Turned out great and looks like you had fun doing it, and you'll take some new learned skills into your next build! Spray foam can be a pain, spray less and slower to reduce pours. A+ job!
Thank you- I SO appreciate you taking the time to watch and all of the guidance you offer in your own vids. I did have fun, and I’m starting to Dream up what’s next!!
@Snake_Therapy so glad you enjoyed the project that came out great. And that's the fun part, dreaming what's next and making it a reality. Looking forward to what you come up with next 🤘💯🤘
A definite labor of love that I'm sure your beautiful snake will thrive in! Appreciate your comments about perfectionism and letting go of it in certain parts of the process. As a fellow perfectionist it's great to hear and see others letting go of it and learning to be ok with 'good' and not 'perfect' (which isn't possible anyway).
Thank you. 💙 The drive to be perfect can be negative, but it can also be a positive, motivating force as long as you allow yourself to let go at a certain point. For me, it's a constant battle!
@Snake_Therapy agreed! I think the key is knowing when to turn it on and tirn it off. Else leisurely enjoyments suddenly carry a weight of importance they're not meant to bear. Learning myself as well.
One more thing, this vid was a great reminder for me that life is one big process made up of smaller ones, and it's a sometimes challenging, but beautiful thing to be a work in progress!
I feel so seen as a fellow perfectionist. WOW that was a process!! Thanks for showing us!! It's always interesting hearing a creator's perspective on their creation, because the flaws they see in their work are sometimes things the audience wouldn't notice. Like the poop hide or the spray foam blob in the corner 🤣😂 It turned out so nice!! Seeing the hot knife in action and the painting process was so satisfying. The enclosure has lots of personality. Congrats on the updated room and congrats to Anu for her magnificent new space! Here's to many more plants crushed! Anu with the dirt all over her head killed me 😂🐍🌱
@@lizardman6515 for a time. Ume was probably worried we were moving. She also is extremely nosy… tho we like to call it “helpful”. Ume “Always helpful” -or- “Always Underfoot” Loa
I am so impressed with your ineptness with tools and with you creativity! I know that was not an easy project but you made it look easy and beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us allowing us to see Anu as she entered her new home! It is immaculate!
Hahahah, ineptness? Sometimes I am yes, but I prefer to be _adept_ with my tools when I can 😂 But I think I know what you meant, so thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
Wow adding that second color really made the hardscape pop! I've been on the fence about whether I want to add structures like this inside the enclosure I'm restoring for the Boa I'll be getting soon, and I think this video convinced me that I need to give it a try.
thank you and that's so awesome- you should totally try it! Anu spends a lot of time on the structures so far. You could also totally make them REMOVABLE structures that just sit flush up against a wall, or even connect via a bracket and screws for support until you want to remove them!
@@Snake_Therapy I’m very inspired and at the shop here in Colorado I have access to foam cutters and laser cutters. Super grateful I found this video of yours. I think we even have some foam board like you used. 😜🐍🏡❤️
this is amazing! #terrariumgoals for sure! thanks for sharing all of this. I feel a long way away from being able to achieve this kind of outcome but I feel inspired to take some baby steps towards it that I know my snakes will appreciate.
Any amount of inspiration is SUCCESS to me! :) Did you see the bamboo episode? There'll be a new build coming out soon too. Lots of things to learn and try out. 🥰
@@Snake_Therapy I did see the bamboo episode! I'm so impressed with how natural they look. You are incredibly creative, I love it! Excited for the full episode about Elora's enclosure!
Turned out beautifully! I've been looking at these enclosures for a while now---and actually found your channel because I was searching for information about them. I want to upgrade my boa amarali eventually (she's in a 4x2x2 for now as an almost 2 year old)----and I think this is what I want to use. I'm also really interested in these naturalistic backgrounds....my question is----do you think if I were to work the background in smaller sections (2x2x2 bits at a time....)---the enclosure would still go together once assembled into what I'd like to be a 6x4x2 enclosure? Thank you for any insight you have! I love your channel!
@ashleyfinch1203 yes you can totally do the backgrounds for expansion, just be very aware of which pieces you connect permanently with foam/glue etc. For example, I did the Back and one side of each 4x2x2, but I did connect the hardscape to the face with the doors, but in your case, you'd do the back and one side and just make sure the face was removable. You could still do the other side too, just make sure it's not sealed to the others so you can remove it later. The OTHER option (which I was just made aware of by Apex), is that when you buy the initial 4x2x2 from them, get the one that has a window on the side you plan on expanding from: (I do not recommend extra windows for snake enclosures normally, but you can get tinted acrylic or simply just cover it up) it turns out that the window pieces also are the same as the Connection pieces! so you might save some headache there as well. Then you could expand from the side, and when you're ready for the 4' depth, take the face/door pieces off and expand from there. Also, you could reach out to Apex for insight and suggestions, but I think what you're planning has great potential, and you can totally do background scaping as long as you plan it out a little in advance! Hope this helps, and feel free to contact me directly if you want any more advice, or hit me up on the discord server!
The good ones I usually get at expos, or at good local reptile shops. I prefer to be able to pick them out in person. Ordering online means you never really know what you're going to get.
I don't know if it can help but for keeping my dwarf boa from uprooting the various pothos I put in his enclosure, is to put a lot of clay balls on the soil. He doesn't seem to enjoy the texture. I feel a bit ashamed now with such a large enclosure, because I was planning to get him a "only" 150cmx60x60 (sorry I don't know how it is in imperials) because he is still very small at 3 years old and as a typical boa, not very active.
That's an AWESOME tip!! I don't have clay balls but I do have some rocks, and I bet that will help- thank you! 150cm is 59ish inches, which is just under 5 ft. for a 3 year old boa, that's totally reasonable, as long as he doesn't already exceed the length of the enclosure. BCI's can get large, so you *may* want to size up at some point, but you shouldn't feel bad with the size you have now. Many people give them way less, unfortunately. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
@@Snake_Therapy he is a caulker cay boa, so one of the smallest within the dwarf boa range. He should get around 4 feet max so the 5ft enclosure would be his forever home shouldn’t he grow larger of course. His subspecies is supposed to be mostly arboreal though he doesn’t display much this behaviour yet. So I was wondering if I should go taller or not. I live in a cold climate so heat is an issue in winter. Right now he is in a 80cm by 50x50. I plan the 5ft update for next December or January actually.
Ah, I see. I wouldn't go less than 2' height, because although they are *primarily* terrestrial, they do climb some of the times, and I believe it's best to always give them the option. You never know what they get up to in the middle of the night...! BCI's tend to climb a little less as they age due to their increase in weight and size, but as a smaller boa, he may still enjoy the option every now and again! If you're having issues with heating the enclosure, I'm happy to discuss solutions with you- perhaps on discord would be best- if you want to! we can go through more specifics of the enclosure type, what you are using currently, and options for helping support the temp gradient. ❤
@ren2704 So I just did some digging, and the caulker cay is not considered a separate species of boa imperator, even though they tend to be smaller. Sightings in Belize (where they are native to) on inaturalist show them both on the ground and in trees, so I'd keep offering him the option to climb (as in, don't reduce height when you upgrade- keep it at least 2 ft high with branches/perches).
@@Snake_Therapy Right now he has several branches and I noticed he prefers to be fed while there (feeding time in some minutes actually :p ). I have seen his father and he is around 130cm but relatively thick. Over here in Europe, PVC enclosures are slowly starting to be popular but are very expensive. Thus now I use a commonly found glass enclosure. Btw, if you enjoy caulker cay pattern, I would gladly send you one for your business
Oh, interesting... what's the difference between an electric carving knife and the hot knife (which is electric)? I'm gonna have to look into that... Thank you!
Turned out great and looks like you had fun doing it, and you'll take some new learned skills into your next build! Spray foam can be a pain, spray less and slower to reduce pours.
A+ job!
Thank you- I SO appreciate you taking the time to watch and all of the guidance you offer in your own vids. I did have fun, and I’m starting to Dream up what’s next!!
@Snake_Therapy so glad you enjoyed the project that came out great. And that's the fun part, dreaming what's next and making it a reality. Looking forward to what you come up with next
🤘💯🤘
I made my enclosure out of wood, but otherwise did many of the same things you did. The foam board as rocks is such a good idea and my snake loves it
@@gamer8622 that’s awesome! What did you seal the wood with?
A definite labor of love that I'm sure your beautiful snake will thrive in! Appreciate your comments about perfectionism and letting go of it in certain parts of the process. As a fellow perfectionist it's great to hear and see others letting go of it and learning to be ok with 'good' and not 'perfect' (which isn't possible anyway).
Thank you. 💙 The drive to be perfect can be negative, but it can also be a positive, motivating force as long as you allow yourself to let go at a certain point. For me, it's a constant battle!
@Snake_Therapy agreed! I think the key is knowing when to turn it on and tirn it off. Else leisurely enjoyments suddenly carry a weight of importance they're not meant to bear. Learning myself as well.
One more thing, this vid was a great reminder for me that life is one big process made up of smaller ones, and it's a sometimes challenging, but beautiful thing to be a work in progress!
well done ,,,, congrats ,,,,
Thank you so much 😀
I feel so seen as a fellow perfectionist. WOW that was a process!! Thanks for showing us!! It's always interesting hearing a creator's perspective on their creation, because the flaws they see in their work are sometimes things the audience wouldn't notice. Like the poop hide or the spray foam blob in the corner 🤣😂 It turned out so nice!! Seeing the hot knife in action and the painting process was so satisfying. The enclosure has lots of personality. Congrats on the updated room and congrats to Anu for her magnificent new space! Here's to many more plants crushed! Anu with the dirt all over her head killed me 😂🐍🌱
Thank you- and yep- one of my favorite moments as well!! That and the moments with Ume 🥹🥰
@@Snake_Therapy yes Ume following you and looking at everything 😆🐶 Ume and John were integral!! Did she stay on her bed after you brought it in??
@@lizardman6515 for a time. Ume was probably worried we were moving. She also is extremely nosy… tho we like to call it “helpful”. Ume “Always helpful” -or- “Always Underfoot” Loa
@@Snake_Therapy love it ❤😂🐶
I am so impressed with your ineptness with tools and with you creativity! I know that was not an easy project but you made it look easy and beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us allowing us to see Anu as she entered her new home! It is immaculate!
Hahahah, ineptness? Sometimes I am yes, but I prefer to be _adept_ with my tools when I can 😂 But I think I know what you meant, so thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!
@@Snake_Therapy Remember...I'm from Texas and we sometimes speak a different language!!! LOL! 🤣🤣🤣
Incredible
@@Birdie284 aw, that’s so kind! I’ve learned a lot since then. Wait ‘til the new one comes out! 😊💕🐍
Its amazing! it came out soo good. Congrats, what a spoiled snake.
Thanks so much! 😊 She is, but she deserves every bit of it.
Wow adding that second color really made the hardscape pop! I've been on the fence about whether I want to add structures like this inside the enclosure I'm restoring for the Boa I'll be getting soon, and I think this video convinced me that I need to give it a try.
thank you and that's so awesome- you should totally try it! Anu spends a lot of time on the structures so far. You could also totally make them REMOVABLE structures that just sit flush up against a wall, or even connect via a bracket and screws for support until you want to remove them!
Amazing enclosure. Just a little bit jealous 😜
Haha, yeah, I'm lucky, and so is Anu!! It was a LOT of work, but so worth it!! dreaming of what I'll do for the next one!
@@Snake_Therapy I’m very inspired and at the shop here in Colorado I have access to foam cutters and laser cutters. Super grateful I found this video of yours.
I think we even have some foam board like you used. 😜🐍🏡❤️
Wow! That looks amazing!
Thank you!!😊
Wonderful!!
@@kashmereart9330 thank you so much! This weekend has a new build vid that I’m excited to share- I’ve learned so much since I did this one!
this is amazing! #terrariumgoals for sure! thanks for sharing all of this. I feel a long way away from being able to achieve this kind of outcome but I feel inspired to take some baby steps towards it that I know my snakes will appreciate.
Any amount of inspiration is SUCCESS to me! :) Did you see the bamboo episode? There'll be a new build coming out soon too. Lots of things to learn and try out. 🥰
@@Snake_Therapy I did see the bamboo episode! I'm so impressed with how natural they look. You are incredibly creative, I love it! Excited for the full episode about Elora's enclosure!
@@chiron_therapy 🥰❤️🐍
Turned out great! Thank you for sharing! I’m planning to do something like this in the near future :)
That's awesome! I am excited to do something similar for all of my snakes eventually :)
Amazing looks beautiful 😊
Thank you so much! 😊❤
@@Snake_Therapy yw that was a lot of work and you did it really well
😊 aw, thank you that's so kind of you to say. It was a lot of work, but worth it!!
@@Snake_Therapy the cave that you didn't like the second one I thought that came out really good 😊
Thank you! Anu actually spends a lot of time in there, so her vote counts more than mine 😂
Great video
Thanks so much!
You did a good job
@@matthewbell9667 thanks so much! Learned a lot since this one. Getting better!
Turned out beautifully! I've been looking at these enclosures for a while now---and actually found your channel because I was searching for information about them. I want to upgrade my boa amarali eventually (she's in a 4x2x2 for now as an almost 2 year old)----and I think this is what I want to use. I'm also really interested in these naturalistic backgrounds....my question is----do you think if I were to work the background in smaller sections (2x2x2 bits at a time....)---the enclosure would still go together once assembled into what I'd like to be a 6x4x2 enclosure? Thank you for any insight you have! I love your channel!
@ashleyfinch1203 yes you can totally do the backgrounds for expansion, just be very aware of which pieces you connect permanently with foam/glue etc. For example, I did the Back and one side of each 4x2x2, but I did connect the hardscape to the face with the doors, but in your case, you'd do the back and one side and just make sure the face was removable. You could still do the other side too, just make sure it's not sealed to the others so you can remove it later. The OTHER option (which I was just made aware of by Apex), is that when you buy the initial 4x2x2 from them, get the one that has a window on the side you plan on expanding from: (I do not recommend extra windows for snake enclosures normally, but you can get tinted acrylic or simply just cover it up) it turns out that the window pieces also are the same as the Connection pieces! so you might save some headache there as well. Then you could expand from the side, and when you're ready for the 4' depth, take the face/door pieces off and expand from there. Also, you could reach out to Apex for insight and suggestions, but I think what you're planning has great potential, and you can totally do background scaping as long as you plan it out a little in advance! Hope this helps, and feel free to contact me directly if you want any more advice, or hit me up on the discord server!
nice nice :-))
Thank you! 😊
Where do you get your branches for your enclosures? I can't find large branches anywhere.
The good ones I usually get at expos, or at good local reptile shops. I prefer to be able to pick them out in person. Ordering online means you never really know what you're going to get.
@@Snake_Therapy Thanks, I guess I'll have to hit up a reptile expo when one comes around. I appreciate the reply👍🏽
I don't know if it can help but for keeping my dwarf boa from uprooting the various pothos I put in his enclosure, is to put a lot of clay balls on the soil. He doesn't seem to enjoy the texture. I feel a bit ashamed now with such a large enclosure, because I was planning to get him a "only" 150cmx60x60 (sorry I don't know how it is in imperials) because he is still very small at 3 years old and as a typical boa, not very active.
That's an AWESOME tip!! I don't have clay balls but I do have some rocks, and I bet that will help- thank you! 150cm is 59ish inches, which is just under 5 ft. for a 3 year old boa, that's totally reasonable, as long as he doesn't already exceed the length of the enclosure. BCI's can get large, so you *may* want to size up at some point, but you shouldn't feel bad with the size you have now. Many people give them way less, unfortunately. Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
@@Snake_Therapy he is a caulker cay boa, so one of the smallest within the dwarf boa range. He should get around 4 feet max so the 5ft enclosure would be his forever home shouldn’t he grow larger of course. His subspecies is supposed to be mostly arboreal though he doesn’t display much this behaviour yet. So I was wondering if I should go taller or not. I live in a cold climate so heat is an issue in winter. Right now he is in a 80cm by 50x50. I plan the 5ft update for next December or January actually.
Ah, I see. I wouldn't go less than 2' height, because although they are *primarily* terrestrial, they do climb some of the times, and I believe it's best to always give them the option. You never know what they get up to in the middle of the night...! BCI's tend to climb a little less as they age due to their increase in weight and size, but as a smaller boa, he may still enjoy the option every now and again! If you're having issues with heating the enclosure, I'm happy to discuss solutions with you- perhaps on discord would be best- if you want to! we can go through more specifics of the enclosure type, what you are using currently, and options for helping support the temp gradient. ❤
@ren2704 So I just did some digging, and the caulker cay is not considered a separate species of boa imperator, even though they tend to be smaller. Sightings in Belize (where they are native to) on inaturalist show them both on the ground and in trees, so I'd keep offering him the option to climb (as in, don't reduce height when you upgrade- keep it at least 2 ft high with branches/perches).
@@Snake_Therapy Right now he has several branches and I noticed he prefers to be fed while there (feeding time in some minutes actually :p ). I have seen his father and he is around 130cm but relatively thick. Over here in Europe, PVC enclosures are slowly starting to be popular but are very expensive. Thus now I use a commonly found glass enclosure. Btw, if you enjoy caulker cay pattern, I would gladly send you one for your business
It turned out fantastic!
If you decide to give spray foam another chance plasti dip and an electric carving knife will be your best friends
Oh, interesting... what's the difference between an electric carving knife and the hot knife (which is electric)? I'm gonna have to look into that... Thank you!
@@Snake_Therapy The hot knife works great on eva foam but not extruded/spray foam. The carving knife just makes all that slicing easier.
yeah, I mentioned in the vid how annoying it was to cut the spray foam with the hot knife. I'll explore that a little for next time.