Melissa, I think there are some unintended generalities in your post. I think that real practitioners of herpetoculture probably maintain their naturalistic enclosures far better than any member of Clan Tupperware. Bioactive substrate is really fairly easy to get going and provides innumerable benefits beyond being almost self cleaning.Originally Posted by Marissa@MKmorphs
I will chime in with some advice that seems to be the opposite of what everyone else is recommending!
I'm not an advocate of "natural" looking enclosures. More stuff in the enclosure means more stuff to sanitize. Typically naturalistic enclosures don't get cleaned as often or as thoroughly has they should, either.
My yearling Antaresia are currently in V-18 tubs, with small hide, paper towel tube, and water bowl. Even my "big" 300 gram female children's is not even in a 28qt/sub adult tub yet. I would also advise finding tubs with a tighter seal. Your little noodle is tiny and will very easily make his way out of that tub once he figures out how to reach the top.
Just my, everyone will have their own opinon of what works best for them. I have found that my guys do very well in their current set ups, never refuse meal, and are never defensive, even at 15-30 grams in weight.
Additionally, while cleaning is more involved, it is certainly easily achieved with practice and dedication to the goal...the goal being replicating the environment as close as possible for the benefit of the animal. Sacrificing a bit of time and care to provide a detailed set up is extremely rewarding...and the process of researching it tends to make us better keepers.
Which is in stark contrast to providing an environment that caters to the keeper.
Tubs and racks are wonderful inventions and I'd be a hyprocrite if I told you I do not use them (although I've almost completely phased them out). Finding new and easy ways to simplify husbandry for the benefit of the keeper is not inherently wrong...but let's not delude ourselves that what is good for the keeper is always good for the kept.
I'd like to encourage new keepers to not only research the natural history of their animals, but to also provide an environment that allows the snake to do what it was programmed to do. While such environments may take more effort and care to maintain and set up, the rewards of actually being able to watch your animals display it's full complement of behaviors is worth the payoff.
Antaeresia are not ball pythons. They thrive in environments that allow them space to move and climb. They are prone to lifestyle diseases if fed the "appropriate sized meal every 7 to 10 days" diet and not allowed to move.
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