Newly redesigned viper room

Will0W783 · 12-12-12, 01:34 PM

I spent this past weekend remodeling the room where I keep my arboreal vipers. These snakes require cooler temperatures than my constrictors and US-native hots, so they need to be in a separate room. With the unfortunate passing of my two emerald tree boas, the big cage they were in could be removed. We took that apart, and I bought utility shelving and set that up against the far wall. Then I organized all the viper cages on the shelving so they are all in one place and the room is more open and conducive to safe working with with the snakes. Due to their very slow metabolisms, they do not mess up the cages quickly, so spot cleaning when needed and substrate changes every few months is all the disturbance they get. As little handling as possible is my motto! Anyway, I'm very proud of the way the room looks now, hope you guys enjoy.

Zoo Nanny · 12-12-12, 01:42 PM

Nice and neat. The shelving unit is a good idea, so much cheaper and stronger than stacking units. If you don't mind my asking how many snakes do you have in your collection?

Will0W783 · 12-12-12, 01:46 PM

Zoo Nanny, I have 32 snakes, but not all are venomous.

Zoo Nanny · 12-12-12, 02:35 PM

It's a good thing that they only eat once per week or they would make you go broke!! I've always loved snakes but can't have any. My husband has a phobia towards them so it leaves me to enjoy them from afar only. Although I have taken in a couple of smaller ones sitting them and he was curious. But later in the day I found a very heavy book on top of the tote!

Gungirl · 12-12-12, 02:37 PM

Looks good Kim!

Will0W783 · 12-12-12, 02:39 PM

Thanks Kat! Zoo Nanny, most arboreal vipers eat only once a month or so once they are adults. The babies can be fed weekly but have to be tapered to less frequent meals once mature or they regurge and get obese.

MoreliAddict · 12-12-12, 02:54 PM

Awesome setup Kim!

I use herpcages, too.

rmfsnakes32 · 12-12-12, 03:03 PM

Very nice looking set up

Terranaut · 12-12-12, 03:38 PM

Looks great. Nice and clean.

Will0W783 · 12-12-12, 06:29 PM

Neat and clean was the goal. Clutter is the enemy of venomous snake keepers

alessia55 · 12-12-12, 06:33 PM

I guess this means that if I visit I won't be sleeping with them LOL
It looks great Kim.

cossiecraig · 12-12-12, 07:39 PM

Looks great Kimberly ,may i ask this to you ,regarding your HOT room do you have to have a lock on it and a sign saying whats beyond the door ? just curious to know if it's a requirement by law , thankyou .

Will0W783 · 12-12-12, 08:23 PM

I have a lock on the door, but currently there isn't a sign. With the room remodeled and a dedicated hot room now though, I plan to get a sign for it.

cossiecraig · 12-12-12, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I have a lock on the door, but currently there isn't a sign. With the room remodeled and a dedicated hot room now though, I plan to get a sign for it.

okay i see ,i often wondered what would happen if emergency services came to a house fire or something that required them to enter the property ,thankyou for awnsering .

Will0W783 · 12-13-12, 08:58 AM

I think it's important for emergency personnel to be aware of any possible dangers they might find in a house. If I were a firefighter and entered a burning house where I might come into contact with panicked venomous snakes, I'd want to be alerted. However, in reality the signs are more for anyone who might be visiting. The door is locked, so no one is going to just wander into there, but if the lock were to break, or someone left the door unlocked, a sign warns visitors that there are venomous snakes inside. Realistically, in the event of a fire that would be hot enough to break cages, the snakes would be long dead inside said cages. Having only one functional lung, snakes are quite sensitive to air quality and would succumb to smoke and heat rapidly.