please help

[burmeselover15]

Ok here it is, I have always heard that a burmese python learns by opening its cage when its time to eat and everything, is this true? i believe it is and if so if i made a food door at the top of my cage would it let all the heat out of it since heat rises if its made with hinges plywood and a handle, also how should i shine up/brighten up a enclosure that is 8X30X2. i thought that maybe a good sized florescent light would do the trick and if i should get a nightime bulb to light it up at night for viewing. I like darkness and the snake cage is going in my room and since she needs 12hours of light and 12hours of dark i think that it would be just fine to have it pitch black during the 12hours of nightime for her and just turn on the lights on for the other 12hours when she needs them. Im really not wanting to use a light timer due to maybe messing up the circuit its on by turning on the light if someone happens to want to take a look at her. Should i or no. Just wanting other peoples opinion on what they like because i want this to be the best snake cage that i have ever made in my life .

[ssjsmits]

You're complicating things too much. Snakes can learn and develop feeding habits. Such as the myth of "feeding in the enclosure causes aggressive snakes". I do, and don't, buy into this. If your only interaction with the snake is tossing a rodent in the cage, then sure, it will "learn" that opening means food. However, frequent interactions with the snake such as spot cleaning, water changing, handling etc etc won't associate the door opening to food.
.
And if you make a food door, opening and closing it to toss the rodent in isn't going to make a whole lot of heat escape, unless you house the snake in a ridiculously cold room and leave it open for awhile
.
As far as lighting goes, I don't use bulbs. timers or anything like that. Just the ambient light from the window. I don't care for bulbs used for night time viewing. Snakes don't need to be viewed all day.

[ssjsmits]

Welcome to RTC by the way. I'd like to see pics of this cage.

[faroutinmt]

Hi Burmeselover,

I heartily agree with ssjsmits over the food association issue. Snakes will only associate opening the door with food if that is the only time you open the door. I feed all my snakes in their cages and I reach into their cages on a daily basis and have never had a problem. They may see movement in the cage and investigate, but they will only want to eat you if you smell like their food.

Everyone has their own preferences on lighting. With my snakes I use florescent lighting during the day but not on a timer. What amazes me is that my snakes always seem to know when its around 9pm whether I've turned off their light or not! And if I turn off the light in their cages at 7pm, they will become active even if the light in the room in still on. So, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I would love to see pics of your snake and its cage when you're finished!

Hope this helps!

[burmeselover15]

ight will do post and thanks very much you 2 are the only ones that have took the time to pay attention to this post thanks so much

[burmeselover15]

alrighty i will post pics and thanks you 2 are like the only ones that have replied completely to this post ever thanks

[pythonguy21]

Originally Posted by burmeselover15

Ok here it is, I have always heard that a burmese python learns by opening its cage when its time to eat and everything, is this true? i believe it is and if so if i made a food door at the top of my cage would it let all the heat out of it since heat rises if its made with hinges plywood and a handle, also how should i shine up/brighten up a enclosure that is 8X30X2. i thought that maybe a good sized florescent light would do the trick and if i should get a nightime bulb to light it up at night for viewing. I like darkness and the snake cage is going in my room and since she needs 12hours of light and 12hours of dark i think that it would be just fine to have it pitch black during the 12hours of nightime for her and just turn on the lights on for the other 12hours when she needs them. Im really not wanting to use a light timer due to maybe messing up the circuit its on by turning on the light if someone happens to want to take a look at her. Should i or no. Just wanting other peoples opinion on what they like because i want this to be the best snake cage that i have ever made in my life .

d


i have been feeding my burm in her cage for almost the last year, i wait 4 days for her food to digest, and for her to poop, or at least pee. after that i can confidently stick my hand in her cage knowing she wont bite. im a firm believer that feeding snakes in their cage will not alter their personality's. although not to long ago i felt otherwise and it almost got me in serious trouble with my burm. in fact now feed all my snakes in thier cage, my brb, rtb, bps, and the burm and not a single snake has change in personality. granted im in thier every other day changing water, or handling them, or spot cleaning so in all reality the only way for them to attack when you stick your hand is this, you smell like food, you only stick your hand in to feed, or you have a mean snake to begin with.

anyways good luck.

	Brazilian Rainbow Boa

	Red Tail Boa

[burmeselover15]

well my snakes nowhere close to mean i think im going to start using the touching with the stick way to train her for no accidential meanings of her if you get what i mean.