Enclosure for a BCC

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 07:02 AM

My brother is giving me a female Guyana red tail and from what I've read and seen they can get pretty big. I've already decided to get the Animal Plastics T8 for my BP but I need something for this new girl. I'm thinking that a boaphile 421D would work but if she were to get 10'+ I don't know if she would fit so well.. Any recommendations?

Note, I'm only going to be keeping two snakes for at least a few years so I can do more research and learn without getting ahead of myself so I want the cage for the boa to be more for display so I'm not interested in going for tubs.

KORBIN5895 · 12-26-12, 07:08 AM

I personally would do a lot of research on boaphile. If you want a link to give you a head start pm me and I'll send you a starting point.

Jay · 12-26-12, 07:13 AM

A 10 gallon should work.

On a serious note, custom built! Saves you money, and they look nicer.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

I personally would do a lot of research on boaphile. If you want a link to give you a head start pm me and I'll send you a starting point.

I just read that ABS and PVC can start absorbing bio-fluids which can leave stains and smell. I know neodesha and vision use ABS while boaphile uses PVC but I'm not sure on animal plastics. I was thinking boaphile because it's so highly recommended on another forum focused around BCC/BCI and I've heard the craftsmanship is amazing with them. But reading about the cages absorbing bio-fluids is leading me towards proline which uses HPDE marine grade stuff.

These are currently my options I've found in my price range:
Constrictors Northwest
PL 48x24x12 Single window cage. $230 shipped!

Boaphile 421D
Plastic Reptile Cages, Tanks and Racks. Snake, arboreal, lizard and turtle light weight custom flexwatt heated enclosures.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

A 10 gallon should work.

On a serious note, custom built! Saves you money, and they look nicer.

My brother has the tools for this, but the only wood I would trust with my snakes is redwood. I've heard bad things about melamine and other woods giving off formaldehyde but I do not know if this is true.

Edit: just found this link, Healthy Building Network: Formaldehyde and Wood

Jay · 12-26-12, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

My brother has the tools for this, but the only wood I would trust with my snakes is redwood. I've heard bad things about melamine and other woods with reptiles giving off formaldehyde but I do not know if this is true.

Edit: just found this link, Healthy Building Network: Formaldehyde and Wood

Interesting, I've used spruce with no ill effects.

On a side note, I'm sure you brother knows this. Feed your Rtb smaller meals evey 10-14 days and bump the basking spot a few degreese.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

Interesting, I've used spruce with no ill effects.

On a side note, I'm sure you brother knows this. Feed your Rtb smaller meals evey 10-14 days and bump the basking spot a few degreese.

It's a 2012 Female, I'm only getting a large cage for lifetime use. Should it still be fed only every 10-14 days?

I'll look more into woods and check out the price differences. If I can make the same size cage by hand for under $100 I'm doing it. And another reason I said redwood is because it's highly resistant to mold and rot.

Jay · 12-26-12, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

It's a 2012 Female, I'm only getting a large cage for lifetime use. Should it still be fed only every 10-14 days?

I'll look more into woods and check out the price differences. If I can make the same size cage by hand for under $100 I'm doing it. And another reason I said redwood is because it's highly resistant to mold and rot.

I miss read, it's early, I thought you recieved a big female. So a meal smaller than your boas girth once a week will be plenty.

KORBIN5895 · 12-26-12, 07:53 AM

The reason boaphile is so highly recommended at that site is probably because jeff posts there often. I will run that link down for you later today.

As for a custom build I used oak and birch ply wood for the box and the used pine to trim it out. It is a double enclosure measuring 4'x4'x2' in total dims.

Feed you boa every 5-7 days.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

The reason boaphile is so highly recommended at that site is probably because jeff posts there often. I will run that link down for you later today.

As for a custom build I used oak and birch ply wood for the box and the used pine to trim it out. It is a double enclosure measuring 4'x4'x2' in total dims.

Feed you boa every 5-7 days.

That would make sense, I'm thinking proline might be the longest lasting but I can't find many reviews. How much did it cost to build yours?

SnakeyJay · 12-26-12, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

Feed you boa every 5-7 days.

No disrespect meant korbin, but shouldn't he stretch it a little longer with a bcc due to a slower motabolism? At least that's what I've learnt so far.

Corey209 · 12-26-12, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

No disrespect meant korbin, but shouldn't he stretch it a little longer with a bcc due to a slower motabolism? At least that's what I've learnt so far.

When I had my amazon I know I was told to feed less often because it didn't digest it's food very fast. So this might be the same case with boa constrictors.

SnakeyJay · 12-26-12, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

When I had my amazon I know I was told to feed less often because it didn't digest it's food very fast. So this might be the same case with boa constrictors.

I've never dealt with or looked into atb's so I wouldn't know mate... But it's known that generally a bcc takes smaller prey and takes longer to digest usually compared to their bci counterparts.

I was just pointing it out for clarification from korbin or Jay.

Jay · 12-26-12, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay

I've never dealt with or looked into atb's so I wouldn't know mate... But it's known that generally a bcc takes smaller prey and takes longer to digest usually compared to their bci counterparts.

I was just pointing it out for clarification from korbin or Jay.

Yes, although every 7 days for a 12' should be adequate if the prey item is kept small, and the basking temp is bumped.

Jay · 12-26-12, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

When I had my amazon I know I was told to feed less often because it didn't digest it's food very fast. So this might be the same case with boa constrictors.

Not all boa constrictors.