Outdoor Enclosures.

[adamanteus]

Hi Guys,

I've been thinking about constructing an outdoor enclosure for my T. radix. Maybe next year, if I can get a decent plan together. I already have 2.4, perhaps I will get a few more and have an outdoor enclosure, big enough that I can go in there and sit amongst them on a bench or whatever and watch them go about their day to day business in a semi-wild setting.

There are a lot of things I need to consider....making it escape proof is obviously number one, but I also want to make sure cats etc. can't get in. It will need some sort of door so that I can get in and out easily.

I know there have been a few mentions of this subject, and even one or two pictures of members freinds who have these, but have any of you had first hand experience with this sort of enclosure, or just have any good ideas I might want to use?

[Lulu Bennett]

james that is a fantastic idea i cant wait to hear sugestions. hope you get all the info you need xxx

[CrazyHedgehog]

Does it get warm enough in the uk or are you going to provide some sought of heat source?

Also not just cats but birds aswell? you will need an enclosed outdoor enclosure???? (that just sounds a bit wierd...too many 'enclos'.....:rolleyes:

[Elliot]

Sounds cool James, but what are you going to do in the winter? It does freeze there doesn't it?

[CrazyHedgehog]

oh yes and rains nearly every day!!! (well it does seem to at the moment!)

[Elliot]

I guess humidity and freezing would be big problems then.:rolleyes:

[Thamnophis]

I would make a part of the outdoor enclosure with a cover of glass or plastic with under it a lightbulb that can be used when it is to cold or to moist.

[Sid]

James, I'm toying with the idea myself for T s sirtalis. Haven't gotten to any fine details as yet, but plan to construct it against the rear of my home. Make a small opening to the crawl space with a burmation enclosure there. Going to cover the open area of the top with netting similar to what many people use over an outdoor Koi pond. Maybe some of this will help you out to a degree.

[reptileparadise]

Yeah, great idea!
Please post pics and construction plans! I've got lots and lots of room here and somehow, dont know how (...) I've been playing with the idea as well.

The only thing I'm affraid of now, are chickens...We've got a bunch running around here and they eat just about everything...

[zooplan]

Martin Hallmen has written a book about this theme in 2003 after he had visited lots of outdoor enclosures all over Germany and other countries around. Its in German but filled with pictures of the encosures, details and building. ISBN3-931587-83-5

[adamanteus]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. Udo, I'll look for that book. Do you all think that the weather would really be a problem? I mean, where T. radix comes from the climate is harsher than it is here. Of course I would bring them indoors in the winter so that I can control brumation, but my thought was to let them deal with the weather, as they would in the wild. Do you think that might not work?

[Josh]

I dont really see the problem you would have.
The good factors are very highi say go for it!

[Serpentine99]

I was at a wildlife park and they had these gazebo lookin things, except it was wood frame covered in fine mesh. One was for birds and another for butterflys. they could also put tarps or clear plastic tiles over it i winter. They wouldn't be that expensive and you wouldn't have to but the winter supplies if you were bringing the snakes inside.

[Thamnophis]

Maybe in Great Brittain the summers are not warm enough and maybe there is too much rain? I do not know your local circumstances.

[stonyloam]

I would think that easterns would do very well. The conditions in north central NY where I grew up are much harsher (-30F in winter) than in the UK.
Seems like a little enclosure with a basking lamp could take care of the "gloomy" problem. Go for it! :D

[Thamnophis]

I do not think that the very low temps in winter are that important.
It is more the active periods of the snake.
But I think, with a lamp and a well suited enclosure it might work.

[Zigmund]

I would put in an outdoor enclosier if i had more space

[Stefan-A]

I'd make a decent 10 square meter indoor enclosure if I had space. :D

[adamanteus]

That's the kind of size I had in mind. Loads more thought and planning to go into it first though.

[zooplan]

As I know most problems in outdoor enclosures in Europe are caused by too much humidity in the spring. With a partial glas or plastic roof the snakes are doing very well the whole year.

[reptileparadise]

So James...Tell us...How are the plans coming along?

I finally found a decent place myself to construct an outdoor enclosure!
It has sunshine from around 8 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon. I'd prefer more hours of sunshine, but my dad won;t let me cut down trees ( :D).

[adamanteus]

My plans are temporarily on hold...... until I become very rich and own vast tracts of land!:rolleyes:

[Loren]

I also have an outdoor plan in my head- one for a little desert in my backyard, but its on hold for now too.

[drache]

seems I'm in great company
I too have plans for an outdoor enclosure that's on hold, awaiting financial developments

[Zephyr]

No plans here, just actions! :D

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/189/img0214hp3.jpg

Do you think I should remove the big log in the center?

[Zephyr]

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/6360/img0215ha8.jpg
I plan on throwing any noticeable garter poos toward the grassy area. :P

[Zephyr]

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/5977/img0216px9.jpg
I still need to work on this bit, but aside from the few inches of oak on the top there's another 3 inches buried beneath some peat-type mulch. I'm hoping that whole compost heat thing may come into effect here. :P
There will also be more elaborate hides here.
**Edit- Also, notice that this area is raised so that when rain comes, it all goes downhill. ;D

[Zephyr]

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/2701/img0217aj7.jpg
And another shot. :P

[adamanteus]

Is it having a lid, Kyle? I think if I was a Garter I could get out of there.:)
[edit: Okay, I see the lid!]

[Stefan-A]

Just a random thought, I think they may need better shelter in case of bad weather.

[Zephyr]

Just a random thought, I think they may need better shelter in case of bad weather.Well of course, I'm going to elaborate on the hide. I've got a ton of excess wood and I'm going to make some sort of 5 sided shelter to put in there as well.

[adamanteus]

I'm guessing it's going to be planted/left to over-grow? It's too barren as it is.

[Zephyr]

I'm guessing it's going to be planted/left to over-grow? It's too barren as it is.Obviously. :P I just threw the seed down a few days ago. :P