Help Ryu get a perch!

Ryodraco · 03-16-20, 01:15 PM

Hi all, been around five years since I've last posted. Time certainly flies. I am hoping for some advice/help for the situation I've found myself in.

Ryu is a centralian carpet python, now about 10 or 11 years old. He was already 4 and a half when I got him, and the large parrot perch I installed in his terrarium sufficed for years as a decent perch for him. He'd spend days at a time up there. However, it became clear over time that he was having more and more trouble fitting on it, and thus using it less and less. He's over 8 feet long at this point after all.

So I ended up removing the perch and began searching for a upgrade. Trouble is that I have yet to find anything that works. I brought a huge cork log that I placed the wood rod the terrarium came with through as a sort of stabilizer, however as they are both circular if Ryu tries to climb onto the log his weight causes it to shift and even turn to the point of throwing him off. All my attempts to brace it with cage furniture haven't worked as Ryu is just too strong and heavy for them to hold.

So why not just get a large version of the perch he had before? That's proven more difficult than expected. The store I brought the perch from years ago no longer carried anything that size, let alone larger, and indeed finding bird perches with multiple branches that are bigger than what I have but still small enough to fit in the terrarium is apparently a tall order.

And no matter what I get, making it secure/stable has proven to the most stressful part. I worry about him being too close to the UVB light I now use, so I drilled a hole lower down to reposition his original perch. However, in this lower state I could no longer rest the perch on top of the wooden rod that terrarium came with, and subsequently found out that this rod was what had held up the perch under Ryu's weight all those years. Without it's support the branch rotates down under Ryu's weight no matter how much I tighten the nut on the screw.

Keep in mind I have very little in the way of construction skills (I brought the enclosure on craigslist). I'm really hoping to avoid drilling more and potentially damaging the terrarium (though I realize that I may well have to). One idea I have had is to buy a couple of these, put them side by side and use them as a shelf: https://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Natura...SMKED4KB4BRCC4 However, I am concerned that a snake of Ryu's size will simply move them around too much for them to be useful.

I know keepers make wonderful shelves and perches for their snakes all the time, but I am at a loss as to how to do it right for this snake in this enclosure. I just want Ryu to be able to use more of the space in the terrarium.

Many thanks for any advice.

dangernoodles · 03-16-20, 01:36 PM

Beautiful snake!
Now, I can see Ryu´s old perch was just a big stick, and that should work fine again but a more sturdy and large stick this time. (I know that was already mentioned)
As for securing it, your best bet is to drill it in and have something that can be set on the rod without it moving.

There are a lot of options here:
https://www.reptilesupplyco.com/117-...l-reptile-wood

XL mopani wood could work, or multiple parrot perches/branches.

craigafrechette · 03-16-20, 02:04 PM

Have you considered using PVC?

I just got my first Morelia recently. I've got a Bredli girl and a Jungle boy, both still under a year old, so still pretty tiny. But I have used PVC piping to make perches.

If you're familiar with the yard game "ladder ball" my construction is kinda similar to how those are built, but with just one horizontal perch instead of several.

As they get older I plan to build more sturdy versions and perhaps add a shelf, but the construction will be pretty similar.

Maybe something like that may work?

Or you can buy closet pole hangers that have a squared end so that the rod can't spin. You may need to do some shaving or sanding to get the rod in, but once in problem solved.

Ryodraco · 03-16-20, 02:53 PM

Quote:

As for securing it, your best bet is to drill it in and have something that can be set on the rod without it moving.

What specifically do you mean by "drill it in"? And you're saying I should use the rod already in there for additional support? Keep in mind the pole can be removed.

And trouble with all those pieces of wood you linked is I won't know if they're suitable until its actually delivered to me.

Quote:

Or you can buy closet pole hangers that have a squared end so that the rod can't spin. You may need to do some shaving or sanding to get the rod in, but once in problem solved.

I wouldn't know where to start with making something out of PVC. As for closet poles, the issue there is that Ryu is a pretty thick-bodied snake. I don't think he'd be able to use a closet pole very effectively, he's never really used the rod that already in there for instance.

dangernoodles · 03-16-20, 03:05 PM

One, you do not have to use the rod for additional support- just an idea. Was not aware it could be removed.
Two, What I mean by drill it in is drilling in a nail from outside of the enclosure and drilling it into the piece of wood/perch, if that makes sense. (Sorry, I´m not the best with words.)
Three, You are 100% right... You wouldn´t know if they are suitable or not until you got there.
Closet pole hangers are a great idea but probably wouldn´t hold.

https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...UaAmSHEALw_wcB

This might work if you get multiple?...

Or just get a huge chunk of wood shaped like a rectangle, I dunno where you would find that though

Ryodraco · 03-16-20, 03:37 PM

It's starting to look like getting a bigger version of the perch he had may indeed be the best option, as I at least have some experience with them and the wood rod already in the cage could help hold it up if I install it in the right spot. Trouble is finding one in the right size and shape. Those wood platforms you linked might be good for additional support, but probably not wide enough for him to use directly (he probably needs the shelf/branch to be at least twenty inches in at least one direction).

craigafrechette · 03-16-20, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryodraco

What specifically do you mean by "drill it in"? And you're saying I should use the rod already in there for additional support? Keep in mind the pole can be removed.

And trouble with all those pieces of wood you linked is I won't know if they're suitable until its actually delivered to me.

I wouldn't know where to start with making something out of PVC. As for closet poles, the issue there is that Ryu is a pretty thick-bodied snake. I don't think he'd be able to use a closet pole very effectively, he's never really used the rod that already in there for instance.

It's honestly super easy. I built mine in probably 10 minutes. Do you have a friend or family member with at least entry level handyman skills?
You could probably go to Home Depot and they'd cut the pieces for you. Then it's just a matter of putting them together by hand. No tools needed.

As for closet rods, you could always double up putting two side by each. You could even place a platform on top. This would get you a perch, shelf and temp gradient options.

Also, I forgot to mention earlier, if your heating equipment is properly regulated by a thermostat you don't have to worry about your snake being burned.

Ryodraco · 03-17-20, 09:43 PM

In my excitement at finding a perch of proper size, I failed to realize the screw it comes with is too short to reach far enough through the terrarium wall to get the washer and nut on the other side. Sadly I did not realize this until I had already cut the perch to fit the tank better (thus meaning I cannot return it) and already drilled the hole.

Just further testament to my foolishness/inability to handle minor construction work. I don't suppose there are any solutions to this? Like something that could be added to the screw to increase its length?

chairman · 03-17-20, 09:55 PM

You could just get a longer screw. Bring the one you have to a Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace, etc and find a new screw in the hardware aisle with the proper diameter, thread, and thread pitch (an employee will be happy to help).

You can also look in to T connectors. Saddle connectors made of PVC or EMT connectors. You could attach one of those to the existing pole to run a new pole to the back wall. Something like that could brace your cork round. You could even use it as a second perch away from the light to provide more perching options.

Ryodraco · 03-17-20, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chairman

You could just get a longer screw. Bring the one you have to a Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace, etc and find a new screw in the hardware aisle with the proper diameter, thread, and thread pitch (an employee will be happy to help).

How could I remove the existing screw without damaging the java wood, let alone put the new screw in this very hard wood? To be clear, this is one of those large java wood bird perches that come with a screw already in the wood.

Ryodraco · 03-18-20, 09:05 AM

Can't seem to edit my earlier post, so hopefully a double post is ok.

Anyway, seems I overreacted. Unscrewing the screw a bit out of the java wood to increase its usable length proved quite simple to do. Will post pics once I am satisfied with the new perch/s.

dangernoodles · 03-18-20, 09:14 AM

Keep us updated.

Ryodraco · 03-18-20, 06:11 PM

Well here's how things look now. Combining the new branch with the old ones I think I now have a pseudo second-level to the terrarium. Hopefully he'll make good use of it, he hasn't yet but he normally moves around more at night anyway.

Ryodraco · 03-19-20, 11:31 PM

Success! Seems he likes this spot. Decided to upload the pic to imgur so everyone can see it full size (also used the camera's flash so he doesn't look oddly yellow like in the previous post's pic). https://imgur.com/a/Y1iNlyb

Funnily enough he's using his old perch in the pic, just with his greater body size spread to the new perch for extra support. Hopefully this arrangement will be good for the rest of his life.

dangernoodles · 03-20-20, 08:26 AM

Aw yeah! Awesome job, it looks really good.