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Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by Wheela on November 18, 2003
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Is it better to build your own cage or buy one? If u build your own what type of set up should you have and if ur buying one, what is a cage you would recommend?
Thanks
Dustin
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by pygmybait on November 18, 2003
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To buy or build......It depends on what you are keeping, the size of the animal, local laws regarding venomous reptiles...the list goes on and on. I keep several of my venomous snakes in store bought, lockable enclosures. Just about any pet store carries them. Pretty much all they are is an aquarium with a sliding screen top that you can secure with a padlock. My larger animals are kept in custom built enclosures. I have them built to 1) give the snakes lots of space to live in, 2) fit the room they are in, 3) be stackable and, 4) look good to my eye. As long as the animals needs are met and they are comfortable, the rest is up to you.
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by Wheela on November 18, 2003
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I'm wanting to buy a baby gaboon and a baby rhino, any ideas to what cage would be best for these?
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by jared on November 18, 2003
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a custom cage, with lots of room on the ground. They are large terrestrial vipers that spend most of there life on the forest floor waiting to ambush some small mammal. They dont move alot but do get some girth so you will probably need a big cage. Check Dexters care sheet on the home page out, it covers most of the stuff you will need to know. Fair warning, though these snakes are large and look clumsy, Bitis cause an alarming number of bites and fatalities in both africa and abroad every year. Recently a rhino was involved in a well documented fatality in ohio (though the hospital seems to hold some fault in that case). Most of the bites come from puffs in there native country since they have such an enormous range, but gabs and rhinos are definately not anything to take lightly. As a great shhs member once told me when I attempted to decide between my first cobra (banded egypt) or true viper (westie gaboon) at the 97 columbia show "the difference is, the cobra gives your family an open casket funeral, the gaboon wont!" Anyone know who that was ;-) Just saying take appropriate precautions, and opposed to what many say, bitis are not good first hots, I would also suggest some more experience with some lower level hots or at least get in touch with someone who keeps bitis and see if you can work with them sometime (even if it is just scoopin poop). Hope it helps,
jared
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by Richie on November 20, 2003
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Hi Wheela. Having kept West African Gaboons, East African Gaboons & Rhinos for a little while I can say that the enclosure must be a.) Sturdy! and b.)Large!
The thing that surprised me most was just how heavy they are. I can't hook my largest specimens because if I did, the hook would definately break! I consider myself quite strong (o.k I'm no Schwarzenegger) but I struggle to tail & lift my largest specimens with one hand. Size for size, weight for weight the Gaboon Viper is far heavier than a Green Anaconda of equivalent size.
So, the enclosure must be sturdy because they are heavy weights and are strong. My vivs are made from 3/4'' melamine screwed & siliconed together and the sliding front doors are 8mm toughened glass. I have a professional joiner custom build my enclosures, no "home made" habitats.
If kept warm & if well fed (not overfed!), Gaboon Vipers grow quickly, Rhino Vipers not as quickly - but still quite fast.
Start with a 48'' X 24'' X 24'' (LxWxH). This will be o.k for 18 months or so, but sooner (rather than later) you'll need a bigger enclosure.
As an example, I currently keep an adult male West African Gaboon - 5.5 feet, weighing 40 Lbs & a male West African Rhino Viper - 3 feet, weighing 8 Lbs together in an enclosure 72'' X 48'' X 36'' (LxWxH).
My first Hot Herp was the West African Gaboon described above. He was 24'' when I got him - January 2002.
Make no mistake, these guys are VERY dangerous!!
They can strike much faster than anyone could react, and the net result could be life threatening.
Before you buy a Gaboon or a Rhino, please ask a professional to feed a specimen in front of you (not literally!).
As Steve Irwin would say, "They hit like a ton of bricks!".
When my large specimens strike, the whole enclosure shakes!! Whenever I feed them, I am always reminded that I would hate to get bitten.
Hope this is of some use for you Wheela.
Regards
Viperman, U.K
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by IanG on November 24, 2003
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Hey Viperman,
Good to see an Uk person on here.want to drop me a line and tell mw where ur at in the country..
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RE: Venomous Snake Enclosures
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by Rabies on November 24, 2003
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Hi Richie
I'd also be grateful if you'd drop me a line,I'm just apply for my DWA and looking for some 3rd party liability insurance.Any help would be much appreciated.Thanks
John
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