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#215295
Pixiefaerie
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Newbie With A Of Couple Questions 
We just got our first Ball Python yesterday! I love it! Its about 20" right now, and in a 15 gallon "Critter Cage". We’re feeding him fuzzies, and were told he eats once a week. Should we boost it up to 2? Also, has anyone ever built their own cages? We are very interested in starting one for him, but need instructions. Current Cage Setup:
15 gallon Critter Cage w/padalock
Forest Bark substrate
9" glass pie plate for water bowl
5" x 6" x 5" hide box
rubber-like fake branch for basking up higher
peice of slate for shedding
60 W ceramic bulb in Exo Terra dome for at night temp about 75* F
(replacing with 100W w/clamp for at night to boost temps to about 80*)
100 W Day Glo Basking light in T-Rex dome for day temp about 90* F
Humidity about 50%
Small 1 gallon Rubbermaid container for feeding(solid-dark colored for making him feel secure) with 5 small 1/2 centimeter holes drilled in the top for ventilation.
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01/07/05 1:51am
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#215298
Imperator
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 215295
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
sounds good, maby alittle small. Also the humidity should be more like 66. I dont personally like critter cages and would go for a 20 gallon or bigger terrarium. if you mist the cage two times a day it should help bring the humidity up. also you can move the heating lamp over the water bowl. good luck.
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01/07/05 2:06am
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#215341
SCSnakeman
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Message To: Imperator In reference to Message Id: 215298
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
The 15 gallon cage is good for now but you will have to replace it with a bigger one probably this summer sometime. I think that Imperato meant the humidity needed to be around 60% so the misting is needed. Mist it before you leave for work in the morning and when you get home and maybe before going to bed. Other than that your cage sounds very nice to me.
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01/07/05 8:58am
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#215345
Carmelita
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 215295
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Congrats to you on your new family member.
I’m sure you’ll find alot of helpful info here.....and we love pics, so be sure to share them if you can!WELCOME 
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01/07/05 9:04am
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#215366
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: Carmelita In reference to Message Id: 215345
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Yea, we know its going to be too small for him eventually. But thats all they had for Critter Cages. The reason we got the critter cage is basically for my fiance’s nerves...we had a Sinoloan Milk Snake 2 years ago, and we went on vacation for 4 days, so we had his mom and sister look after the animals while we were gone, and told them not to open the cage unless he needed more water...well, we got back, and the snake was nowhere to be found, we looked forever. We put out a sleeping bag with a heat pad under it hoping it would be attracked to that and crawl in. No luck. So, he wanted something with a paddalock on it. We do have a 40 gal breeder critter cage that’s houseing a baby iguana for now until we finish re-doing his 7 ft highx 5 ft wide x 3 feet deep cage. It needs to be resealed/painted and have a new floor put in. So, we’ll put him in that critter cage this summer, but we do want to build a wood cage (for less heat escape) soon. Thats why I’ve been looking for some instructions for one. I’ll post some pics of him/her soon. I mist 2-3 times a day...you’d think the humidity would be sky-rocketing, considering its near 3 aquariums. We also have a "Habi-Mist" deal we bought for the iguana, but it never helped...probably cuz of the screen top. We’re going to make a solid (with a few 1 inch holes) top to go over the existing lid, and make 2 holes for the light domes. But yea...I’ll keep ya guys posted.
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01/07/05 9:49am
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#215766
LGL
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 215295
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
You might want to start upgrading to adult mice. My Ball Python is 18" and has been eating Adult Mice like 4-5+ times, and it is only 18". I also feed it once ever other week.LGL
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01/07/05 8:58pm
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#216545
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: LGL In reference to Message Id: 215766
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
We might, we have 4 fuzzies left, then when we go back we’ll buy a couple of adults to see if he’ll eat em.
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01/08/05 8:26pm
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#216821
Eunectes4
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 216545
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
I have never fed any ball python anything less than an adult mouse (they can be small adults but fuzzies are super small). They are large enough at birth to eat adult mice.
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01/09/05 1:34am
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#216888
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: Eunectes4 In reference to Message Id: 216821
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Yea, we fed him for the first time tonight, and he downed that fuzzy pretty fast. After the 3 remaining fuzzies are eaten, we’re moving up to adult mice. Thanks for the tips guys :) Oh yea, I’ve got the temps pretty evened-out now, during the day the warm spot is 90* and cool spot about 80* That sound ok? The night temps are 80* warm, and 75* cool.
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01/09/05 3:46am
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#216901
Pelota
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 216888
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Did you try offering him seconds? I would have seen if he’d take the other fuzzies, since they are a small meal for a bp of any size really. My bp was on adult mice a few weeks after hatching.
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01/09/05 4:46am
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#217222
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: Pelota In reference to Message Id: 216901
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
No, we didn’t. Should we offer him a second helping tonight, or wait a couple days? I don’t kow if he’ll feel hungry.
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01/09/05 4:16pm
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#217226
Ace13
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 217222
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
i would try to at least give him enough to fill him so he doesn’t get too skinny but yeah try and get him adult mice or very small rats
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01/09/05 4:20pm
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#217744
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: Ace13 In reference to Message Id: 217226
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Here’s a pic of my snake, and its cage! Enjoy 
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01/10/05 12:41am
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#217767
Ace13
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 217744
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
well he looks happy and healthy but still try and feed adult mice or small rats
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01/10/05 1:10am
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#217892
N2t
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Message To: Ace13 In reference to Message Id: 217767
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
if you want, replace the pie plate with one of the cheap dog dishes from wallmart made out of plastic with the handles cut into the sides, makes an excelent second hide.
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01/10/05 9:05am
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#217896
BoaBabe448
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Message To: N2t In reference to Message Id: 217892
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
LOL.Thats a really cool setup. I kind of miss my snakes aquarium, but rubbermiads work better in the long run. JW, whats your humidity like with that heat lamp? If the humidity isn’t good witha heat lamp you can switch to a heating pad, or you can switch to a rubbermaid enclosure with holds in humidity very well.
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01/10/05 9:09am
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#217914
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 217896
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Well, I spray the cage 2-3 times a day and it stays about 50%, the forest bark (I think thats what it is) is supposed to hold it in and gradually release it. The critter cage is only temporary, we’re going to build him a cage sometime soon. Once we do that, we’re replacing the heat lamp with radiant heat panels. I keep the cage in the same area where my fish aquariums are, so there is a lot of humidity there also. I’ll keep you posted on new updates with the cage building process.
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01/10/05 9:42am
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#218709
Pelota
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 217896
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Boababe, may I ask you what size is that rubbermaid you have there? It looks like one of the 83 QT under storage containers. I’m wondering what size it is, because that looks like the size I want for Pelota, and in a bargain shop flyer this weekend, they had them advertised for 8.99.
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01/11/05 2:25am
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#218710
Pelota
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Message To: Pelota In reference to Message Id: 218709
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
lol, Nevermind. I just seen in another thread you said it was a 74 qt underbed storage container. Hmm, so the one I was looking at is a bit larger. I think I’m gonna get it.  Sorry for going off topic. 
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01/11/05 2:29am
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#218764
Eunectes4
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Message To: Pelota In reference to Message Id: 218710
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
oh boababe...i just cant wait to see how soon it will be before I see your rack system and breeding projects lol. Nice little setup you got there...just make sure its secure (no need to post how you made it secure if you trust it)...take care : )
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01/11/05 6:35am
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#218775
Kostasdaffy
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 215295
 Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
hi.as far as the feeding i give to my ball two ’’meals’’ every week and he seems to like that.i do so since he was a baby.Try this:as you took it yesterday try not to handle him a lot at least for one week and don’t five him right now to eat.Do it in a couple of weeks cos these animals can be easily stressed.I don’t tell you like many does that this is a difficult snake especially if you are a begginer.If you try not to handle a lot right now,don’t eat him right now or disturb him until he settle up you won’t have any problem.Mine was from the ones that caught in the wild(I am from Greece).These animals are more difficult to eat.I did what i told you above and no problem(in the beggining he refused defrosted and ate only live mice but then he got used)
my cage is :length:75cm height:90cm width:40cm
I use a heater tank under the one side of tank and at the same side a lamp.the whole structure is made of glass(i made it myself) and at the front there is a sliding door by plexiglass.I use a branch,a pot to hide,pieces of wood for substrate.Go to my profil.I’ll have for you some pics.
What ever you need feel free to ask.I do the same all the time!!!!!!!!!!
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01/11/05 7:12am
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#218782
N2t
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Message To: Kostasdaffy In reference to Message Id: 218775
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
two feedings a week is a bit much, I usualy feed an apropriately sized food item once a week. This could be incorrect, however I am bad..I tend to handle my snakes to early and offer food to early, sofar none of my snakes has complained about this though, probably cause they were swollowing rodent at the time. I have a wc hognose, cb bp, and cb colombian rainbow, handled all to early and fed within the first two days, all took f/t food item first attempt, none have given me any problems. One food item a week I would suggest, the handleing and first feeding...well do as he says, not as I do, lol.
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01/11/05 7:32am
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#218783
Kostasdaffy
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Message To: N2t In reference to Message Id: 218782
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
here a pic
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01/11/05 7:39am
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#218792
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Kostasdaffy In reference to Message Id: 218783
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Wow. That tank is WAY to high. Your wasting alot of electricity trying to heat that with a lamp.
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01/11/05 8:02am
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#218795
Kostasdaffy
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Message To: Kostasdaffy In reference to Message Id: 218783
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
some others.
as far as the hanling and eating i read all these from sites when i first got the bp.I treated this just in case.....
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01/11/05 8:09am
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#218796
Kostasdaffy
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 218792
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
I know that .Unfortunately it was my first cage and tried to make it as bigger as i could for the soace i had(it is in a library)
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01/11/05 8:12am
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#218820
Eunectes4
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Message To: Kostasdaffy In reference to Message Id: 218796
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
cage looks nice (since it has a under tank heater I would get rid of the dangerous lamp though). What does not look nice is someone trying to take a cute picture of a 3 year old with a NYPD death grip on the snake. Come on people, if you are going to get the youth interested in herps early then teach them how to support the body and have an adult with them and not behind a camera for a cute picture.
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01/11/05 9:19am
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#218824
N2t
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Message To: Eunectes4 In reference to Message Id: 218820
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Lol I have one of my daugher on the table with the ball on her shoulder, but I was behind the cam, and she knows the rule "know grabbing, hitting, or biting the snake" She gets to pet it, and touch it, and wave and say hi...and maybe just maybe let it lie on her pretty princess pillow..the snake REALLY hates that....pink..sheesh... Serious question though, the red tail and the ball don’t live together in that enclosure do they??
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01/11/05 9:29am
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#218833
Carmelita
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Message To: Eunectes4 In reference to Message Id: 218820
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
You want to see a dangerous pic?
go here 
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01/11/05 9:48am
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#218849
N2t
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Message To: Carmelita In reference to Message Id: 218833
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
there’s a pic there?
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01/11/05 10:01am
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#218853
Carmelita
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Message To: N2t In reference to Message Id: 218849
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
did you click on the link? 
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01/11/05 10:03am
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#218856
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Carmelita In reference to Message Id: 218853
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
i clicked it to and there is no pic. Maybe we have to join to see it?
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01/11/05 10:07am
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#218858
Carmelita
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Message To: BoaBabe448 In reference to Message Id: 218856
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
hmmmm....I dont know.....I don’t THINK you have to join. It works for me.....I have no idea.....sorry....too bad, because it is worth seeing. 
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01/11/05 10:10am
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#218874
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: Carmelita In reference to Message Id: 218858
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Was it supposed to be the Jesus pic? But yea, we fed him Saturday night, and we had gotten him the Tuesday before, he ate. But last night He seemed a little more "daring". Maybe he’s stressed. Should I just leave him alone for 1 week, no holding and no feedings????
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01/11/05 10:44am
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#218878
BoaBabe448
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 218874
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
No, I joined and now I can see it. Its a pic of a retic and a kid in a bucket...odd..Are the RTB and BP housed together?
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01/11/05 10:47am
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#218883
Carmelita
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 218874
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
No, I wasn’t refering to the Jesus pic..... although I find that one rather tasteless also  Maybe Boababe is right, and you have to join to see it? Anyway, it is a pic of a small child bathing in a small circular tub, and there is this HUGE snake, with the head end in the tub with the child, and the child is using a scrub brush on the snakes head. Just plain stupid!
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01/11/05 10:51am
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#219775
Kostasdaffy
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Message To: N2t In reference to Message Id: 218824
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
noway they don’t live together.the boa’s cage is much bigger(125X115X65 cm) which i separated and use only the third of it as the boa is only 75cm.
as for the one that said about the pic i teach my daughter from this age to respect and care about reptiles as all our pets are snakes and lizards.She isn’t yet an expert on hanling a snake but not in any case i took the pic to show off.thanks
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01/12/05 8:26am
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#219789
N2t
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Message To: Kostasdaffy In reference to Message Id: 219775
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
Though I would like to save a bit of cash, and I am sure that would work great for a bp..I think a good sized dum would just push through..open a little gap in a weak area and escape. Looks like I’ll be saving my steralites for cornsnakes, and getting the boaphiles, or the vision...whichever is better/cheaper shipped with heat.
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01/12/05 9:21am
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#219822
Pixiefaerie
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Message To: N2t In reference to Message Id: 219789
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
I’m just going to build a cage. I don’t trust the whole rubbermaid cage all that much....we’ve had one snake get out, and we don’t want to lose this one too. I’m sure it works, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
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01/12/05 10:11am
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#220459
Pelota
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Message To: Pixiefaerie In reference to Message Id: 219822
Newbie With A Of Couple Questions
lol, well yeah as with any cage, you have to secure the lid so there’s no escapes. There’s nothing wrong with rubbermaids, and in fact I like them because they’re much more easier to secure. Just drill holes on each side of the lid, and the top of the tank, and you can then put locks, or wire twist ties, stuff like that. Make it as secure as you want. With glass or custom built tanks, you usually can’t just drill some holes and add stuff like that.
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01/12/05 11:18pm
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