Pendulum
08-29-2004, 11:29 AM
I have a few questions regarding the Boaphile cages that I was hoping some of you could answer for me. Basically im trying to get a good idea of the overall function of the setup and I also need some advice on what to buy. I live in Chicago and it gets pretty cold here for many months out of the year. I have a small room in my house which I can have some control over the ambient temperature of, but it still has the potential to vary. I am wondering what combination of heating and lighting options would be best to order with my Boaphile cage when I decide to buy one.
My snake is a baby male Suri/Columbian mix. About 3 months old. I am interested in an enclosure that he will not outgrow in the next three or four years. (If im going to spend this kind of money I want it to last)
Some of my questions are as follows:
I am thinking of buying the D422. Is this too big for such a young snake? I know it's big for his current size, but is it unhealthy for him in any way to have a cage this size?
How about heating and lighting? Is a flexwatt at one end of the cage enough? Im willing to pay for an expensive thermostat or any heating options that I need for the ideal setup. Should I use light and heat in combination to create not only a day/night cycle, but also a basking area? I noticed that the incandescent light fixture just seems to leave the bulb exposed in the cage Isn't this dangerous to the snake? .. Maybe I missed something about how that system works.
What can I do in the room where my Boaphile cage will be kept to keep the ambient temperature around the unit warm enough to maintain a good temperature inside the cage? Like I said, I live in Chicago.. it's winter here 6 months out of the year! For me to heat my whole house constantly at the appropriate temperature for the snake would be insanely expensive. The room I want to keep him in is about 12X8 feet in size. I was thinking of installing one or two ceramic heat emitters around the tank area to keep it warmer, but im not sure if that is appropriate.
Is there a reason why I rarely see pictures of Boaphile cages with something for the snake to climb on inside them? Currently my boa loves being wrapped around his cage furniture which is basically a really cool piece of twisted aspen branch. Can/should I still use this in my Boaphile cage?
I know these questions are kind of random... It's just that a lot of things came to mind when I first found the Boaphile products and I want to make sure im making the right choices before I spend the money. My main concern is doing what's best for my Boa. Any advice on what to purchase for him would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot
My snake is a baby male Suri/Columbian mix. About 3 months old. I am interested in an enclosure that he will not outgrow in the next three or four years. (If im going to spend this kind of money I want it to last)
Some of my questions are as follows:
I am thinking of buying the D422. Is this too big for such a young snake? I know it's big for his current size, but is it unhealthy for him in any way to have a cage this size?
How about heating and lighting? Is a flexwatt at one end of the cage enough? Im willing to pay for an expensive thermostat or any heating options that I need for the ideal setup. Should I use light and heat in combination to create not only a day/night cycle, but also a basking area? I noticed that the incandescent light fixture just seems to leave the bulb exposed in the cage Isn't this dangerous to the snake? .. Maybe I missed something about how that system works.
What can I do in the room where my Boaphile cage will be kept to keep the ambient temperature around the unit warm enough to maintain a good temperature inside the cage? Like I said, I live in Chicago.. it's winter here 6 months out of the year! For me to heat my whole house constantly at the appropriate temperature for the snake would be insanely expensive. The room I want to keep him in is about 12X8 feet in size. I was thinking of installing one or two ceramic heat emitters around the tank area to keep it warmer, but im not sure if that is appropriate.
Is there a reason why I rarely see pictures of Boaphile cages with something for the snake to climb on inside them? Currently my boa loves being wrapped around his cage furniture which is basically a really cool piece of twisted aspen branch. Can/should I still use this in my Boaphile cage?
I know these questions are kind of random... It's just that a lot of things came to mind when I first found the Boaphile products and I want to make sure im making the right choices before I spend the money. My main concern is doing what's best for my Boa. Any advice on what to purchase for him would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot