Rack for beauty snakes

[dannybgoode]

Originally Posted by FangsAnarchy

I'm considering getting a Taiwanese Beauty sale and read a care sheet stating they need a 125gal aquarium. I was wondering if anyone has had success with this species in a rack system and if so what size bin did you use? I know they are anorak so I'm assuming the bin would have to be tall. Would it be better to just build a pvc enclosure instead?

A rack would be entirely unsuitable for a beauty. They are large active arboreal snakes and need an enclosure to match. Personally I wouldn't keep one in anything smaller than a 6' wide, 6' high, 2' deep enclosure.

[Scubadiver59]

I happen to have one of those 7'6" Taiwanese Beauty Snakes, but his style is being cramped in that I have him in a 6'x2'x16" PVC cage.

I've been mulling a BoaMaster 4'x2'x5' (lwh) PVC cage but that thing runs $900...sure, it's expensive, but it would be a lot lighter than a 3/4" 6x2x6 wooden enclosure. I guess you could use 1/2" but I would expect inside bracing to be used at the joints.

That being said, has anyone built anything this size--6'x2'x6' in wood? If so, what does it weigh?

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

A rack would be entirely unsuitable for a beauty. They are large active arboreal snakes and need an enclosure to match. Personally I wouldn't keep one in anything smaller than a 6' wide, 6' high, 2' deep enclosure.

[jjhill001]

Originally Posted by Scubadiver59

I happen to have one of those 7'6" Taiwanese Beauty Snakes, but his style is being cramped in that I have him in a 6'x2'x16" PVC cage.

I've been mulling a BoaMaster 4'x2'x5' (lwh) PVC cage but that thing runs $900...sure, it's expensive, but it would be a lot lighter than a 3/4" 6x2x6 wooden enclosure. I guess you could use 1/2" but I would expect inside bracing to be used at the joints.

That being said, has anyone built anything this size--6'x2'x6' in wood? If so, what does it weigh?

A generic piece of plywood 8x4ft @ 3/4" thickness is 66lbs (could vary based on type of wood).

So 32 sq ft at 66lbs = 2.06lbs per sq ft.

Back Wall= 6x6ft = 36 sq ft
Sides and Top and Bottom= 6x2ft (4total) = 48 sq ft.

36+48= 84 x 2.06 = 173lbs in wood alone.

The problem with getting one of those enclosures built is that it would result in quite a bit of wasted wood just based on how the dimensions would work out. You'd need 2 full sheets of 8x4 just to do the sides, top and bottom. With 2x4 feet lost on both. The back would be really weird to make as you'd need 2 8x4 panels to do that as well. With just as much waste on one and even more on the 2nd one.

I don't think you could get pvc sheets in the US in a 6x6 panel and couldn't find anywhere that I could even buy a custom size that large. PVC is also obnoxiously expensive I've found when looking into them and found it to be MUCH more cost effective to get them from a vendor who specializes in them and can afford to buy in bulk.

You'll notice that most professionally designed cages are also restricted to that 8x4 overall side size. I understand that these animals are active but basically unless someone is a fairly experienced woodworker then beauty snakes should literally never be owned by anyone if 6x2x6 is the actual recommended size for this species.

In my opinion, I haven't kept this species mind you, but I would sacrifice length of the enclosure for added width or height. 6x4x4ft or 4x4x6ft would probably be more than enough space. Adds more floor square footage and beats the height of a 125 gal which is the current minimum recommended size that I've seen, would be pretty easy to build and definitely beats the little tubs we know many breeders keep them in.