Glowbug nooooo

[Prahanien]

My yearling jungle carpet python, Glowbug, has been so awesome! He's calmed down nicely so far, eaten for me twice (tomorrow is food day #3), and is just generally an absolute joy. He makes full use of his enclosure, as I have plenty of things for him to climb and plenty of places to hide. He really likes sitting on top of the plants suction-cupped near the top and sleeping there, right up by the doors.

Over the past two days though, he's discovered he can get behind the 3D background of his enclosure. I'm not sure if he found a way on the top or bottom, but yesterday he was kind of stuck to what should be velcro (the force from the background pulling away from the back of the tank is too great, and it completely removes the velcro from the back of the tank and is thus useless as the adhesive just isnt strong enough). I helped him out, took the opportunity to clean his cage while I had everything disassembled, set it back up and put him back inside. He was fine the whole night.

Today, he did it again but this time I found him in a crevice in the 3D molding itself. He wasn't stuck this time, but I'm not comfortable with him being there as he doesnt have access to his heat pad or water, and he may not know how to get out. Again I took everything out, helped him out of there, put things back (more tightly this time to hopefully hold the background a little better), and put him back. I covered his tank up with a blanket too in case he was favoring the darkness, but when I checked later I didn't see him in the tank at all. I know he's back behind the background again but I don't want to have to keep taking it apart to move him. I'd also like to keep the background in there, as it's 3D and has ledges he likes to climb on (which helps him get to his higher sitting spots, I had this in mind since I knew he would be pretty small).

What can I do? I don't want to secure the background with silicon or anything because I need to be able to remove it for cleaning etc. There are TINY gaps at the top from where it won't sit in properly because the adhesive on the velcro can't hold it, but I don't think it's enough for him to fit. He might be using the bottom, which is why I used hides etc to push it back and close the gaps that may happen... but he finds his way somehow.

[Gio]

I'm not clear on what type of cage you are using so answering your question may be difficult.

This is my 3D ledge background. It was rather expensive, and I have it screwed into the back of the cage, and then sealed with clear silicon caulk at the bottom. The screws are all along the bottom, top, corners and sides. The actual product is very, tough rubber like a car tire.



It is a permanent part of the cage. The screws are covered with dark caulk and then sand is pressed into the caulking and it matches the background to a T when it dries.

I don't see anything with velcro or suction cups lasting very long with a yearling or more carpet python.

You may want to consider another unit, or possibly buy the long, ribbons of heavy duty velcro and try that first.

One thing about setting up display caging that seems to present an issue from time to time is the strength and size of the kept animal.

I have revamped and taken out decor that ends up being too small and light once the critters get larger.

[Prahanien]

Ah, I just have an exoterra. Sorry for not clarifying, whoops!

I did get long bits of velcro to try next just to see, hopefully that'll help. So far the suction cupped items havent posed any problem, he sits/naps right on top of them. He's just worming his way behind the background and I don't really like him doing that. If the velcro doesn't work, I'll have to explore a more permanent solution... which isn't the end of the world, I just had ease of cleaning in mind.

And yeah! I definitely have upgradable parts for him. His perch is a somewhat skinny piece of bamboo, but I have a larger PVC one to put in when he can no longer use the bamboo.

Very beautiful setup, by the way!

[Gio]

Ah, I just have an exoterra. Sorry for not clarifying, whoops!

I did get long bits of velcro to try next just to see, hopefully that'll help. So far the suction cupped items havent posed any problem, he sits/naps right on top of them. He's just worming his way behind the background and I don't really like him doing that. If the velcro doesn't work, I'll have to explore a more permanent solution... which isn't the end of the world, I just had ease of cleaning in mind.

And yeah! I definitely have upgradable parts for him. His perch is a somewhat skinny piece of bamboo, but I have a larger PVC one to put in when he can no longer use the bamboo.

Very beautiful setup, by the way!

Thanks for the clarification and the nice comment on the cage.

I know exactly what you mean by not liking the snake behind the background.

My boa constrictor moves behind his huge, tortoise shell hides now and then. It's not a bit deal other than it messes up the cage. They sort of decide where they want to be, and it's usually when we are sleeping that they make their plans to reorganize their cribs LOL!

There are some different types of velcro. One really heavy option is more of a plastic/click together type. It's often stronger than the adhesive on the back of itself.

If you use it, make sure you have it where you want it first because if you pull the velcro apart, it will probably pull apart the adhesive on the back and take it off the surface you just stuck it on.

Good luck!

[Prahanien]

I don't know if the velcro I'm using is the heavier type, but that's kind of whats going on. The velcro stays stuck it itself, but it removes the back part from the back of the tank, so that both sides/pieces are stuck to the background. I'll see if I can't find some heavier though, but if I can't, I may have to just caulk it. No big deal I suppose, as long as I can manage not to get it everywhere. Do you know how long it takes to cure?

And yeah! Every couple days I straighten up his enclosure and do a light cleaning where I need to (mainly if I find urates). He seems to think he is completely arboreal so the plants I have down low have issues not getting flattened. I don't mind that though, quick fix! With the background thing I'm just worried about his safety.

[Izzys Keeper]

I know at home Depot they sell super duper strength magnets. You could glue some to the back and the put the other magnets on the other side of the glass. These things are strong. Like finger pinching strong

I know in my local hd they are in the aisle with the screws, bolts, nails etc. Kinda where the random knick knack drawers are

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[worthbrown]

I would stay away from the velcro completely. I had a piece of velcro holding a temperature sensor and my snake was climbing around and got stuck to the adhesive backing. It is very dangerous. I had to soak him in olive oil for several hours and take a q-tip and try to get the oil between his skin and the adhesive.