Starting to plan.

[BoidsUnlimited]

Well....I am starting to plan some possible purchases in a few months, and just wanted to run some stuff over with you guys to get some HONEST opinions.

NOTE: I have had experience with large and small boids, monitors, geckos, and colubrids. So I am good when it comes to the knowledge.

Well I am planning on purchasing a pair of BCIs soon here. I was going to earlier, but I had to quit my job due to knee trouble and a broken wrist (my manager was very unreasonable.) It has been about a month, and I am able to work again. So after I apply, and have a steady 1 month under my belt, I plan on purcahsing these guys.

I anticipate on getting some hets most likely. How does this sound for supplies.

- (2) 55 Gallon Tanks
- (4) Heat Lamps
- (2) Heat Pads
- (?) Repti Bark
- everything else I make, or use from household items.

Dunno, just excited, wanted to post, get soem feedback!

PS - I plan on getting either albion hets, or just anery and salmons.

Thanks,

BU

[Jeff_Favelle]

Not bad, but what are the fish tanks for?

[Brent Strande]

Haha, I saw that coming!

Also, I don't think that you'll need 4 heatlamps AND 2 heatpads... the heatpads should suffice... and for lighting you could pick up some cheaper fluorescent lights... put the money you save on lighting into a good thermostat!

Also, you could make a display cage for a LOT less money than a 55g, and it would be better insulated, making it easier to control heat and humidity!

Good luck!

[Linds]

Agreed. Fish tanks are only suitable in the event that your room has the perfect temperature and humidity levels your snake needs in the first place, and you will still need to block off most of the sides for security. They are also very cumbersome, which can make basic maintenance seem like quite the chore. If you cannot make your own, or just don't want to, there are plenty manufacturers of affordable custom caging geared towards reptiles in the US ;)

I wouldn't bother wasting your money on Repti-bark either. More products that are marketted towards the 'pet keepers' that do not realize you can find similar products for a whole lot less. If you want a more naturalistic substrate, check out your local garden centres ;)

[peterm15]

you see this is why this site is so good,....

go for the melimine cage setup... they look really nice...

[BoidsUnlimited]

Hhmmm.

In that case I might just save up for some Visions.

I'll probably get 4x2x2 for now...hopefully the female wont outgrow it (although I plan on getting more then just a pair eventually so it wont be a TOTAL waste.)

The funny thing is..when I DID have my reptiles.....my room WAS the perfect temp. Maybe not humidity...but it had to be at least 85. ALL my friends would complain about sleepign over my house cause of how hot my room was.

ANy other suggestions would be great.

PS - Brente...of course you did! Keep that sexy lil' BCI for me!

[BoidKeeper]

Well I am planning on purchasing a pair of BCIs soon here.
What type of BCI? Their not all the same and therefore will not all need the same size cage.
Cheers,
Trevor

[BoidsUnlimited]

Colombian.

Sorry for that.......

I'm just use to calling the Colombian BCI :D

I wouldnt mind a pair of Hoggies as well though..considering theyre smaller

[BoidKeeper]

Well my opinion on Colombians is to start them off in rubbermaids with UTH on newspaper or papertowel.
When they get larger a front opening cage would be best. If you are going to go with a glass tank I would lay it on it's side so that it's front opening.
Glass tanks are not practicle though because they are clear on all sides and that can leave a herp feeling vulnerable. The glass doesn't hold heat very well. They are heavy and the square corners are hard to clean. They are also heavy and fragile.
All that being said I use several glass tanks stacked on their sides. If you have a designated room where you can control the heat and humidity then it's not so bad. I've seen people try to make glass tanks work in their bedroom or living room where the temp and humidity is too low and it makes using a glass tank a nightmare. I'm successfull with my glass tanks because I control the heat and humidity in my snake room.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Manitoban Herps]

Tanks will be fine, just make sure the humdity is good :)

[BoidKeeper]

Geeze Kevin, try and get to the point next time. You answers are soo wordy.lol
Do you keep all you snakes in tanks Kevin?
Trevor

[BoidsUnlimited]

I used tanks before..and mine were in amazing health.

I used differnet techniques for humidity.

Paper towels on top...spray them
Tin foil...spray insides.

But I think visions will look nicer anyways..so Ill prob go with that.

[BoidKeeper]

Here's what some of mine used to look like. These particular cages are no longer stacked like this but the pic still serves to give you an idea of what stacked cages look like.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/289three_cages_stacked.jpg
Cheers,
Trevor

[BoidsUnlimited]

Thanks...they look pretty useful actually.

They are setup basically how I setup all my tanks..nice and simple. Did you use heat pads on the bottom? Or is this in a regulated room?

[Linds]

Trevor,
Have you ever experienced problems with the snakes rubbing their noses with the screen lids on the sides?

[BoidKeeper]

All my tanks have heat pads. With the tanks being made out of glass some of the heat is transmitted down to the cage below causing a bit of a UTH heat and over head heat at the same time. So the air above my basking spots are heated from two directions. Heat rises but some of the heat from the tank above makes it's way into the tank below.
Cheers,
Trevor