need a little help here - Page 3

EmbraceCalamity · 01-11-13, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

you (or someone else) asked why it was okay to house them in such a 'small' cage. I gave the answer.

also...have any of you ever SEEN how big a 6' cage is?

I said I think people shouldn't keep these snakes unless they can appropriately house such huge animals, and most people like to disregard rules that apply to other snakes just because it's not "realistic" due to their size.

~Maggot

iBaman · 01-11-13, 06:41 PM

6x3 is appropriate. we'll leave it at that.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-11-13, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

6x3 is appropriate. we'll leave it at that.

I thought the rule was the snake's entire length should be a minimum of 2/3 of the perimeter of the enclosure? So wouldn't that mean an 18' snake should be kept in something that totals 27' in perimeter, like 9'x4.5'? Or am I misunderstanding the rule?

~Maggot

iBaman · 01-11-13, 06:52 PM

Where on earth did you get that rule? I had always heard the 1sq ft per foot of snake.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-11-13, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

Where on earth did you get that rule? I had always heard the 1sq ft per foot of snake.

I don't recall. 1 square foot per foot of snake seems strange when the snake is that thick.

~Maggot

Pirarucu · 01-11-13, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

Where on earth did you get that rule? I had always heard the 1sq ft per foot of snake.

And when the snake is more than a foot thick?

tommy757 · 01-11-13, 07:07 PM

and the rules ive used for housing my retics are the snake should be no longer than double the length of the enclosure and as for height well no more than 24 in for adults as they are terrestrial and finally width have you ever had to climb in w/ a 60 pound beast with an awe inspiring feeding response to clean no deeper than three feet so to total it up its usually at the extreme 10x3x2 imo and walla healthy happy snakes!

Pirarucu · 01-11-13, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommy757

and as for height well no more than 24 in for adults as they are terrestrial

Excuse me?

Reticulated python video - Python reticulatus - 11 - ARKive

iBaman · 01-11-13, 09:12 PM

Foot length wise....

Pirarucu · 01-11-13, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

Foot length wise....

Yes, and when a snake gets big enough to the point that it is a foot wide, that paradigm for cage size is ridiculous. It varies too much from one extreme to another. Take a three foot snake in a 3x1 cage. That fits the rule. Now imagine a thirty foot snake in a 10x3 cage. See my point? The proportions don't stay the same.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

Just because something CAN climb a tree, doesn't mean they're arboreal...that's like saying a lion isn't terrestrial...

What sort of flawed logic is that? By that logic, Anacondas don't spend time in water and carpets don't spend time in trees. Look at that video and tell me that animal isn't adapted to climb. Retics are all-terrain vehicles of the snake world. When mine is out roaming, the one direction you can bet he will go is up.

limey · 01-20-13, 08:59 PM

I think Frank from Bronx Zoo hit the nail on the head in his latest post about Burmese Pythons. He basically said that if you get a giant snake, you should provide it with a sizable enclosure. A full grown giant should effectively have it's own room and that a 6ft long tank for a 16ft snake is kind of unethical. Not to say that the snake won't stay in reasonable health, but it will be more in "storage" really than living a good life with free roaming space.

I'd second his thoughts on that.

Pirarucu · 01-20-13, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

I think Frank from Bronx Zoo hit the nail on the head in his latest post about Burmese Pythons. He basically said that if you get a giant snake, you should provide it with a sizable enclosure. A full grown giant should effectively have it's own room and that a 6ft long tank for a 16ft snake is kind of unethical. Not to say that the snake won't stay in reasonable health, but it will be more in "storage" really than living a good life with free roaming space.

I'd second his thoughts on that.

Well said.

iBaman · 01-11-13, 09:13 PM

Just because something CAN climb a tree, doesn't mean they're arboreal...that's like saying a lion isn't terrestrial...

**Aaron_S** · 01-20-13, 09:47 PM

Personally, I've seen giant snakes thrive in larger enclosures so it's not an excuse to keep them in smaller enclosures. Although, I've heard of some do better in tighter confined areas. Brian at BHB has stated as such for Satan.

I do however, understand that a giant enclosure isn't realistic for most people. That's why I suggest they JUST DON'T OWN one. BUUUT they have to compensate somehow and the really awesome sports car is generally too much, or they lost their license already with a DUI or something else as stupid.

infernalis · 01-20-13, 09:51 PM

Too many people (not pointing at anyone, it seems to be epidemic in proportion anyway)
are only willing to provide "just enough to survive" and not willing to go the extra mile and provide any sort of quality of life for reptiles.

I see it this way, lock a mammal in and undersized enclosure, and they claw at the walls, make noises, etc.

Most reptiles have no voice, snakes have no legs, so they cannot scratch at the walls of the box, they can't wail out yelps, so they MUST be doing alright, hell it's eating, it looks healthy, what more does it need??

The whole reptile pet trade needs an overhaul, from many different angles.