Hi, I would like to share with you the enclosure I made for my boa. I’ve been planning this for a while, as it’s my first enclosure for a snake, and I’m a bit unsure what more experienced people might think of it. My goal was to leave as much space as possible at the bottom for my boa to move freely on the substrate and also provide the option to climb higher. I decided to place the pool in the cooler section, but during the next renovation, when she grows larger, I’ll place it centrally. I positioned a branch near the ceiling, which runs above the pool. I dreamed of having her hang from the branch and drink water, and I actually managed to capture this on a night camera while I was observing how she uses the enclosure. The pool I placed holds about 4 liters. It’s a transparent plastic container that I’ve embedded in a rock structure. It’s not very convenient because I first have to scoop out the water with a bowl before I can remove the container for cleaning, as it’s too heavy to lift with the water still in it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to create a water drainage system in a glass enclosure to integrate the pool with the entire structure without using removable containers.
During the day, she usually stays in or on the hide right under the heating lamp, behind the root on the lowest level, or in the middle of the shelf or by the pool. At night, she just roams and roams. I made the shelves from styrofoam, which was coated with Atlas cement, acrylic paint, and Epidian 624 resin with IDA hardener. I also installed LED strips and an automatic sprayer on the ceiling ventilation. At first, I used paper towels as the substrate, but some time ago, I switched to coconut chips. Initially, I was worried about the smell, but now it’s not as intense. The enclosure is 4x2x2. What do you think?
Wow! Those are fantastic videos! You have put in a lot of effort to create an amazing environment for your boa! I love the video that catches her drinking from her pool! And the music is lovely as well!
Looks pleasing to the eye and enriching for your boa. I have made lots of enclosures in my day and none of them ever looked as amazing as yours. Mostly shoe boxes, starelite totes or plywood boxes and nothing showing as much talent as your’s. My suggestion is to have an idea of what you can due to allow your boa room to grow and adjust to increasing weight. She will outgrow that space quickly if its a 2x4x3. You’ll want to have a larger enclosure ready or an idea of what you can move to allow room to grow or support her weight as it increases.
Have you seen brads bioactive builds. I love his set ups. This video shows off his stuff.
@adon87 I was hoping that she wouldn’t outgrow this enclosure for the next two years. If she does, I’m ready to make her a new one from scratch, as it seems easier to me than modifying what I have now. For now, she seems so tiny in it. But honestly, I hope that within these two years, we’ll move to a new apartment, and I’ll be able to get her something bigger. I’m looking forward to watching his films when I get back from work.
Maybe it works out. Every animal is different and some really take off after that 2.5yr mark. Some never take off and just slow grow it out. I have seen some smaller 5 year olds. You should be ok as long as you can move things around or remove them. You could also adjust heat coverage as she takes up more space. If she touches end to end and her tail makes an L or has difuculty thermoregulating then you need a new cage fast. Just keep an eye on that cool set up and watch that boa grow. Before you know it she will be end to end. . I personally think 4ft cage is small for 3.5yr and older female boas with some exceptions. Eventually biger hides or none at all. The natural landscape will provide that. They like to dig under thecoco husk and it will help adding 1/2 in to 1 in layer of coco husk under and around that ledge. Lots of benifits given the water feature and ledge combo. Maybe you dont need to move the water at all.
Anyway, this video has perfect timing. Check out how cool the cages are in this video. Hopefully it gives you inspiration.
@adon87 What do you mean by “has difuculty thermoregulating”? I’m not sure if I understand you correctly, but apart from providing the appropriate temperature in the warm and cooler sections, I don’t know how else I could check if she’s having problems with thermoregulation. As for her length in relation to the enclosure, I think she’s already as long as its longest side, because I saw her moving along the track by the glass. I was under the impression that the enclosure should be at least as long as half the length of the snake, so I thought it would be fine as long as she doesn’t exceed 8 feet. For now, she fits into the hide made from a pot without any issues, but when she grows bigger, I was thinking about making a removable hide in the same way I made the shelves. I mean a rock cover forming a rock igloo.
The enclosures are impressive, but they are also incredibly large. I’ve always wondered how they manage to get the snakes out when they are hiding somewhere in such a huge, structurally complex space.
I was referring to the fact that as your boa gets biger the space gets taken up. Its harder for big animals to regulate temps in small cages. You could adjust accordingly. Dont stress you have 1 to 2 years depending on feedings. Maybe longer but i say 2 is max.
@z-a-r-i-n-a What type of boa is that? Also my vet told me that the proper size enclosure for any snake should accommodate the snake comfortably as the snake stretches out in an L shape, length and depth of the enclosure.
In other words, this is an example of the minimum size enclosure for a snake. However as has been suggested, bigger is always better, especially for an adult snake. Of course there are exceptions.
In addition to thermoregulation, snakes need to be able to stretch out occasionally, whether they are terrestrial or arboreal. Out of the enclosure exercise counts as well.
The best thing to do is not to overthink the situation.
@caron Haha, yes, I definitely have a tendency to overthink. Now, the enclosure is good for her, she has a lot of space and can climb. When she needs more, I’ll give her more, I love her so much, she’s so well-behaved. In response to your question, she is a boa constrictor and is about 1.5 years old.
