If you are snake owner who has a large collection of snakes, or just wants a more beautiful place in which to display your pet, moving to a customized snake enclosure maybe just what you need.  Now there are many options and styles out there for you to choose from, I hope to make that process a little easier for you.

If you have a large snake collection your needs are pretty unique compared to those who are raising just one or two reptiles.  Choosing the right habitat will be based on several different factors including, the size of the collection, the amount of room you have, and if you need a display piece or just need to consolidate your tanks.

One popular option is a racking enclosure system.  These are typically greater in length than tall, and can accomodate a large collection in a verticle space.  They essentially stack one on top of the other.  It is a great space saver and a way to get organized. 

You can purchase these types of racks from a number of different manufacturers and they come in a variety of construction material.  Your common options will include, wood, metal, and plastic.  These are quite popular in the professional field as you can have multiple snakes in a small foot print, and keep growing your collection by adding a new rack right next to it.

If you are industrious, you can attempt to build your own system.  There are several places you can find plans as well as a couple of you tube videos.  I won't go into the nitty gritty of it here as it would take another, or several more articles to explain.  However they can be built with wood, plexiglass and a little bit of gumption.

A more common scenario for custom snake cages is a display piece in your home.  You may have a beautiful boa or python that you would like as a focal point in one of your rooms where you and your guest can get some enjoyment.  This is a great place for a beautifully crafted cage.

Your choices here will also vary quite a bit.  The first consideration that I take into account is the size of my snake, and what stage of the life cycle it is in.  If it is still a baby and has a lot more growing to do, you need to bear in mind that spending a lot of money on a custom habitat maybe something you want to hold off on a bit.  As you may be stuck with your old cage once your snake has reached adult size and you need to upgrade to a larger enclosure.  Just something to consider.

Now these display cages are really quite nice.  You can find models that range from aluminum to finished wood.  The finished wood gives you a nice option to match it with any existing furniture that you may already have in your home.  I quite partial to the brushed aluminum as I like that modern look. 

You want to make sure you look for a well known and quality manufacturer.  They will provide you with a warranty should you have any problems with your habitat.  It is important to have a solid company behind that warranty, one that is willing to go the extra mile for their customers should something be faulty.

A nice feature of these types of cages is that they will come pre-configured with lighting, and possibly humidity and heating controls.  These can often times be additional items, not quoted in the price of the base unit, so make sure and ask.  It is nice to have these pre-installed and ready to go when the cage reaches your house.

Once there all you need to do is clean it out and go through the setup process.  I'll cover both of those in another article as well.

Hopefully this gave you some ideas of what options there are and things to look for when choosing a customized snake enclosure.