housing?

Zoe · 07-27-03, 11:05 PM

Okay, I am getting some new cages for the kids in a months or so and was hoping to make it nice and pretty and natural. But I was wondering if it was worth it?
Would I be better off going with newspaper and plastic plants?
Or would it not be a big deal to use bed-a-beast/mulch and pothos or something?

Need suggestions!

Thanks!
Zoe

Bryce Masuk · 07-28-03, 12:54 AM

"But I was wondering if it was worth it?"
It depends to me no tis not worth it its a personal choice you need to ask yourself am i willing to spend the extra money and do much more work? (which will later be destroyed by the snake) and then redo it.... Its only worth it if your willing to spend the time to maintain it and every snake I have put a plant in with it has destroyed the plant. I had a ball that would coil around the plant roots and rip the plant out and pull the plant behind her and dump it in the corner of the cage

Zoe · 07-28-03, 12:55 AM

hahah... silly snake :P

But thats my question, really. Is is it going to be detroyed by the snake? I have no problem fixing the roots of a plant every now and then, but is it really too much of a hassle to bother?

Zoe

lordkovacs · 07-28-03, 08:54 AM

could you fix the plastic root to the bottom of the tank with a staple? and pick plants with strong stems? I guess I would go plastic... but if you can do real, it would be a very cool viv. for sure. let me know which way you go...I may try it too!

vanderkm · 07-28-03, 09:20 AM

Someone recently suggested having potted pothos outside the viv and then introducing the trailing vines in through holes in the back and sides, so they could grow in a trailing pattern along the inner surfaces of the cage - but you wouldn't have to worry about having the whole plant inside. Any areas damaged could just be trimmed back or new shoots introduced through the holes. I don't remember whose idea it was - but I thought it was a good one.

One problem we had with keeping Irians and Jungles on bed-a-beast or mulch was that they had such large volumes of urine and it was difficult to identify the area that was contaminated by urine when the bed-a-beast was kept moist (if not kept damp it is really dusty). We found we had to remove a huge area of bedding around the urate deposits to be sure we had taken out all the urine and it got to be too much of a hassle and expense. We went back to aspen and although we were concerned about how they would shed with lower humidity, we haven't had any problems.

mary v.

Mardy · 07-28-03, 03:13 PM

I'm a news paper man now. But in the past have had
naturel looking vivs. The only way to save the plants. I found is to use very large
plants(compared to the size of the animal).
And plant them in the viv. using 3/4 foot of
substrate. Then let the plants root for a good
month or so. The deep substrate and adding a few
good earthworms helps with the urine volume.

Mardy

lordkovacs · 07-28-03, 05:11 PM

earthworms are an interesting idea... hmm...

JIMI · 07-31-03, 12:33 PM

Pothos is great because it doesnt require any soil or dirty mulch to grow in. Just use a tuperware container filled with stones, and plant the pothos in there. Then you just fill the container with water, and refill when it gets low. You cant drown pothos (they can actually live in just water) They'll pretty much cover the bottom of the enclosure, and it looks really good. It also provides a natural hide. they'll curl up in the leaves and stuff. but they dont damage the plant at all. I havnt had one broken leaf or stem since they dont try to climb the pothos up the branches or anything.