Arboreal species for a 4x2x2 enclosure

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Isn't that going to out-grow the enclosure size? (the OP specified 4'x2'x2')

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You can always go bigger but I think a 4x2x2 is the perfect size for most carpets.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

You can always go bigger but I think a 4x2x2 is the perfect size for most carpets.

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Okay, I was just asking- from the way you described carpets-:confusd: I have no experience with them but thought they might need more space, as adults anyway.

I feel KMG and Zig are spot on here.

The most handleable, larger sized animals that fit that cage size are carpets IMO. I'd also say any of the island boa constrictors will fit the bill. Probably a male, but you'll likely get more length with a carpet.

My locality Colombian boa is very arboreal and active, but I'd say he's a bit too large in some ways for the cage size you are looking at.

I had a male SD X Dwarf X mainland retic (not recommended) that was extremely arboreal however he was in a 6' X 2' X 30" cage and was pushing 9 feet. All around he was too ill tempered to manage here.

The most arboreal snake I have here is a male, Bredli python.

I have a female Brisbane coastal in the exact cage size the OP is looking at and she is very arboreal as well. Almost every carpet species is highly arboreal.


Bredli in the 4' X 2' X 2'

https://i.imgur.com/1evF3Jo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ubTiCPA.jpg
He's moved into a 4' X 30" X 20". It has less height but it is deeper. I tend to rotate the adults in and out of the larger cages.


Currently the new Brisbane coastal is in the 4x2x2,

https://i.imgur.com/4nf2r4r.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ExAVYJH.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/eAP3Jxg.jpg


I'm not sure if I will run into any caging issues down the road. Both the Bredli and the Brissy have the potential to get larger. The Bredli is heavy and still growing. The Brissy is very young and may get very long.

My boa is 6+ feet and I don't see him ever going into the 4x2x2. He's too dense and is pretty hard on caging items.

The carpets are more graceful and even at a greater length they tend to be easier to keep in smaller cages. They could eventually weigh the same as the boa but I find it unlikely. My previous carpet that passed was in a 4x2x2 for years and she was over 8 feet. I think she actually preferred the 4x2x2 over the bigger cages.

You can't go wrong with a carpet. They typically handle and interact well, are quite hardy and display well.

Southern coastals and the Bredli are normally the largest species.

Jungles are great, northern coastals are usually smaller and there are many more choices.

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Originally Posted by tropiclikeitshot

If you go with Bredli I highly recommend a male for this size enclosure. Females can get quite large, I house my females in 8'x2'x2'. Both my male and female are very docile and an absolute joy to work with :)

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I agree with the possibility of a larger cage with Bredli carpets. In general they tend to be more dense than other carpets.

What many may not know, and I have had more than a few discussions with Nick Mutton on this subject, is that male Bredli and male coastal carpets can and do attain greater sizes than females in the wild.

The pre-mating, combat rituals influence this.

In captivity, you may or may not see sexual dimorphism. Males and females often attain the same size if both are kept as pets.

Nick explained that most breeders intentionally keep their males smaller as it doesn't pay off to have large males adding to the feeding bill. Breeding females in captivity tend to be fed more.

This is a somewhat off topic subject with a point. You can get either sex and wind up with a large or small specimen.

Have a look at the male Bredli here at the 12:14 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzOJZyhI6gE&t=859s

I'm probably going to need another cage if this happens with my fella, however I think this is an exception.

@ Gio- Your enclosures, and animals, are AMAZING brother!! I’m gonna have to fly you and JMCrook in to help decorate when I get my new cages in. :D

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

@ Gio- Your enclosures, and animals, are AMAZING brother!! I’m gonna have to fly you and JMCrook in to help decorate when I get my new cages in. :D

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I’m down with that sir!!
You have one beautiful collection yourself 👍😎

Oooo, did I miss something? Are you getting new cages Ziggy?

I largely agree with what the others have said so far. A 4'x2'x2' should be minimally sufficient for all but the larger Morelia (ie. the larger coastals, bredli, and diamonds). Something along the lines of a Papuan, inland, or male jungle, coastal, or Darwin would probably find a cage that size comfortable. A smaller female of the later three would be fine as well. It could potentially work for a male bredli as well if you watch how much you feed them, but there's still a good chance they'd outgrow it over the years. An island locality boa would also be an excellent choice if you'd like something a little different -- most of the island boas are more arboreal, so they'd probably appreciate any perching offered and make good display boas.

There's definitely nothing wrong with building bigger cages for the above snakes, either. My personal long term goal is to build 6' display cages for all of my snakes even though they don't strictly need cages that large. They've always used every extra inch of cage space I've given them, and it's nice seeing snakes stretched out, active, and comfortable. If you kit a big cage out properly, most snakes will greatly appreciate the extra space.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gio

I agree with the possibility of a larger cage with Bredli carpets. In general they tend to be more dense than other carpets.

What many may not know, and I have had more than a few discussions with Nick Mutton on this subject, is that male Bredli and male coastal carpets can and do attain greater sizes than females in the wild.

The pre-mating, combat rituals influence this.

In captivity, you may or may not see sexual dimorphism. Males and females often attain the same size if both are kept as pets.

Nick explained that most breeders intentionally keep their males smaller as it doesn't pay off to have large males adding to the feeding bill. Breeding females in captivity tend to be fed more.

This is a somewhat off topic subject with a point. You can get either sex and wind up with a large or small specimen.

Have a look at the male Bredli here at the 12:14 mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzOJZyhI6gE&t=859s

I'm probably going to need another cage if this happens with my fella, however I think this is an exception.

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Excellent point, both my male and female are the same length the difference between my pair is in the weight. Both are 8' but female is 16.6 lbs and male is just over 6lbs. I wouldn't be surprised if some males get much larger than this!

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Originally Posted by WrongPython

Oooo, did I miss something? Are you getting new cages Ziggy?

I largely agree with what the others have said so far. A 4'x2'x2' should be minimally sufficient for all but the larger Morelia (ie. the larger coastals, bredli, and diamonds). Something along the lines of a Papuan, inland, or male jungle, coastal, or Darwin would probably find a cage that size comfortable. A smaller female of the later three would be fine as well. It could potentially work for a male bredli as well if you watch how much you feed them, but there's still a good chance they'd outgrow it over the years. An island locality boa would also be an excellent choice if you'd like something a little different -- most of the island boas are more arboreal, so they'd probably appreciate any perching offered and make good display boas.

There's definitely nothing wrong with building bigger cages for the above snakes, either. My personal long term goal is to build 6' display cages for all of my snakes even though they don't strictly need cages that large. They've always used every extra inch of cage space I've given them, and it's nice seeing snakes stretched out, active, and comfortable. If you kit a big cage out properly, most snakes will greatly appreciate the extra space.

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It appears most of us are on the same page.

I would urge anybody who is going with a pure diamond python, to go with a larger cage.

Diamonds do need very different temperature zones in their cages.

If I kept the species I would want a 6 foot cage with 30-36" of depth prior to the animal's maturity and I would entertain an 8 footer. For most boas and carpets, cages 2 feet tall are my minimum.

After doing this for a while you figure things out. If I could do it all over, I'd have cages 3 feet tall and have every one of them, sans the royal's cage be a 6 footer with 30-36" of depth.


The OP should have some great ideas here for the right animal.

Island boas and carpets are easy to come by and fit into what is being asked for.

I will say I'm experiencing my first challenge with the new Brissy girl here.

My first coastal mix was such a sweet girl. The Brissy is a twitch box that will bite repeatedly. The Bredli had moments but he's a pretty good chap now.


Here are some pictures of the late Jewel. 8+ feet and she seemed most comfortable in her 4x2x2 cage.

If you want size, and something that handles well this fits the bill. She was probably 2 feet longer than my boa but weighed a bit less from what it felt like.

https://i.imgur.com/zxK5W1O.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wFUvNXd.jpg


I miss this girl.
https://i.imgur.com/ntwtp7N.jpg


This is my boa. He's quite arboreal and handles like a dream.
https://i.imgur.com/jw6DTJI.jpg

He's in a 6 foot cage now but he's perfectly happy in a 4' x 30" x (20" tall) cage.
I may move him back into that if either carpet grows excessively and it would have to be larger than the last coastal.

The boa just can't do the 4x2x2 as well as a carpet can.