Hides?

[Meyou4042]

Good evening! I wanted to post pics of Princess Reggie's new 55 gallon tank, and ask a question.

I have a hide in here for her, but as soon as I put her in the new cage with the branches she stays on the branch - I mean like all the time. Are Boa's generally different in that aspect? (She is a Nic/Hog mix)

She ate a med size rat on Saturday, and I have to give her the antibiotic shot tomorrow.

How long do you generally wait between feeding and handling? I usually wait 48 hours...

[Terranaut]

I hate to sound begative but your setup is not ideal. Heat lamps and screen tops dry your snake out. Do a search on here for screen tops andread away . The vast majority of people using your setup end up with shed issues. You built a nice convection oven there ;).
also you need a warm and cool side hide. You should cover 3 sides to help the snake feel more secure as well. Not trying to be a downer here , just being honest.

[Meyou4042]

Thanks for the input....cover three side with what? I mist on a daily basis as well as provide a soaking dish. One end is warmer than the other, and since she has an RI I do not want it too humid in there.

[Meyou4042]

And if I put something on top of the screen lid to keep in humidity, how does the heat get in from the lamps??? Under the tank heaters do not impress me at all.

[RyanReptile]

Damp towels, wood, plastic it doesn't really matter. The whole top doesn't need to be cover but try to aim for 2/3 at least.

[Meyou4042]

That I can do!!! Thanks for the input!!!

[CosmicOwl]

And if I put something on top of the screen lid to keep in humidity, how does the heat get in from the lamps??? Under the tank heaters do not impress me at all.

They're a much better choice.

[Meyou4042]

Cosmic,

I have them for my balls and I do not see how they give off enough heat for the tanks, and yes I purchased the appropriate size.

[CosmicOwl]

Cosmic,

I have them for my balls and I do not see how they give off enough heat for the tanks, and yes I purchased the appropriate size.

Screen top glass tanks don't usually hold heat as well as tubs or other enclosures. Your results are the consequence of using a set up that isn't really right for BP's. With the proper set up, a UTH will provide the best results because they don't sacrifice humidity for heat.

[Meyou4042]

Ok, so what is the "proper" set up? I already have the tanks and am not going to redo all three tanks. I am more than willing to modify. Both BP's have under the tank heaters. One actually has two, and the other only has one. They seem to take a long time getting warm, but again, that may be because of the screen lid. I do have most of the tanks lids blocked off with a towel. I will get an UTH for Reggie this coming weekend. Since her tank is 55 gal, do I need to get one for 55 gal, or is a smaller one ok since I want a hot side and a cooler side?

[Terranaut]

Daily misting just spikes humidity but it still goes dry over the course of the day. What temps do you have currently?
Listen to all of the advice posted and your snakes will be happy campers. Glass can be made to work but tubs are much less hassle.

If you keep the tanks get a background like a fish tank and cover 3 sides with it. It gives the illusion of more cover to the snake.

[Meyou4042]

I do not care for tubs because it seems almost cruel to the snake....they have no where to stretch out, isolated (yes I know they like that), and not at all pleasing on the eye. Can you show me pics of your tubs and how you keep them?

[Terranaut]

I do not use tubs I use actual snake cages. Tubs can be huge if you want. True snake cages are best.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/20130220_161602_zps2660fd3c.jpg

[Sharlynn93]

I use tanks for my snakes (except my BRB, temporarily)..I modified them by putting plexiglass (or lexan) pieces over the screen lid of the tanks...holds the heat and humidity beautifully...plus you can move them if the humidity, etc, gets too high...I have UTH for everyone except my corns...but eventually they will get them also...my BRB is in a tub (i resisted that idea forever) but truthfully, its not terrible at all...he is in quarantine in my living room, the tub is "clear" enough we can see into it, but he feels secure...as for the "tanks" my others are in, I used contact paper (taped to the back of the tank, not the inside) for aesthetic purposes, but then put black posterboard on the sides to black them out...they are a lot more active since I have done that...hope I helped a little...

[Sharlynn93]

I do not use tubs I use actual snake cages. Tubs can be huge if you want. True snake cages are best.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/20130220_161602_zps2660fd3c.jpg

this is what we are planning in the near future :) either pre-made or home-made, but it will be done!! beautiful, terranaut!!

[kwhitlock]

I do not care for tubs because it seems almost cruel to the snake....they have no where to stretch out, isolated (yes I know they like that), and not at all pleasing on the eye. Can you show me pics of your tubs and how you keep them?

I'll post one of mine for my BRB. I hated tubs and thought the same thing. But honestly for $20 you cannot go wrong. They are great inexpensive way to house snakes. You will need a much bigger tub for your boa, but for my brb he's about 2ft long. It holds temps so well, along with humidity, IMO, they are the 2nd best option next to an actual cage made for a snake, either home made or professionally built.

[Meyou4042]

Terranaut,

Those are gorgeous!! Can't afford that right now, but the plexiglas idea will work for me for now. I will also get an UTH this weekend. My hubby and I are researching DIY enclosures, so we may give that a try as well.

I gave Reggie her antibiotic shot tonight and it was easy as can be!!

For her type of snake, which is more important - the length of the cage, or overall space? She really seems to like to be high up.

[Meyou4042]

KWhit - what kind of tub? Can you send me pics? But what about room for her to move around in??

[KORBIN5895]

I would guarantee your set up is too cold and that's why he isn't moving.

I would get radiant heat panels for your enclosures. Or you can cover the whole top with aluminum foil and set your heat lamp on the foil. It will act like a rhp but not be as efficient.

[Meyou4042]

Korbin,

Where she is pearching is about 85 degrees on that side of the tank...? What are radiant heat panels? At this time all I have for her is the heat lamps, no UTH yet. Are both needed?

Please be patient with me - trying to learn and relearn how to best care for all three snakes!

[KORBIN5895]

I keep my boas at a hot spot of 93°f . 85°f is too low. Radiant heat panels are a heat source that mounts inside the cage. It radiates the heat so most of it passes straight down. It will also help heat the ambient temperature.

[Mikoh4792]

Hi Meyou.

This is a radiant heat panel RBI Radiant Heat Panels (http://www.reptilebasics.com/rbi-radiant-heat-panels)

You just use two screws to mount them on the ceiling of a cage like this(from my cage)

http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a594/mikoh4792/20131103_143521_zps7729b01b.jpg



Whatever heat source you use, you need a thermostat to control each heat source. that black probe you see zip tied to one of those branches is a probe that reads the temperature. When it gets to the temperature that I set the thermostat to(for example 100f) the heat either shuts off or slows down(depending on the kind of thermostat you use). This way the temperature doesn't go over 100f nor does it get much colder than 100f

[Meyou4042]

Mikoh,

There is no chance that the snake will get too close to that and burn itself? I will def get the thermostat this weekend.

[Mikoh4792]

Mikoh,

There is no chance that the snake will get too close to that and burn itself? I will def get the thermostat this weekend.

Not really. Radiant heat panels don't get as hot as light bulbs or ceramic heat emitters.

The way they heat the enclosure is also different. It's pretty interesting to read up on it.

Also most companies give some sort of 10+ year warranty so if it breaks you can get it replaced.

[Meyou4042]

Cool - I will check it out!!

Thank you !

[kwhitlock]

KWhit - what kind of tub? Can you send me pics? But what about room for her to move around in??

Its a 69qt tub I believe. It's about as long as he is maybe a tad longer, I opted for the taller over the longer because I wanted to see if my BRB was a climber or not but I couldn't imagine trying to hold 90% or higher humidity in an aquarium. But here is my setup, simple. Ignore the ear plugs I have in the holes, I put to many holes in for ventilation and it was to hard to hold the humidity I needed, so I plugged em up.

For your boa, I would switch for a longer over taller tub. You will probably spend $15-$20 ish for a big enclosure for em. Make sure it has locking lids and if your worried he might escape between the edges, I would weigh down the sides with something.

[Meyou4042]

Very cool! Thank you for posting the pic!

[Terranaut]

Radiant heat panels are my favorite heat source to use. Even fully heated they are touchable and will not burn your snake.

[MizCandice]

You can use aluminum foil to cover the lids as well Sharlynn, then you can fit the foil around your lamps without worrying over a fire.

[Meyou4042]

At the moment I have a garbage bag over the majority of the cage, except near the lamps. I will pick up more tin foil tonight! : 0 )

[Sharlynn93]

The only tanks with lights that I have are my corn snakes, but I may try that because I am struggling with their humidity too. They don't need much but my okeetee was curled up w her moss last night and had a bad shed 2 weeks ago. I have a humidifier running in the room now but its struggling to keep up...