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Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by ChuckHurd on February 1, 2008
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By next fall I am hoping to move to a unpopulated area on Sand Mtn, in the great state of AL. One of the things I am planning to do after I am moved is set up an outside "pit" or enclosure for pit vipers. I am only planning to keep regionally collected animals in there. Most likely the snakes I pull from peoples yards and barns. I am thinking about using cinder blocks and sinking the wall 12 inches into the ground and have about 48 inches showing above ground. No gates or doorways. the only way in or out is over the wall. Thinking about making it 20 feet by 20 feet and placing a filtered pond in the center. I have 2 issues that I need to resolve for this plan and i would like input from anyone who has ever set up such an enclosure. first issue, i need some sort of artificial den for the winter months. I do not want to use anything eclectic. i don't want to run the risk of a power outage killing off the snakes outside. what i am thinking is a plastic footlocker, insulated on the top and sides. half inch holes cut in the bottom to allow water to filter out should any make it in. Then digging out an area and placing gravel in the hole, the box on the gravel, then burying the box 18 inches underground. snakes will have access thru a PVC pipe running underground to the box. also planning to put hay inside the box in late fall. The hay should create a little of its own heat over the winter months. Second, looking for an expedient way to feed the collection of snakes inside the pit. I think tossing in couple dozen live mice would get some feed, but many of the mice will dig or climb out. throwing in dead mice, i think the prolific eaters will feast and the more reluctant will starve. I plan to keep fish and fogs in the pond, so the cottonmouths can probably earn a living from the pond. Some coppers may follow suite, but I don't think the timbers will ever assimilate to an aquatic diet. Another thought is day old chicks right out of the egg. no chance of those digging or climbing out, but not sure how difficult it will be to have access to those spring to fall. of course, no feed from about late oct to april. Thank you and look forward to the feedback.
Samuel 'Chuck' Hurd
Professional Educator / Venomous Reptile Curator
www.ChuckHurd.com
423.580.7513 (txt capable)
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by plainblain on February 1, 2008
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Awesome, awsome, awsome! I usually don't like to repeat myself, but the idea is awsome. I have been thinking about the same thing here in Texas for a long time. I've done the "do diligence" on the project but haven't had the green to put it together. I'll root through my notes and post what I discovered this weekend. The idea is great and feasible.
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by agkistrodude on February 2, 2008
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Hey Chuck, I like the idea, have thought about doing something similar myself.The only suggestion I would have is be sure you have real good drainage. This drought won't last forever, and an over-wet season could give you a swimming pool.Also live rodents might stick around if they have places to hide, nest , and food.There are many different types of automatic feeders available that would supply grain at timed intervals that might work. Just a thought. Good luck with it, MartyM
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by Cro on February 2, 2008
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Chuck, even though you do not want to rely on electric heat in the hibernation enclosure, I would suggest that you put an electric heat pad inside of the box, run an extension cord to it, and leave it unplugged.
Then also put a remote reading thermometer that reads minimum / maximum temperatures, and relays them to a readout inside of your house. Be sure to put fresh batteries in the unit before winter.
That way, you will know just how hot / cold the hibernaculum is getting each day, and if the temperature drops dangerously low, you will at least have the option of plugging in the heat to keep from killing the animals.
Remote reading minimum / maximum thermometers can be found in greenhouse supply catalogues. Some even have an alarm that will sound if a temperature drops below a pre-set limit. They basically have a thermocouple and the base unit, a reciever, and if the base unit is placed at the top of the hibernaculum, and the thermocouple probe at the bottom of the hibernaculum, you should get a nice reading of the difference in the enclosure on the reciever.
As others have said, drainage will be important. You might even want to rig up some sort of cover for the snake pit to keep rain out. If it were me, I would be tempted to put up a tin roof shed over the whole thing, and occasionally use a garden hose to supply "rain" into the exhibit.
Sounds like a great project. It should be fun and educational to watch.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by oxyuranus on February 2, 2008
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G'day Chuck,
Here in Australia I know quite a few people from the southern half of the country, including the owner of one very large venom extraction business, who keep locally indigenous snakes (ususally elapids or boids) in outdoor 'pits' such as you describe.
So a few observations:
1. Drainage is critical, run a 3" pipe under the wall and then up to the surface inside the enclosure using an L joint. Cap the top with a wire mesh filter to prevent even neonates using it as an exit, and do the same at the outflow, so nothing moves in and makes it home. The pipe should be at the lowest end of the pit so that any excess water drains to it and can then escape.
2. Hibernacula. I have seen people in Tasmania (where it gets cold enough to snow) use 20-30 gallon cooler boxes (we call then Eskies) as pre-insulated over-wintering refuges. Bury them to the lid level, with a single 4-6" pipe fixed into a hole cut in a side as the entry/exit. Cover the lid with a layer of insulating foil or similar material, and then cover with a pile of logs or rocks. Another idea I have seen is to build the den from a fibreglass box or extra-large Rubbermade foot locker, and then fit it with a heating pad and thermostat. Put a battery and all necessary electrical work inside a sealed plastic box outside the den, then erect a small solar panel on a pole 4-5' high with the wiring running inside the pole and down to the battery box - then you have a solar-powered, thermostatically regulated den that won't electrocute your critters.
3. Feeding. Most snakes will come out and bask, and most will pick their own favourite spots. Feed dead food using a 5' long M1 tong in preference to dumping in live food which as you mention may be more trouble than they are worth, and might also not get to all the needy critters. If you feed individually you'll soon pick the problem animals, and my suggestion would be to remove these back indoors until you get them feeding routinely without any hassles. You could if you wanted to go high-tech, implant individual snakes with trovan microchips and then record individual feeding records by putting the reader on the end of a pole and scanning each snake to ID it before offering food. This is also helpful for keeping tabs on any routine medication administration (such as periodic worming), but of course it depends on how many snakes, how much trouble you want to go to, and how much money you want to spend...
4. Moats. Some Aussie pits have shallow moats built around the inside of the wall - provides a barrier to make it harder for a snake to get in a corner and try pushing up and out - the land then becomes an island in the middle of the pit.
Cheers
David
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers
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by ChuckHurd on February 2, 2008
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John, i used to use those thermometers in my out building. i had difficulty getting it to just send a signal from there to my house. are they making one now that would transmit thru 18" of earth? i plan to do a test run thru winter, before i leave the snakes out there. want to measure the temp ranges in the den over the coldest months before i leave a group of snake in it. marty & david, as far as drainage, i am moving to sand mtn, key word being SAND. i don't think there is going to be a problem of standing water in a 20 x 20 enclosure. but that is going to be another thing needing a test run. i know some people up there have tried to hold water in ponds and couldn't. david, you guys are pretty sandy over there, how well does the land absorb rainfall for you? i don't want to install drain pipes, unless i absolutely have to. i basically want a solid enclose with the only way in or out being over the wall. Thanks for the input thus far, got some good feed back and ideas from here and kingsnake.
Samuel 'Chuck' Hurd
Professional Educator / Venomous Reptile Curator
www.ChuckHurd.com
423.580.7513 (txt capable)
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