Hexagonal Vivarium

[KephrenJorgensen]

So I've got this vivarium that I used to keep treefrogs in a few years ago, and it was so nice when it was set up that I can't help but want to use it again. The only problem is, I'm not sure which species would be the best to keep in a tank like this :P . Its 23 inches tall, and each of the 6 sides is 10.5 inches. The distance from opposite corners being 22 inches. It has a relatively large floor space that I think would give the snake a lot of room to explore without needing to turn back and forth on it self. The amount of empty space for decor and "furniture" gave for quite an extravagant environment for the treefrogs. I'm just ecstatic thinking of what I could do with that much space for a garter to climb in. I was thinking of keeping a pair of pickeringii or a lone vagrans in there. Or even a trio of ordinoides to show off their polymorphism. Any words or thoughts you have while reading this, if doing so :) , please feel free to respond with :P
Also, are there any thamnophis species that tend to be more arboreal than anything else, even if for only a limited period of time?

[-MARWOLAETH-]

I think it could work very well if you put a bulb at the top with branches and plant at different level,you will get a very nice gradient because the snake gets to choose its basking temperature and if it gets to warm it could retreat to ground level.

[guidofatherof5]

Most of my garters make use of vertical space when I give them the opportunity.
My T.ordinoides (Northwestern garter) don't seem to do a lot of climbing.

[chris-uk]

Of mine, it's the Blacknecks that tend to be most arboreal. Others climb a bit but the blackneck pair will both spend hours or days coiled in the tops of the plants in their viv.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I was just going to say... blacknecks. My blackneck loves to perch up in his branches and balances all of his coils on about 3 small points of branch!

[Steveo]

Green tree python! That's what I plan to do with my 30-gallon hex tank after I feed all of the fish to my garters.

[Selkielass]

My Butlers spend a lot of time sunning in their branches, but I believe they may be protected in your area.

[Invisible Snake]

So I've got this vivarium that I used to keep treefrogs in a few years ago, and it was so nice when it was set up that I can't help but want to use it again. The only problem is, I'm not sure which species would be the best to keep in a tank like this

Amazon Tree Boas!

[KephrenJorgensen]

now as much as I would love to have boas and pythons and such, I dont have that kind of money :P. Im talkin THAMNOPHIS people! Between pickeringii and e vagrans, which would YOU keep in such an enclosure?

[thamneil]

My parietalis really appreciate having some vertical space. My trio really enjoys climbing through the branches. Maybe consider them. I would also think fitchi would have the same tendency. My young pair are very keen to climb through whatever foliage they are provided.

[Steveo]

I think pickeringii are more aquatic than most. I only have one but he spends most of his time buried under the substrate. Between that and vagrans, I'd go with the vagrans.

[Invisible Snake]

now as much as I would love to have boas and pythons and such, I dont have that kind of money :P. Im talkin THAMNOPHIS people! Between pickeringii and e vagrans, which would YOU keep in such an enclosure?

In that case I would say eastern blacknecks, they love to climb. Also amazon tree boa babies are relatively inexpensive, just saying :)

[Steveo]

Also amazon tree boa babies are relatively inexpensive, just saying :)

If only ETBs were the same price :(

[KephrenJorgensen]

I am going to keep pickeringii in a 30 gal long with a divider for water. I have always wanted parietalis , but I am looking into the blacknecks currently.

[thamneil]

You're going to have a terrible time getting anything. All garters are illegal in B.C. Shipping them into the province will be a huge issue as will finding them locally.

[KephrenJorgensen]

As of now I dont plan on getting anything. I will be going to university and applying for the needed permits to obtain, possess, rehabilitate, and release wildlife. I'm aspiring to build a herp rescue/public education facility to aid in the conservatoin of the local herpofauna on Vancouver Island. Right now its all just pipedreams for me.

[chris-uk]

As of now I dont plan on getting anything. I will be going to university and applying for the needed permits to obtain, possess, rehabilitate, and release wildlife. I'm aspiring to build a herp rescue/public education facility to aid in the conservatoin of the local herpofauna on Vancouver Island. Right now its all just pipedreams for me.

We all need those pipe dreams :). One of mine is to buy and bulldoze a golf course near San Francisco, and building a visitors centre.

[thamneil]

Dreams turn into reality sooner or later! Keep them coming :)

[kueluck]

Mona, my Melanistic Eastern spends more time above the ground than on it.

[KephrenJorgensen]

I've decided just to go with a trio of ordinoides. My melanistic female spends all of her time above ground, only returning for food or water. I believe theres enough room for atleast three, the amount of climbing space I can provide will be so entertaining.

[guidofatherof5]

I've decided just to go with a trio of ordinoides. My melanistic female spends all of her time above ground, only returning for food or water. I believe theres enough room for atleast three, the amount of climbing space I can provide will be so entertaining.

For use also.:D

[i_heart_sneakie_snakes]

I have Vagrans and Pickeringii. Both my male and female Vagrans are climbers and are more often at the top of the tank than the bottom.

[Magnarock the 2nd]

What kind of lid are you going to use for a hex? Can you find a screen top for it?

[ConcinusMan]

Well, he said he used the tank for tree frogs so I assume there's a way to keep them from escaping.

[KephrenJorgensen]

Yes. I have a metal screen lid that I made to fit the enclosure, It just needs some extra weight on it. A few big rocks and I'm good to go.

[Kantar]

I just have a rule of thumb, if the snake can get to all corners of the tank, all is good. Will help avoid kerplunkers.. because snakes are SO persistant even though they fall to the bottom of the tank, they will keep doing it over and over and over. Any species of snake would like this tank

[KephrenJorgensen]

My plan is to build a wooden structure that protrudes from the center of the enclosure and reaches up to the top. It will have multiple branches with fake-vine plants spiraling throughout the whole strucute. I've been having a lot of fun in the woodshop building things for my animals. Ive been making corner-hides out of maple burls, cutting them into ramp-like surfaces with a flat bottom and a 90 degreee corner. Then I just drill-press the hide entrace and the cavern itself. Both my babies and adult have one and they all love it for basking and hiding. My adult is in a 30x14x20 (it was advertized as a 27 gallon), and she probably has atleast 4 times the surface area to exlpore than she would just in the tank. She's in a different spot every 10 minutes. She's going to have a blast in this hexagonal.