Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

_dave_ · Key Member Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Kent

hi all

starting up my own breeding soon with the purchase of a 100% het pied pair... was thinking of building 6... 3ftx2x1.5ft vivs..

i wondered if i could get the balls in smaller so i could build more vivs and have lots! let me know what you guys think

Dave

mike h · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778

Hi
Upto about 1.5-2kgs a contico box would be big enought.
I use the 50ltr realy usefull boxes(you can buy 3 for £30 on ebay or staples)
these have a floor space of 24 inches by 12 inches. the conticos are 20 inches by 12 inches.
Also for breeding very large royals you could consider a IKEA Komplement box. About 30 inch by 18 inch floor space.
Basically in my opinion the sizes you are thinking are way too big.
the conticos are 6 inch high and the really usefull boxes are about 8 inches high.
check out http://www.winracks.com/

and http://pro-racks.com/index.htm for ideas.
you could purchase racks outright, or build your own shelves to put the boxes in. A melamine wood rack is a lot easier to keep warm than a metal rack. Copy and paste below and have alok at scots rack. I would say long term to go for really useful boxes, that extra 4 inches makes a gig differance.

http://www.captivebred.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4522&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=rack
hope helps
mike

Scott W · Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Wendy · I've settled in... Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 47

I went down the viv road personally, having quite a few 2ft square vivs built all with ceramic heaters individually heated, but having visited several people now with racks I can see the advantage of them, the pythons themselves settle well into the enclosed space and providing the room is kept warm they are fantastic! Adams set up is brilliant as is Scotts going by that picture.. haven't visited Scott... Sad

but they are definitely an excellent way to go if you plan on breeding and keeping quite a few.... the racks are something we are now planning to move over to and leave the vivs for other species... Laughing

so I am not complaining Laughing

_dave_ · Key Member Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Kent

wow sounds good... i would rather vivs so i can see them and still have the pet hobbyist type view about me, so i can handle them and treat them like i would any other herp

would 2ftx2ftx2ft be big enough then for a full size royal? if so i would build a 9viv stack of them instead of 6 3x2x2 vivs.. i would prefer the smaller sized ones, can heat them individually with lights and stats not a problem Smile

Scott W · Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

Dave,
if you want to use vivs that's fine, the snakes don't care either way so it's all down to personal choice.

If I was using vivs I would go for 3ft long by 2ft deep by no more than 15" high, that way I could go 5 vivs high (6ft of wall space would give you 10 vivs). If you had space for plenty of depth I would go for 2ft wide by 30" deep by 18" high & only 4 vivs high (6ft of wall space would give you 12 vivs)

I use racking due to speed of maintainace and space saving. I'm sure correctly set up vivs or racks would be just as good for the snakes as each other.
_________________

Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

_dave_ · Key Member Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Kent

thanks scott much appreciated

so 2x2x2 is too small, ok not a problem, could just bring the depth right out to suit which would be ok! will have to measure up and see. Smile

3x2x15 is what i planned originally, but we will see!

Dave

mike h · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778

I would have 6 adult royals in a slightly bigger area than a 2 x 2 x 2 space. In boxes though. Personal choice but think about these points.
A plastic box can be removed from the rack and easily cleaned etc.
You can keep loads of royals in a small space. Babies(if you breed) often need very small boxes to thrive 9 x 6 x 3 inches approx. If you give a royal too much space they can freak and get ill, stop feeding etc.
It would cost a fortune to heat one enclosure never mind 9. you would need a 100-200 watt ceramic per enclosure (royals hate light) as opposed to a 35watt heatmat per 2 boxes.
As for seeing them, if you can see them then they are unhappy.
if you want to see somet get a bearded dragon or a yemen chameleon. Royals dont like out apart from when dark.
Also have a look at herptek vivs and vision vivs http://www.crystalpalacereptiles.com/shop/products.php?cat=41 if you are serious about going down the old fashioned route
Best bet is to buy the complete ball python and have a good read.
Sorry to woffle on and views are general not exact to every royal. (I have not had a royal yet that likes to be handled or be out and about)but you did ask for views.
mike

_dave_ · Key Member Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 449 Location: Kent

mike h · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 778

http://www.winracks.com/

have a look at his stuf. you can have includes 12 tubs steel rack heat strips & castor base: £445 still need to buy thermostat.
I am thinking about one of his 10 high single contico racks for myself.
i am sure there are a lot of nice royals out there like the ones you had, hopefully i will have one like that myself one day.
thanks
mike