Glass cages + plants

I really like the look of the Visionarium, but it's too small, and I wondered if there are any like it. Exo Terra ones look rather cheap to me, and black isn't my colour. I would like sliding doors (with a lock) rather than swinging ones, and a tall tank for plants. On that note, what are the best plants for growing in a royal python enclosure? What are the best methods for growing them in there? I imagine inserting them into the tank in pots would be best for when you need to remove them to change substrate.

Because BP are heavy bodied, most plant that you will put in your enclosure will be crushed.

Also remember height is not as important as floor space when it comes to BP which is why exo terra and alike cage are not suitable for them.

While BP can climb, they are not arboreal, they are ground dwellers and they are clumsy.

I wanted a couple small clumps of grass or leafy umbrella-shaped plants for it to get under or behind. Nothing flimsy that they'll try to climb on.

Would anyone else like to chime in? I got pushed off the first page without much ado.

I think the issue is that even at 140gr, my chunky butted girl would squish any plant I tried to grow. Could you imagine what a 1000gr bp would be able to accomplish with a slow leisurely trip across a tank? Real plants simply are not realistic with such a heavy bodied snake. Perhaps with a skinny, quicker moving snake like a corn?

I'm sure some do it... I just can't see it working out very well.

I have never thought of live plants, it seems it would making cleaning and disinfecting more difficult. Since balls seem to spend more time hiding than out and about, I have found it easier for me to keep the setup simple.

http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/...ps72d2e0c0.jpg

Ooooh, what is that you have your enclosure lined with? I like that!!!

I have some plastic plants in my display tanks, and I got an exo terra natural terrarium thats 36x18x12 for about $135 from petsmart. below is a pic from petsmarts website.
http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/produ...87t300x300.jpg


Missina

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Originally Posted by MsMissy

Ooooh, what is that you have your enclosure lined with? I like that!!!

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It's corrugated wrap.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

It's corrugated wrap.

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Thanks Aaron, always so helpful!!! It looks really clean... Until its dirty? I assume it's a throw away liner as apposed to one that is cleaned and reused?

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Originally Posted by MsMissy

Thanks Aaron, always so helpful!!! It looks really clean... Until its dirty? I assume it's a throw away liner as apposed to one that is cleaned and reused?

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I bought a pretty big roll, once they go bio, I just remove and cut another piece.

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Originally Posted by MsMissy

Thanks Aaron, always so helpful!!! It looks really clean... Until its dirty? I assume it's a throw away liner as apposed to one that is cleaned and reused?

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Yes, it is used the same way paper towels/newspaper would be.

Corrugated wrap is basically a sheet of cardboard cut in half, it comes in big rolls and you cut it to the size you need.

http://www.papermart.com/Product%20P...x?GroupID=4608

You can even get it in colors if you want:

http://www.papermart.com/Product%20P...ID=27975#27975

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Originally Posted by Qoph

I wanted a couple small clumps of grass or leafy umbrella-shaped plants for it to get under or behind. Nothing flimsy that they'll try to climb on.

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I can't speak for your snakes, but I don't bother with that stuff for mine, because I have seen every single one of mine climb. Little Dude used to wake me up at night going "thump" as he fell off his stick. Every. Single. Freaking. Night. (A major factor in him getting his own bedroom).

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Originally Posted by MsMissy

I think the issue is that even at 140gr, my chunky butted girl would squish any plant I tried to grow.

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Maybe I will only stick to grasses, but I'm not sure what type would grow well in that environment, but not out of control, if any.

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Originally Posted by martin82531

Since balls seem to spend more time hiding than out and about, I have found it easier for me to keep the setup simple.

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Mmm, yes but I'm very likely only going to have one (if at all) for a long while, and I would want the tank to look nice and natural for viewing. If it turns out to be too much work, I could simplify it. By the way, where did you find that gauge, and is it accurate? Because I hate those plastic ones.

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Originally Posted by Missina

I have some plastic plants in my display tanks, and I got an exo terra natural terrarium thats 36x18x12 for about $135 from petsmart.

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I like the overall design of that one, but just don't like the apparent build quality. While I'm sure it's fully functional, I've seen up-close shots of it and it just seems too plasticy to me.

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Originally Posted by Badgemash

Little Dude used to wake me up at night going "thump" as he fell off his stick. Every. Single. Freaking. Night. (A major factor in him getting his own bedroom).

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That's awesome, as long as he isn't hurting himself. I'm a very deep sleeper, though.

http://amzn.com/B0007VWEQA

Calibrated it with this video, I do this every six months or so.

http://youtu.be/d7Ap96SlGZA

For my thermometers I use these. I bought 10 and then just picked out the ones that were the gave the same temp reading when they are placed side by side.

http://bit.ly/12mUQCt

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Originally Posted by Qoph

That's awesome, as long as he isn't hurting himself. I'm a very deep sleeper, though.

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I'm a super light sleeper, and he's never hurt himself, I think he enjoys it actually. :rolleyes:

I have a few terrariums lines with live plants. if you are going to play around with them go for tropical ones that can handle the higher temperatures. Like baby elephant ears and types of ferns. Its going to be humid so the plant needs to thrive with that as well. HOnestly, the small three to five dollar plants at like lowes or home depot work out pretty well and they are sturdy. I place them along the corners and edges in my terrarium so Indie doesn't just crush them all, but overall he likes to knock some things around. It happens. If you plant them on the insides you will need a thicker layer of substrate to actually plant the plant in, so UTH doesn't work well with this. you will have to kinda rely on lamps.

A great resource for your perusal: The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe De Vosjoli
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Snakes...keeping+snakes
It goes over bioactive substrates and live planting for terrariums for all sorts of snakes.

I know most people will advise that a BP will just crush most plants you give them, but I have read threads on this forum of live planted tanks that have had success. It is one of those things where it will only benefit you to do lots of research before going through with the idea. Also, the book mentions it may be a good idea to have your tank planted for 3-6 months before introducing the snake. This gives the plants plenty of time to set up a decent root system, as well as giving you time to monitor the conditions and make sure the tank is adequate for the reptile you are keeping.

I have plans for a live planted tank in the future, but have yet to pull the trigger on this endeavour.

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Originally Posted by martin82531

http://amzn.com/B0007VWEQA

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Your link actually got me looking at more and more fancy models, and I really like the nautical porthole kind now (~$50), as long as it's not too big for a tank. I'm a little crazy, I know.

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Originally Posted by CaitJaye

If you are going to play around with them, go for tropical ones like baby elephant ears and types of ferns. If you plant them on the insides you will need a thicker layer of substrate to actually plant the plant in, so UTH doesn't work well with this. You will have to kinda rely on lamps.

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I like ferns, so that can work. When it comes to keeping the heat in at night, because of the tank size, would you need to go with a ceramic heater or would one be able to incorporate a shelter much like their natural termite mounds which would keep them warm at night? I know one reason that works in the wild is because of the size of the mounds, so I'm not optimistic about replicating that in limited space.

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Originally Posted by Kensa

A great resource for your perusal: The Art of Keeping Snakes by Philippe De Vosjoli
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Snakes...keeping+snakes
It goes over bioactive substrates and live planting for terrariums for all sorts of snakes.

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Great, that's one of the things I was worried about: the soil needing to be replaced with all the plants in it. I was wondering if there was a way for it to keep itself maintained in a tank. Because I just recently watched some things on an aquarium doing just that. The person running the tank claimed to never vacuum his substrate.