Determining Cage Size

[mebigbadbrat]

Hi everyone,

I figured I may as well keep all my T10 cages even though it will be more expensive in the long run to have more snakes. I just can't do a rack. It gets way too cold and even a small heater won't help much.

My current question is how much floor space do you give your snakes? I have three T10 cages. Waiting on my divider to get here for one cage.

I currently have two 80 watt RHPs and two 40 watt RHPs. I have three ball pythons and a baby boa. Eventually I want to get a pied female, a ghost female and spider albino female, along with getting my spider breeder back. Thoughts on how I should go about set up? I will most likely have to get another cage which is okay with me. I just want to make sure everyone is getting enough room.

Nichole

[BFT12890]

I have 2 t8s (4x2x1) I personally would not want to go any smaller, but im sure others will say you can go less (if I remember correctly a 41qt is 36x18x6).

Im with you on not wanting a rack, the function of them is nice if your a breeder, but in my opinion tubs are to small for the snakes

Also for my t8s I have two 40 watt RHP's (1 per t8) on a herpstat 2 and I have had no issues, I LOVE the setup.

[mebigbadbrat]

Exactly!

I have thought about a rack but space for the snake is limited and I want to be able to see them along with my room just gets too cold.

Here is my concern:
My biggest girl is roughly 2000 grams. Do I give her the whole cage or half or 3/4 or?
My next guy is 350-400 grams (albino).
My other BP is about 120 grams (mojave).
Then my boa is even smaller at 90 grams.
The spider that I am suppose to get back is roughly 1200 grams.
I do want at least a pied 100% positive on that along with maybe another boa (albino). I would love to breed some day but right now, I am still in college and want that to be my main goal.

So, I am stuck on what or how to divide the cages up.

[BFT12890]

Exactly!

I have thought about a rack but space for the snake is limited and I want to be able to see them along with my room just gets too cold.

Here is my concern:
My biggest girl is roughly 2000 grams. Do I give her the whole cage or half or 3/4 or? deff full t8/10

My next guy is 350-400 grams (albino). this guy

My other BP is about 120 grams (mojave). ^and this guy, these two could be in a divided t10 for probably another year or two

Then my boa is even smaller at 90 grams. could go in another split t8/10

The spider that I am suppose to get back is roughly 1200 grams. full t8/10

I do want at least a pied 100% positive on that along with maybe another boa (albino). I would love to breed some day but right now, I am still in college and want that to be my main goal.

So, I am stuck on what or how to divide the cages up.

I think you should do one snake per cage, while they are smaller you could get away with dividing the tank (which would mean they would be in a 24x24x15 cage)but I wouldn't wait to start shopping for new tanks, AP has t8s on sale for $150 right now, so I woud suggest picking up several of them. My ball is about 800 grams and she is in a undivided t8 and I wouldn't feel right having her in anything less (she was in a 30 gallon long and she stretches about 3/4 of the length of the t8)

I also have my corn (who is about 24ish inches and 50 grams) in a full t8 and he seems to love burrowing around and all (he came out of a 10g)

that's just my two cents, I know a lot of people say balls do better in tight small cages, I personally think that by giving them an extra 12" on length, and 12" on depth (comparing say a 41qt to a t8) is not going to cause the snake to go off feed and be stressed beyond measure, but it does give them extra wiggle room (I mean these snakes can potentially get to 6 feet, if not atleast 4.5 5 feet)

hope that's helps and is not confusing!

[mebigbadbrat]

Thanks. I am still wanting a rack so I can get more but like I said it would be too cold. Thanks for the input.

[BPGuy]

FWIW, I've got two adult BPs in a single T8 with a divider. Right now, I'm using a single piece of 11" heat tape (regulated by a Herpstat) down the center of the T8 to heat the T8, along with two fluorescent lights (one one each side), and temps in the T8 are great. I made the switch about a month ago and am so glad I did. If I could figure out somewhere in my house to fit a second T8, I would pick up a second one for the current sales price.

[Inarikins]

A divided T8 can hold two adult ball pythons comfortably, unless you have an extremely large female.

BPGuy, why not just stack them?

[mebigbadbrat]

I have three T10 stacked on top of a tv stand. Looks nice. All snake supplies are in the stand too so it helps. I was thinking of getting a fourth cage to set up once I have more money to get the future pied a spot and my coming back spider. I am not sure how I am going to do the 2000 gram female yet. I have thought about dividing her cage but I just can't decide at the moment. I would love another snake but she is my oldest and biggest so at the same time I kinda feel like she deserves the most room even though my boa will out grow her eventually. =)

Nichole

[BPGuy]

A divided T8 can hold two adult ball pythons comfortably, unless you have an extremely large female.

BPGuy, why not just stack them?

Easy: I can't stack them--not enough room. A picture (or two or three) is worth a thousand words:







This last one shows you the exact clearance I have. I am hoping to put a tub on top of the T8 to hold my super (maybe?) pastel that I picked up last week:



I'm not sure where else I could put a T8 other than, perhaps, in front of the fireplace (which we never use) on a stand. However, I don't think my wife would agree to that.

[mebigbadbrat]

Wow! That's tight fit. I will see if I can I can get some pictures of my set up after I clean them tonight. I just have them on a tv stand. Do you have any extra room for a tv stand?