custom cage problem

[johnrandle]

realistically you should wait at least weeks before yo put anything in the cage.
Also if you want a humid area in the cage but you dont want to have problems of water or wet substrate on the wood you could put a rubbermade in with orchid moss or some other type and you could leave the top on OR off -that could be one of your hides... i use the orchid moss because i think its the best.

what were the measurements agaIn? im sure you could get a dumerils

[phil_7870]

4 ft long 3ft high and 4 foot wide .how many weeks would i need to wait 2 or 3 or even more .+i have a spare 22 gallon what can i house in that for awhile

[johnrandle]

well the cage sounds great for the dumerils or balls. 2 weeks should be good. you could put anything in the small tank. if you are getting a baby or youngling the 22 would be fine but you need to make sure you have a secure lid. i dont recomend just buying anything to fit in the tank lol. wait till your tank is ready and then get the snake you want.
to speed up the drying keep the tank open and put a fan on oscelate in front of it so it blows it out it will super dry it.

[Chu'Wuti]

I've also heard that using heat lamps on it will help speed up the curing process--not too hot, but higher than room temp. Combined with the fan, that oughta do a pretty good job.

[phil_7870]

what do you think is the better of the two snakes in your own opinion .i heard that the cage is to big for balls

[johnrandle]

too big for baby balls use the 22gal for those but fine for adult ball


i have 10 balls i love them.. but i have boas too.. hard to decide. i would go with a ball python or two to start though.

[phil_7870]

that cage seems a bit small for a fully grown ball tho

[johnrandle]

i dont know what you mean, i said the 22 gallon would be fine for a snake if you bought a baby. baby snakes should be kept in smaller tanks until they need more space to keep them feeling secure and safe, and helps prevent stress & feeding issues.

you could use the small cage at first if you got a small snake now and use your big one for it when its bigger, or for another one now or just wait till the big tank doesnt stink anymore and get a big snake now.

[phil_7870]

i still dont no really what i want to buy a dumeril or a ball .is there anything else i should look at before i decide on a snake .what temperture do you keep your balls at johnrandle .any pics of them

[phil_7870]

i was at a pet pet store today and i seen a 2 foot ball for sale .it looked nice but a bit triangluar .then i noticed it had a white subtance around one of its nose hole .i thought ri but it looked like might be a stuck shed .also i seen ther was afew scale missing on either side should i stay away from th animal .

[citysnakes]

phil, do your research on the animals that you are interested in and then decide what you want from there. we cant tell you what we think you "should" get because in the end its all up to you and what youre going to enjoy taking care of.

get a baby snake from a reputable breeder and house it in the 22 gallon tank for now. housing it in the smaller tank will make the first months of keeping this snake easier for you and the animal. when it gets bigger then move it into the enclosure that you just built. this will give you a lot of time to get some actual snake keeping experience as well as getting the smell out of the big enclosure and adjusting your temperature and humidity levels to where you are going to need them before the switch.

[Chu'Wuti]

4 ft long 3ft high and 4 foot wide

Wow. That must take up a lot of floor space.

Julian's suggestion to do some research into the snakes that interest you is a really good one, Phil. You need to figure out two things--which ones seem most interesting/attractive to you, and which one can YOU take care of best?

The latter question brings up the most important concern. If you get a very sensitive snake with requirements that go beyond your financial means and your abilities, you will likely lose it. So you'll want to think through the habitat and maintenance issues very carefully before you get the snake.

A baby python can easily be kept in a 20-22 gallon tank for several months while a larger habitat is prepared. That way, as Julian said, you can be sure that the big enclosure is outgassed adequately and you can get its environment adjusted to meet the snake's needs.

[phil_7870]

my main question is about the ball at the pet store as there are no breeders around or is there any shows pet store are my only option .

[Chu'Wuti]

but a bit triangluar .then i noticed it had a white subtance around one of its nose hole .i thought ri but it looked like might be a stuck shed .also i seen ther was afew scale missing on either side should i stay away from th animal .

my main question is about the ball at the pet store

OK, then. First--do you mean the BP's body looked triangular? or its head? If the head, that's normal. If the body--a triangular shaped body with the spine the apex? Sounds underweight--like it may not have been fed well enough or may not be eating. I'd ask 1) what and how often it has been eating, and 2) to see it eat.

Second--the white substance around the nostril. It could be stuck shed or it could be evidence of a respiratory infection. Does it seem to be breathing normally? Does it appear to have any mucous coming out of its mouth? Look at the white material more closely & try to identify it. In my personal experience, stuck shed is more grayish than white.

Third--scales missing on the side? Evidence of a wound? This could be due to rough handling during shipping & could disappear with the next shed.

How does this snake behave when you hold it? Does its body feel firm and muscular? Is its spine unkinked? (Yes, of course it will be curved where the snake is curled around but it should be smoothly curved, not kinked in places.)

Regarding shows, google online for shows or contact a herp society near you. They will usually have info about upcoming shows; they may know of some reputable breeders. As I've been told by some of the folks here, joining the local herp society is a smart move for all kinds of info.

Good luck!

[johnrandle]

i would stay away from that snake completly.
i keep them in bins with a hot end of 90 degrees(thermostat)
i will post pics tonight when im back from work
i have a female ball for sale for 100 bucks --where are you located?