Heavy duty enclosure

[Didymus20X6]

I have chewed a few people, threatened with state statute on killing reptiles....only legal way is if it's a rattlesnake in your own yard...generally we prefer calling animal control (wildlife officers rarely respond) and the reptile rescue. everyone I have "threatened" with state laws has never bothered a snake again.....

work kinda precludes me from that famous middle finger wave......not the best thing to do while in uniform in a county truck....dang it!!!

When you are in uniform, threatening people with the law works well, since they will see it as you doing your job. But when you're a civilian like me, the law isn't as much of a threat.

[Zephyr]

SWEET JESUS.
That is one AMAZING snake tank!
Very lucky snakes you have. :P

[guidofatherof5]

SWEET JESUS.
That is one AMAZING snake tank!
Very lucky snakes you have. :P

The best part, it was free. I'll have about $75 to $100 in all three of them when I'm done. The friend that gave them to me was going to convert them to gun cases but his wife said, and I quote "I'm not having those ugly things in my living room". Everytime I bring these cases up to him he gives me this terrible look and says I robbed him. I tell him to talk to his wife about it. Possession is 9/10 of the law and I have possession.

[GradStudentLeper]

I've raised a disapproving middle finger a few times.

I fantasize about putting rubber snakes on the road that have spikes inside them. Place them in spots on the road where someone has to swerve to run it over. Rip apart their tires. But no... I could kill someone.

I have a friend though who actually chased one down and kicked the living crap out of them on a desert road...

As for the cages... Glorious! You realize that with the amount of space you will have you can set up what is basically a wet meadow or forest margin creek habitat that is credible right?

[guidofatherof5]

As for the cages... Glorious! You realize that with the amount of space you will have you can set up what is basically a wet meadow or forest margin creek habitat that is credible right?

I realize no such thing, explain. Please.

[GradStudentLeper]

I realize no such thing, explain. Please.

Ok, first thing is first, make your substrate (you will want a layer 3-4 inches thick). You want a mix of the following: Peat based potting soil, sand (not too much), fir bark mulch, and fired clay. Basically mix those until you get something similar to a nice natural soil. The advantage of these soils is that once established they contain aerobic bacteria (non-pathogenic ones) that break down waste and dont cause horrific odors.

Care and feeding of soil:

Allow the top third to dry, but then mist and stir the soil. This simulates natural patterns of drying and recolonization. The snakes own waste products feed the soil bacteria. You might need to scoop out some solids occassionally.

Depending on how well you can light these things, you can put either live, or artificial plants in, forest or wet meadow biotope (just like what Radix lives in). In either case you can add branches and rocks. Also, depending on what you can do water wise, you might be able to put in either flowing water, or several large burried water bowls that will simulate the snake's natural habitat.

Happy happy snakes will be the result of this, with minimal maintenance for you, as most of it takes care of itself.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the follow up.

[guidofatherof5]

Things are coming along. The pedestal idea turned into enclosures. I just have to install doors, lights and heat. Have new snakes coming in the mail tomorrow so I don't think I'll have much time to finish things up.

[count dewclaw]

Those are looking good!

What snakes are coming tomorrow? We'll need pictures, of course!

[guidofatherof5]

I have 1.1 red radix, 1.1. high-red T.s.p and 1.1 hypo banded water snakes. Should have them before 11am.