Help with new Bredli

[kelsey]

Heya, I'm planning on picking up my first Bredli soon and am still undecided on a few things, i've tried searching the forums etc. but can't find all the information i'm after,
with enclosures, i've decided to get a medium-large sized one to start with
(i know people say to start small but there are just as many people saying they don't start in small enclosures in the wild..)
and i'll replace it when it needs a larger one.
The trouble im having is, people here are very conflicted with height vs length for bredlis so i think im going to get this one
http://reptileguys.com.au/store/inde...&products_id=7
because theres still quite a bit of room for branches for climbing etc.
does this look allright?
i've heard its also much easier to control the temps etc in longer enclosure
http://reptileguys.com.au/store/inde...&products_id=1 this was the alternative to the longer one.
i was also curious as to the best way to heat a larger enclosure, i know people use the heat mats with click clacks but i wasn't sure if the heat would still get through with enclosures like these?
and are night globes such as these http://reptileguys.com.au/store/inde...products_id=26 recommended for bredlis?

sorry for the long post, just want to make sure i have all the info i can possibly get before i pick him up!
if theres any other kind of info you have i'd loe to hear it
Ta!

[shnakey]

Hey there kelsey. i have a four and a half foot bredli in a dalbarb 4 foot by 7 foot high enclosure for him, he will right in that for life. I also purchased a hatchie that was born in jan 08 .(bought her a month ago) she is in the same tank as your looking at getting for yours. she is fine, apart from protecting her whole tank and gets me everytime i put my hand in shes fine. although if your ever planning on getting a stimson or anything small... DONT. i lost my stimy in the same tank, she went thru the click clack holes in the top. (everyone learns from there mistakes)
so yes the tank your looking at getting is good.. well your bredli should be ok in there for around a year and a half two years i say
Cheers
Bec

[kelsey]

thanks heaps, im guessing you mean the first enclosure pic?
yeah i thought it would be a bit protective for a while but once it gets use to it, it should calm down (hopefully!)
do you have a night light on yours?

[Bredlislave]

Hi Kelsey
Can you tell us what size your bredli is or will be ?

If a hatchling it would be quite suitable for a plastic box with a well fitting lid with small air holes drilled in top.
I like the ones from Big W. Systema brand prob.cost around $10.00 and sit one end of the box on a heat cord from the Herp Shop, 15 watt costs around $20.00.
My young bredli thrive in the above setups
Hope this helps
Cheers
Sandee

[shnakey]

yes sorry the fist one. i have a ceramic light on the top as the tank was dropping to 15 degrees at night. so a 60w ceramic on the top and a 50 tightbeam sun glo. but during the day i usually have to turn it off as i get alot of sun during the day which heats the tank up too quick .
Just keep an eye on it, you will work it out. good choice

[MrBredli]

Originally Posted by kelsey

(i know people say to start small but there are just as many people saying they don't start in small enclosures in the wild..)

Actually they do; they're called microhabitats. The people who know what they're talking about say to start small and for a good reason. If you intend to start with a big enclosure, you may as well start a thread now titled "Why won't my bredli eat?" or "My bredli escaped ". You may get lucky, you're snake may eat and it might not escape from its large enclosure. But there is no doubt that by choosing to use a bigger enclosure from the beginning, the chances of you encountering problems will be much, much higher than someone who chooses a click clack type setup.

[kelsey]

ah thanks heaps everyone! any more info about the night lights?

[buck]

Originally Posted by kelsey

ah thanks heaps everyone! any more info about the night lights?

There's no room for them in a small tub

Seriously, as has been said, you will more then likely find that keeping a small snake in enclosures that size will bring nothing but headaches for yourself. As Mr Bredli said chances are you will have feeding difficulties and your snake will also more then likely be very snappy due to the stress associated with living in such a large enclosure.
IMO those types of enclosures are more suitable for lizards/frogs then snakes. They seem to have way too much ventilation which will make maintaining temps difficult.

[theplantguys]

Originally Posted by Bredlislave

Hi Kelsey
heat cord from the Herp Shop, 15 watt costs around $20.00.

or of course we sell them for 18.50 also . In our shop at the moment we are selling them for $12 as they are on special until end of this month.

and yes i agree with everyone so far, i have had a snake escape from a click box, while cheap and they can live in them, i dont use them due to easy of escape, however many do with great success and no problems,

and yes a small snake in a big cage can lead to cranky snakes when in the cage, i personally have not had this problem but know many who do. it comes down to cost for many people but the snake x will be x size when adult and some find it more costly to get size x cage now and size y cage later. it up to personal choice. when we started out i got a small cage for this reason and when our first snake out grew the cage got another, then gosh darn it had an empty pen so got another snake for it, no point in leaving it empty

cheers
chris

[jessb]

Stephen from Dolittle Farms made a good point at one of his python handling courses - you never see hatchling snakes out in the wild. This is because they spend all their time under a rock or in a crevice or somewhere really safe and protected. This is why they need a really snug enclosure and loads of tiny hides (much smaller than you think they need!)

If you are planning on moving your snake to a bigger enclosure anyway, why not use a click clack for the first stage (about $40 altogether as mentioned above) then move to a larger, more expensive one, rather than buying two $100+ enclosures?

And the idea that hatchies will escape more easily from a click clack than a big enclosure seems a bit weird... If you buy a really firmly closing one (Sistema are great with clips on each side) and make holes with a metal BBQ skewer heated over a flame, then it is tight as a drum and there is no way for them to escape! Our Stimmie has been in there since we brought her home, and she is a real adventurer, and she has never gotten out.

[daniel1234]

No expert only had the one 2ft tank, but had the feeding problems which was solved with higher temps (with a smaller heat lamp). A night lamp is what, a hotter lamp for night or it stays on longer to provide better ambiant temps? My tank gets down to about 24ish at night lately.

[FNQ_Snake]

Mate the advice here has been really good so far. Most people who get a snake want the best enclosure for the animal straight away. One that works with there furniture and they have a spot picked out and everything. You just need to curb that exitement for a moment and think of the well being of your reptile.

I understand that when they are out in the wild, they are hatched into a huge wide world. But this is all good for wild animals with no human contact. If you are looking at wanting to handle your Bredli without it taking a liking to biting you a small click-clack in the interim would be the best idea. I have my hatchie in a 45cm long x 25 cm high x 25 cm wide click-clack.

I have a 25W heat mate on te bottom, a small hide, a small drinking water bowl and newspaper as a substrate. I also have a bamboo branch for him to climb on.

You will find the small enclosure allows him enough room to move around and feel safe. It also makes cleaning easier, as well as feeding.

As for lighting. A small enclosure is not really in the need for light. A click-clack will allow most of the light to enter anyways during your normal hours.

If you are still set on getting a large enclosure, then be prepared to have a more difficult time than normal in feeding him. He will be stressed in a larger environment.

Cheers