Ratchet Lock for Sliding Doors (http://www.hitechglazing.com/product/42891/40169).

Big Boy now has two of these locks on his cage and I am very careful to make sure they catch and to remove the keys once I lock them. He is in a Vision plastic cage, so there is no way for him to break the walls apart: it's a solid mold. However, the cage is rather small for him. I'm moving him into a larger melamine cage this weekend with barrel locks. Hopefully it will contain him...lol.

[marvelfreak]

Those are different than the kind i have. My cage doors swing down. You must have sliding doors. Love to see some more pics.:)

[Will0W783]

Yeah they are sliding glass doors. The cages came with the snakes. Vision cages are made of molded ABS plastic..one solid piece so that snakes can't break the seams.

[marvelfreak]

My Boaphile are made of pvc. I am getting a couple more next year. What i love about these cages(vision and boaphile) are they hold humidity so much better than other cages and they're easy to clean. They're a breeze to move because they so light weight.:)

[Will0W783]

They are really awesome cages. I absolutely love them. I have one Boaphile too, and that cage is wonderful as well. I am hoping to, in a few years when I have earned some money from breeding, convert all my caging to PVC.

[Lankyrob]

Those locks you linked are what i have on all my vivs Willow - they seem the easiest/safest option to use in my opinion.

[whoaxmary]

Amazing photo. :)
Glad I've only had my baby escape on me once, and she's only a two foot ball so no mess. Was hell finding her. It would be quite the experience walking into the garage to see a giant staring down at you when not expecting it. Bet your friend is going to have a hard time getting him back from you. ;)