Small snakes that like to climb

Mhilluf · 08-08-12, 02:51 PM

Hello all,

I am new here. I have acquired a large terrarrium from my company of an unusual size/shape.

Specifically it is a collumn shaped wire-mesh terrarrium that can be adjusted to be anything from 1.5 feet to 8 feet tall by adding pieces. It's about 1.5 feet wide.

At first I was planning on using it just as 1.5 feet tall setup with a small juvenile corn snake or some other fairly common. Then I thought about trying to find a small snake that would stay comfortable in such a cage.

However, then I thought about really using the height. Perhaps trying to find a smaller snake that would enjoy having a large vertical space to climb in and not mind only having a small width.

Current plan (if I can find a snake that would be HEALTHY and HAPPY in such an environment:

4-6 feet Tall. Either have a live growing tree in the center with many branches or provide a similar fake space. This would give plenty of climbing space. Attach small ledges to the sides (rock) with lights for basking, two, one near the bottom and the other about halfway up. The top is a dome and I was thinking of either making this a feeding zone (there's a covered slot where food could be dropped in) or put another heat lamp up there and partially paint it to look like an enclosed rock cave.

Any suggestions on snakes that might fit that bill? Not going to start building until I know I can find a snake that it would be the correct habitat for.

StudentoReptile · 08-08-12, 03:42 PM

I'm curious about this cage! Can you post pics? What is this thing made out of?

I'm really curious how you would heat it, and depending on the answer, that would dictate what species I would suggest.

My $.02 so far.

moshirimon · 08-08-12, 03:47 PM

rough/smooth green snake

StudentoReptile · 08-08-12, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moshirimon

rough/smooth green snake

That was my first choice.

Mhilluf · 08-09-12, 06:49 AM

The cage is made by my company, I don't want to break any rules regarding posting images as technically a representative of the company. I'm not here to sell, but to get questions answered

Basically imagine a 1.5 foot wide column made of a small holed mesh. It has pieces that can be attached or detached that allow you to build it to be 2-6 feet tall or taller. It cannot become any wider though.

My ideas for heating it include a fairly typically heat basking area near the top of the cage (the snake climbs the "tree" to find its warmth) or to set up a few small heat zones going up the side of the cage set next to perching areas inside the cage (lights facing sideways into the cage, facing artificial ledges inside the cage).

StudentoReptile · 08-09-12, 07:14 AM

I understand. It sounded like a somewhat interesting design, and a picture is worth a thousand words, so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask for a photo or two! Anyway, we can get a link to the company in question so we can view photos legally?

In any case, the horizontal space makes it kinda cramped for most species larger than a green snake. I don't have enough experience with arboreal boas & pythons (ETBs, ATBs, GTPS, etc) to say whether or not they could fare well in such an enclosure. That was one reason I was curious about the heating options.
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My opinion is that you would have many more options for small lizards, than you would for snakes. Geckos, anoles, small chameleons, Mt horned dragons, etc...lots of possibilities.

jarich · 08-09-12, 07:17 AM

I think the bigger issue might be humidity. If the entire enclosure is made of mesh screen then there is no way to hold humidity inside. You can humidify the room it will be in to compensate but otherwise will have to stick with low humidity animals.

Gungirl · 08-09-12, 07:27 AM

I agree with the above. I see it being very hard to keep a decent amount of humidity for a GTP or another snake like that. I would also look into lizards and other animals.

Mhilluf · 08-09-12, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarich

I think the bigger issue might be humidity. If the entire enclosure is made of mesh screen then there is no way to hold humidity inside. You can humidify the room it will be in to compensate but otherwise will have to stick with low humidity animals.

Interesting, I can actually make it out of totally enclosed pieces of marine grade acrylic instead. Thanks for the tip!

I am attaching pictures from a few set ups I have on file. Most of them are using the clear sides (seems like the right option for humidity). None of them are really built tall, but I think you can get an idea of their general size.

The biggest one I can find a picture of is a multi-level gerbil/bird set up (no live animals). The bird cage piece wouldn't work (snake could pop it open I think). Picture that set up, but with clear acrylic instead of a bird cage and none of the white gerbil playground pieces.

So the set up could be 4-6 feet tall, thick marine grade acrylic walls. How much air flow is necessary while keeping it humid and healthy? I have options for close tops with small air hole slits or a totally open wire mesh top.

BTW thanks for being nice! Most animal forums I have been on, you get insulted when you ask beginner questions. If I knew enough, I wouldn't need to be here asking questions.

jarich · 08-09-12, 08:22 AM

That sounds much better, yes. And I would say go for the mostly enclosed top with air holes. A screen top will just let all the heat and humidity escape, so its almost as difficult as screen sides. (heat rises, so the warm air draws all the moisture with it on screen tops)