Snake Playpen?

I was just wondering, has anybody here made a "playpen" for their snakes to safely roam? I used to keep guinea pigs (3 at one time), and set up a dog playpen for their free time... I'd stretch it out as big as possible in the bedroom, and they'd go NUTS popcorning and running around together. :D

I don't think one of those would work for snakes, since they have holes big enough to slip through - and most are low enough for them to climb. But I do feel bad never letting my snakes wander freely (too many places to hide/escape in my current apt), so thought I'd see if anyone has ideas. If not a playpen, how do you all let them get safe floor time? :confused:

I've wondered this too since there are too many places my baby can escape.

Try finding one room, and clear out most of the furniture an block all escape routes, this should help.

By the way, what species of snake is in your display picture?

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Originally Posted by Sadistic Serpent

I've wondered this too sicne there are too many places my baby can escape.

Try finding one room, and clear out most of the furniture an block all escape routes, this should help.

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Problem is that I now live in a 2bdr apartment, with a roommate and 4 other mammals (dog & three cats)... so there literally isn't any room to clear! :cool: The living room could be partitioned off, but that would take too much effort to be worth doing.

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By th way, what species of snake is in your display picture?

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It's a common BCI (Boa Constrictor Imperitus), from the San Mateo Herp World Expo last month - owned by Brian Gundy of For Goodness Snakes, and she was a total sweetie. :gj: I always wanted a boa, until I saw how huge they can get!

Btw, this is like what I used for my guinea pigs, in case anyone's confused: http://www.petco.com/product/13904/M...sCratesKennels

It would be neat to use something like this outside, so the snakes could get fresh air & feel the grass... we have a shared courtyard (with about 10 other units), so I can't exactly let them wander freely.

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Problem is that I now live in a 2bdr apartment, with a roommate and 4 other mammals (dog & three cats)... so there literally isn't any room to clear! :cool: The living room could be partitioned off, but that would take too much effort to be worth doing.



It's a common BCI (Boa Constrictor Imperitus), from the San Mateo Herp World Expo last month - owned by Brian Gundy of For Goodness Snakes, and she was a total sweetie. :gj: I always wanted a boa, until I saw how huge they can get!

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Wow... Such a beautiful snake... I am having trouble getting a picture of my snake as my display picture :frustrated:. You could maybe make a sort of play gym? My snake has a little "jungle" full of cris cross sticks and plants he likes to play in and and play peek-a-boo ;)

* There he is, that is my beautiful baby! Well, he's three years old but in my heart he still is ;) He's a male ball python, but we don't know for sure yet :cool:

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Originally Posted by Sadistic Serpent

* There he is, that is my beautiful baby! Well, he's three years old but in my heart he still is ;) He's a male ball python, but we don't know for sure yet :cool:

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Pretty snake! "He" has beautiful light coloring, especially around the head... :)

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Pretty snake! "He" has beautiful light coloring, especially around the head... :)

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Haha thanks :D I am completely new to this place (I like it a lot though!), so I am trying to get more pictures of him posted. I love your snake's tail markings :P

I honestly don't really see the point. I let my snakes slither on the floor sometimes, supervised obviously. I don't think they would benefit in any way by having more then 10-15 minutes to roam around. Just take them out and have some supervised slithering.

Well, when I had mine, I always had a pretty big room with some floor space (generally my bedroom), so I just let them go and close the door. I would sit and watch them and just move stuff around to cover up any little places that might be a problem if they got into.. I also had an iron headboard / footboard with kind of a weird design that my boa used to like to climb around on, so I would sit him on the bed and watch him go..

And now, with my Beardie, I do the same basically. I just close the door, put her on the floor and let her run around. Although, I always make sure my room is clean before I do this so there's not much trouble. If she starts to do anything to mischevous, I go pick her up and move her somewhere else..

You know, most feed supply stores carry cage wire you can buy. They have some that is 1/2" wide by 2" long rectangles, and only the smallest babies could squeeze through that. It comes in 24" wide and 36" wide rolls. Most places will sell it to you by the foot, and it's fairly reasonable.

I bred birds for years, and believe me building my own cages was the way to go. You can also buy what they call "J" clips and spring loaded pliers for crimping them to the wire. You could easily cut the wire into panels, flatten them out a little, them crimp them loosely enough that you could fold it flat when not in use.

Gale

snakes dont really have a desire to roam and explore...they kinda just want to hide. so any exploration you may see, that looks like them having fun...is them looking for a hiding spot.

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Originally Posted by MiniJ83

snakes dont really have a desire to roam and explore...they kinda just want to hide. so any exploration you may see, that looks like them having fun...is them looking for a hiding spot.

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I should say, this is mostly for the benefit of my colubrids. ;) The BPs don't care much for exploring, although Vinnie & Orlando often seem anxious to come out... my hognose and younger corns, however, are more than happy to slither around my bed for 20-30 minutes nightly. They don't seem to be trying to hide either, since they'll pause and chill right in the middle (or on my lap). Different species have different behavior, I suppose.

Oh, and I'm also interested in getting better photos, especially outdoors - where I would need something to keep them safely contained. :oops:

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Originally Posted by Sadistic Serpent

Haha thanks :D I am completely new to this place (I like it a lot though!), so I am trying to get more pictures of him posted. I love your snake's tail markings :P

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Thanks... but which one of my snake's tail markings? ;)

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Originally Posted by Lolo76

Thanks... but which one of my snake's tail markings? ;)

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The one in your display picture... Can't see it well though. On my snake's tail, there is a mini snake. It is tan/beige, and you can sell the tail and head. Here it is:

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...mageuser=16501

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...mageuser=16501

It's all the way at the end ;)

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Originally Posted by MiniJ83

snakes dont really have a desire to roam and explore...they kinda just want to hide. so any exploration you may see, that looks like them having fun...is them looking for a hiding spot.

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you have clearly not met my snakes...lol. They LOVE to roam and slither about.

Here we actually but down a couple of comforters and then put down towels on top of that. Then my hubby and I and usually the son get on all sides and let them go for it. It is usually a pretty big space. Once they do their business....then they get to go off everything and wander with supervision. Henry heads for the book shelf....Samantha heads for the stairs (she goes up and down them):rolleyes: Elizabeth and Alexandra want to crawl on us. Isabella...just wants to get the heck outta dodge. :rolleyes:

This is the best I could come up with...:confuzd:

http://www.amazon.com/Joovy-Room2-Po...ef=pd_sbs_ba_3

Don't want to hijack this thread but I couldn't help think what Gary Larson (the Far Side cartoons) would have done with the theme of snakes and a playpen! I think maybe he did actually , I'll have to check.