T8 Setup

I've been considering a larger snake for a while, and I've decided on a blood python. It's not as large as I originally thought I'd be going, but still will end up larger than my royals. I'm planning on buying a T8 for it to grow into, I believe that should be large enough for it as an adult, and I'll be getting the pop in/pop out divider so I can move it into half the area as a juvenile. I'll start it out in a quarantine tub. I'm wondering what other options I should use though. Does anyone here have a blood in a T8? If so, what options do you have? Do you prefer the sliding doors or swing doors? What kind of heat do you use, and what other add-ons did you decided to go with? I know everyone has a different way of doing things, but this will be my first blood python and I want to get it right. Also will a T8 be sufficient for an adult? I've read to give an adult between 6 to 12 feet of floor space and a T8 has 8 square feet.

I think a T-8 will work fine. Though many members here have said that the T-10 extra few inches in height makes cage cleaning easier.

I have a cage with swinging doors, another on order from AP, sliding glass doors, and another on order from AP again, and sliding plastic. For me, I'll never go plastic again.

On preference between Swinging and sliding, I'm about 55% swinging, 45% sliding. I like swinging a tad better because of much easier access for cleaning and changing water. You do need to learn a few tricks though with swinging doors when feeding an eager snake waiting at the door. At the end of the day, I can live with either one obviously since I have both and have ordered both as well.

As far as heat, I prefer an RHP plus belly heat for options for the snake. The cost addition of belly heat is minimal. If I could only have one, I prefer the RHP for flexibility of heating with swings in the room temp.

Sorry, I have no Blood Pythons........yet.

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This can be avoided by learning how to maneuver both doors while feeding over eager snakes.

Thanks for the information ^_^

I'm pretty darned sure I have the T-8. It's white and the single door folds down. I got it about 4 yrs ago. I'm thinking they don't make them like mine anymore as far as the door. It's 2x4 and perfect for my Bloods. I heat one end with a RHP. It's set on about 82 and 80% of the time both of my Bloods are on the cool ends of their cage. I like my fold down door. It makes for easy cleaning. I've got some old Neodesha cages that have the double sliding doors. These cages are harder to reach in and clean.

I have a Boaphile and a BoaMaster with drop down doors too. I prefer them over sliding doors as well. They offer great accessibility to the cages.

Unfortunately AP does not offer drop down doors ar this time. :(

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Boaphile with heavy latches that make it 200% escape proof.
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BoaMaster

I have T8s with the sliding glass doors. The sliding doors are super easy to lift out of the tracks and take out for cleaning. The cages themselves due to the size is tough to get into for cleaning in the back. I have a bad back, though.

I say T10's all the way. They are on sale right now also, $199.
The inside height of a T8 is 10"...also the doors are only 8" high which makes it hard to get a thick snake in/out I think and its small once you have to reach back 2' to try & clean ect....
The T10 is 15" H and that 3" makes a lot of thinks easier including viewing & larger doors.
As far a other accessories I got the LED light for $40. They grind a track into the PVC and inset a strip all the way across. You can choose Red/Blue or White.
I dont get Locks but they are $20.
Also I prefer Sliding doors. Makes feeding 100x's easier being able to only open it 2" to hold a dead rat with f
Forceps/Tweezers ...
Thats my 2 cents.

Awesome, great advice. It's helpful to hear from people who actually have experience with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

I say T10's all the way. They are on sale right now also, $199.
The inside height of a T8 is 10"...also the doors are only 8" high which makes it hard to get a thick snake in/out I think and its small once you have to reach back 2' to try & clean ect....
The T10 is 15" H and that 3" makes a lot of thinks easier including viewing & larger doors.
As far a other accessories I got the LED light for $40. They grind a track into the PVC and inset a strip all the way across. You can choose Red/Blue or White.
I dont get Locks but they are $20.
Also I prefer Sliding doors. Makes feeding 100x's easier being able to only open it 2" to hold a dead rat with f
Forceps/Tweezers ...
Thats my 2 cents.

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How do the sliding glass doors secure without a lock? Looking at the picture on AP's site, it looks like a push button, but I can't tell for sure.

That thing that looks like a push button is the LOCKS. If you dont get locks then there are no Holes for the locks just solid glass. The doors dont slide so easy that a snake can open them. If you were paranoid just drop a "Wooden Dowel" in the track like you would for a Home Sliding Glass door so it cant be pryed open.

Makes sense. I'm getting a lock either way though ^_^

There is an overlap of about 1" of the lip of the inside of the cage with the glass, making it even harder for a snake to open.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

The T10 is 15" H and that 3" makes a lot of thinks easier including viewing & larger doors.
As far a other accessories I got the LED light for $40. They grind a track into the PVC and inset a strip all the way across. You can choose Red/Blue or White.
I dont get Locks but they are $20.

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I agree with the 3". Our original set of AP's was 15" high and then we got the 12" as an addition. Hated it. I also hated how much stuff would end up inside the sliding door tracks-- we use aspen and it was a mess. This would not be an issue if you use newspaper of course.

With the LED lighting do you have any issues with the snakes tearing it down? We initially got the lights that were under cabinet strip lights with T8 tubes. The snakes tore those down within weeks. It was a total waste of money and then the cages were so dark we could not see our snakes and some wouldn't feed (I keep my reptiles in the basement). I liked the idea of the AP cages but it didn't work out well in the end and I sold them all and went back to glass cages. Would like to do PVC again but kept coming back to the issues with the lights.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

I agree with the 3". Our original set of AP's was 15" high and then we got the 12" as an addition. Hated it. I also hated how much stuff would end up inside the sliding door tracks-- we use aspen and it was a mess. This would not be an issue if you use newspaper of course.

With the LED lighting do you have any issues with the snakes tearing it down? We initially got the lights that were under cabinet strip lights with T8 tubes. The snakes tore those down within weeks. It was a total waste of money and then the cages were so dark we could not see our snakes and some wouldn't feed (I keep my reptiles in the basement). I liked the idea of the AP cages but it didn't work out well in the end and I sold them all and went back to glass cages. Would like to do PVC again but kept coming back to the issues with the lights.

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They grind "indent" a strip in the PVC for the LED's now just like the spot for Flexwatt and cords ect.. No problems.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

They grind "indent" a strip in the PVC for the LED's now just like the spot for Flexwatt and cords ect.. No problems.

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That sounds like a much better idea. Good to know!!