Too Big?

**Minkness** · 03-09-16, 06:32 PM

Sooooo....I have been looking at other enclosures and how to properly make a wall of enclosures. I was orriginally going to build 2 5x2x2 enclosures for my future boas. However, I have looked at alot of others and it seems most 'boa' enclosures are either 4 foot long or 6 foot long. Now, the boa I am getting is a male super hypo possible jungle and will be about 3.5 feet when he arives with an expected growth 'expectation' of about 5.5 feet. Both parents were small with dad at 5 feet and mom at 6.5.

Well, this got me to thinking that if I did a 6x2x2 for him, Incpuld stack 4 3x2x1 enclosures on top of it and then another 6x2x2 on top of them for a 6x6 wall that wpuld house 2 boas and 4 BPs.

My concern is this however.....for such a 'small' boa, would 6x2x2 be too much? The 2nd boa I am wanting is a high % hog island female super hypo aka 'sunset' with parents at 4 and 5 feet (I think, but not 100% on this).

I do want these animals on display. But I also am planning for a fairly large collection (as if that wasnt obvious). So in reality, what would work best for the snake, me, and my usable space?

Also, the wall all my critters will be going on is about 12 feet long. So, if I do a 6 foot enclosure, I will be using the other 6 feet of wall space for other snake/lizard enclosures, as well as some tubs for keeping/breeding feeder insects.

jpsteele80 · 03-09-16, 07:32 PM

6x2x2 will be fine, Just put a few more hide's in there

**EL Ziggy** · 03-09-16, 07:47 PM

There's no such thing as too much space IMO but I think it's a little overkill for a 5-6 ft snake, I'd probably use 4x2s, but I like the configuration.

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-09-16, 08:26 PM

The 6' won't be too big for it, but it will be up to you to provide adequate cover, which is going to be fairly considerable for a 3.5' boa. But, it should work as a forever home and shouldn't need anything bigger.

4'x2's are common for boas, but I feel it's the minimum for a 6' boa, so there's no harm in going up a size.

trailblazer295 · 03-09-16, 08:54 PM

I haven't personally seen a 6ft boa in a 4x2 cage. To see how well it fits.. My guy should end up there in a few years. When that time comes then i might feel the desire to put him in something bigger. If you're building them anyway I'd say go with the old saying 'go big or go home' lol

toddnbecka · 03-10-16, 12:58 AM

I keep my adult Dominicans in 55, 75-90 gallon aquariums and 4x2 enclosures, will eventually have them all in the 4x2's. The largest female is in a 4x2, and she's a good 6' now. Still has plenty of room to move around. I'd want to keep an 8' boa in a 6x2 enclosure, but I don't see that as necessary for a 6' snake.

dannybgoode · 03-10-16, 01:03 AM

I'd happily go to 6' for a smaller boa. Not entirely necessary but more room = more space for hidey holes, branches and assorted other stuff.

Only practical issue is 6*2*2 is a LOT more volume of air to warm up so heating requirements are going to be substantial over that for a 4*2*2.

I say go for it though...

sirtalis · 03-10-16, 10:26 AM

I'm still trying to figure out where people get the minimum/maximum sizes for reptile enclosure

**Minkness** · 03-10-16, 10:30 AM

That is a very good question!

Also, for heat, I will have an appropriate sized RHP for the large enclosures, and with so many in a small space, the room it's self is 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house lol. My room now feels like a sauna and I justhave standard UTHs! Granted, I have....14..... yeah....o.o

chairman · 03-10-16, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirtalis

I'm still trying to figure out where people get the minimum/maximum sizes for reptile enclosure

I think that bigsnakegirl recently posted a breakdown, but it goes something like this:

Low activity species, enclosure circumference = maximum length attainable by species.
Mid activity, enclosure length + width = maximum length attainable by species.
High activity, enclosure length = maximum length attainable by species.

Snake girth plays a role too. Cornsnakes and blood pythons reach about the same length but while a corn has plenty of room in a 4x2, a blood would probably be happier in a 4x3.

In the end, the "rule" is frowned upon due to how different keepers view species' activity, natural habitats, and just what plain works.

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-10-16, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirtalis

I'm still trying to figure out where people get the minimum/maximum sizes for reptile enclosure

As a very general rule, I use Length+Width. So a 4'x2' would work for a snake up to 6'. But as chairman mentioned, it gets a little more complicated depending on species and age/size of the snake. I go way beyond the Length+Width rule with babies under 3', and I just go for a mid-sized tub with decent height, or the biggest clear tub I can find, whichever.

For more active species like corn snakes or garters, I would personally use Length of cage = snake's length. This goes for older subadult snakes that have gotten some size to them, I wouldn't do this for a hatchling.

For less active species like boa constrictors or ball pythons: Length+Width. Again, for snakes with some size on them.

For subadults or adults over 3' (or 4' if they're a thin-bodied snake), I use a minimum of 18" of height, 24" prefereable for semi-arboreal snakes, and I'd probably go something like 3' of height for more arboreal species.

Etc etc, changing length, width, and height as necessary. But the bare-bones minimum rule I use is Length+Width. Nobody else has to follow it, but it's what I use and what I recommend to others.

MM1 · 03-10-16, 08:18 PM

My Haitian(or Dominican/Hispaniolan) Boa is about 6 feet and change and lives in a 5L X 2.5D X 2H with 2 hides, a big water bowl, and a bunch of fake plants and climbing opportunities to give more cover/nooks and crannies to poke around through. It seems like plenty of space but he uses all of it.