Hello!!!

[mikeneezy]

Hello future snake owner here,


I've been doing my research on the internet off and on for the past few years. This year will finally be the year where I purchase my first pet snake. I've bought the necessary items and have it setup. I will keep it on for a week and take note of my temps and humidity before I make the purchase. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello.


Mike from SoCal.

[EL Ziggy]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum and best wishes with your new critter. Which snake did you choose for your first?

[Scubadiver59]

Welcome, Mike! :D

[mikeneezy]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum and best wishes with your new critter. Which snake did you choose for your first?


BCI. I know its not a corn or a ball python but its what caught my eye. Also, its partly the reason why I've been on/off for the past few years. The timing needed to be right.

[mikeneezy]

Welcome, Mike! :D


Hello Scubadiver59!! Thank you!!

[mikeneezy]

Welcome, Mike! :D


Hello Scuvadiver59!! Thank you!!

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Welcome to the forum, Mike! We're glad you're here.

[mikeneezy]

Welcome to the forum, Mike! We're glad you're here.


Thank you ClockwerkBonnet!

[mikeneezy]

Welcome, Mike! :D

Thank you Scubadiver59!!

[mikeneezy]

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum and best wishes with your new critter. Which snake did you choose for your first?


BCI. Is this too much for a first snake? People and the internet tell me to start with a corn snake or a BP. A friend of mine from work showed me her BCI and I completely fell in love with it.

[craigafrechette]

BCI. Is this too much for a first snake? People and the internet tell me to start with a corn snake or a BP. A friend of mine from work showed me her BCI and I completely fell in love with it.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!!

If a BCI is the snake you want, go for it. Don't let others persuade you to go for a "beginner" snake. If you've put in your due diligence and can provide a proper enclosure and equipment for a BCI pick the snake YOU want. It'll be your snake for the next 20+ years, so no sense getting one you don't want.
Depending on locality and sex of the animal you choose you may be looking at a good size animal though. Be prepared for a powerful snake which requires a big enclosure and some decent sized meals.

Good luck, ask all the questions you need to.

[mikeneezy]

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!!

If a BCI is the snake you want, go for it. Don't let others persuade you to go for a "beginner" snake. If you've put in your due diligence and can provide a proper enclosure and equipment for a BCI pick the snake YOU want. It'll be your snake for the next 20+ years, so no sense getting one you don't want.
Depending on locality and sex of the animal you choose you may be looking at a good size animal though. Be prepared for a powerful snake which requires a big enclosure and some decent sized meals.

Good luck, ask all the questions you need to.

I've saved for a few months. I bought a bunch of stuff from Reptile Basics. Is it true that Boas are OK with big enclosures as babies, unlike BPs? I picked up a 4x2 cage and a VE300 and a couple of other things. I'm waiting for my accurite humidity gauge from amazon to come in so I can keep track of my humidity.

I'm looking at a Central American Boa from LLLReptile as I hear they're a little bit smaller? Theres also a hypo colombian bci I was looking at. This all depends if they have males in stock.

I set the VE300 at 93F, night drop of 5F on a 12hr cycle set to pulse. I have a temp gun and have been keeping mental notes of the last few days of my temps. Hot spot is fluctuating from 89-92F, cool side is 79-80F.

[craigafrechette]

I've saved for a few months. I bought a bunch of stuff from Reptile Basics. Is it true that Boas are OK with big enclosures as babies, unlike BPs? I picked up a 4x2 cage and a VE300 and a couple of other things. I'm waiting for my accurite humidity gauge from amazon to come in so I can keep track of my humidity.

I'm looking at a Central American Boa from LLLReptile as I hear they're a little bit smaller? Theres also a hypo colombian bci I was looking at. This all depends if they have males in stock.

I set the VE300 at 93F, night drop of 5F on a 12hr cycle set to pulse. I have a temp gun and have been keeping mental notes of the last few days of my temps. Hot spot is fluctuating from 89-92F, cool side is 79-80F.

Sounds like you're off to a great start!!!

Have you checked out morphmarket.com? Awesome site with lots of reputable breeders. Tons of choices. I can't speak directly about LLL, but I have heard mixed reviews on them.

Kingsnake.com and faunaclassifieds.com also have lots of options. You'll be able to research breeder and find the right animal for you.

...and I may be mistaken with this since I dont keep boas (yet), but I believe that hot side temp could come down to 89-90. But again, I may be mistaken.

Keep up the good work!

[mikeneezy]

Sounds like you're off to a great start!!!

Have you checked out morphmarket.com? Awesome site with lots of reputable breeders. Tons of choices. I can't speak directly about LLL, but I have heard mixed reviews on them.

Kingsnake.com and faunaclassifieds.com also have lots of options. You'll be able to research breeder and find the right animal for you.

...and I may be mistaken with this since I dont keep boas (yet), but I believe that hot side temp could come down to 89-90. But again, I may be mistaken.

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the heads up. I will definitely check out those sites. As far as temps go I set the thermostat to 93 but the surface stays around 90-91. I can kick it down a notch.

[EL Ziggy]

I agree with Craig. As long as you've done your research a BCI can be a great first snake. I just got a couple of boas recently too and I love them. I also agree with Craig on bringing your warm side temps down a bit. I keep mine right around 88F. Please share pics of your critter and setup when you can.

[mikeneezy]

I agree with Craig. As long as you've done your research a BCI can be a great first snake. I just got a couple of boas recently too and I love them. I also agree with Craig on bringing your warm side temps down a bit. I keep mine right around 88F. Please share pics of your critter and setup when you can.

Thanks for the info!! I set the thermostat to 92F ... Hot spot is between 88-90F. Night drop I cut it down to 6F.

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Thanks for the info!! I set the thermostat to 92F ... Hot spot is between 88-90F. Night drop I cut it down to 6F.
I forgive you if you meant to say 60F.

[mikeneezy]

I forgive you if you meant to say 60F.


Ooops I meant, I cut it down by 6F :eek:

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Ooops I meant, I cut it down by 6F :eek:
It's okay, Mike. I sometimes mess up when thinking of what to say as well. :)

[mikeneezy]

I added Aspen shavings today, and now my temps have gone to ****

[mikeneezy]

I added Aspen shavings today, and now my temps have gone to ****



*** Edit ***

I took them out. It was giving me headaches and it was dusty like crazy.

[craigafrechette]

*** Edit ***

I took them out. It was giving me headaches and it was dusty like crazy.

Yeah, I can't stand aspen. I use a mix of Eco Earth and Repti bark. It holds humidity well, retains odor, is easy to spot clean and looks natural.

[Scubadiver59]

Ditto.........


Yeah, I can't stand aspen. I use a mix of Eco Earth and Repti bark. It holds humidity well, retains odor, is easy to spot clean and looks natural.

[Andy_G]

Welcome to the forum! I'd actually recommend a BCI over a ball python for any beginner because they are a much more consistent feeding species. As long as you're aware of their adult size and you know that they eat comparably less food than most python species due to a slower metabolism, then you've made a wonderful choice!

[mikeneezy]

I've had him for 2 weeks now. Still so much to learn. I fed him once. The first time I picked him up I was shivering, haha. I have gotten a lot more comfortable and confident but I'm still careful. I can see how and why snakes are misunderstood. They're so fascinating even when I feared them. Anyways, pics will be up soon of my male hypo bci from dynasty reptiles.