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Rattler Cage/Tank
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by gravesend on January 23, 2006
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Just curious. But lets say I was going to aquire a rattler. Maybe a Timber Rattler. What type of cage/tank would you suggest to buy so that the person feeding and cleaning the cage would NEVER have to put thier hand inside the tank. And so that it would be impossible to be bitten. Thanks
John
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RE: Rattler Cage/Tank
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by earthguy on January 23, 2006
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The best designed cages minimize interactions between keeper/herp, but no caging system can eliminate them. If you are unwilling to interact with an animal, it would be wise for you to reconsider your hypothetical.If you would like to see how a good caging system is designed, go visit your local zoo and see if you can get "back stage". Most of those people have been doing this for a long time and know what they are doing.
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RE: Rattler Cage/Tank
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by Chance on January 23, 2006
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I saw a cage not too long ago, designed and built by a man whose name I can't remember right off hand, but it seems like the perfect venomous enclosure. The only drawback was the price. It was built entirely of acrylic, which is less fragile than glass yet it lets you have a complete view of the enclosure. Of course, in practical use, you'd want to paper one or two of the sides to help the snake(s) feel more secure. The front consisted of two sliding acrylic doors. The best part though was the very thin slit built into the top which allowed a divider to descend into the cage and completely block off one side. The keeper simply puts in the divider and cleans the side of the cage the snake isn't in, then removed it, shuffles the snake to the other side, and cleans the other side. The only real drawback here other than price (I think the smaller was over $300 or so), is maybe running into problems getting the divider down without the snake trying to go back under it. However, that's minimal. If I can think of who it was who makes them, I'll repost.
-Chance
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RE: Rattler Cage/Tank
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by rickyduckworth on January 23, 2006
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i always use my screen top to block the snake from the area i'm working in.......no chance of getting bitten, i'm only in there for 30 seconds or so, and the snakes get used to your presence to an extent.....mine are all pretty calm.....don't get me wrong, i give them no chance to get to me, but they can see and smell me and i can get my job done safely and quickly
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RE: Rattler Cage/Tank
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by Dadee on January 25, 2006
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The use of shift boxes is by far the most safest of methods...they can be closed off, containing the snake from view and your hands (this being the most important of them all). It's true, acrylic is more expensive, but can be written off as a safety measure (not a tax deduction for those of you with thoughts already on the loom of "return season"). Can you put a price on your safety and those around you? I happen to be a bit eccentric, thus I did invest in the acrylic...worked great too. Having the view available makes working with them, that much safer, since you will know where they are and can't hide, unless you happen to have a brood that was hatched and don't "count" all of them prior to lifting a water dish (no names...chuckle). The use of that divider is something I used...but my cages were of great dimensions, which didn't afford much in the way of numbers. The size I made my cages were big enough to allow for a more roamable area, also giving more space to work in, for my arms and the length of my tools.
What ever you decide, it is best to see "behind the scenes" at your local zoo. They use these same methods to keep themselves and the snakes safe.
One tip: Don't put more hide boxes inside the enclosure than you can handle and make sure the hide is big enough for your snake...use your hook to lift them and "locate" the snake inside.
If money is an issue, as it is for many of us, be sure not to skimp on safety. Keep yourself and those around you in your mind at all times...screen tops are ok, as long as it can be secured, not by placing a clip on the top, but by a locking mechanism. The other side to this is, how big of a snake are you going to wind up with...Timbers can reach good lengths...a prescription for a good size cage. How big are your hands and/or arms...also a prescription for the size of cage. How much room do you need for your tools...are you using the proper strength of tools...minis can be nice for tight spaces, but can not be relied upon for larger animals...just thoughts to keep in mind when shopping for your cage or cage materials.
Good luck,
Matt
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