Minumum Enclosure Size

maiden_canada · 10-19-03, 10:57 PM

hey i have my BP in a 15gallon aquarium right now and im wondering what a good size of enclosure is for them. on almost every caresheet it says 40gallon but im checking with you guys to make sure. also when you buy rubbermaids does it label them by gallons?

Invictus · 10-19-03, 11:57 PM

How big is the BP?

maiden_canada · 10-20-03, 12:19 AM

right now hes 18-20'', im not going to get it right away just planning a bit because im going to make a rack for my bp, bci and jcp once i get them hehe, also do you have any suggestion to get him eating rats? he refuses them and ive tried everything i can think of (scenting, heating etc...)

foman · 10-20-03, 12:34 AM

Well your standard 40 galllon tank is big enough to house an adult BP, As for rats I have seen your BP's siblings(actually I know someone with one), make sure the rats are small enough for him(I would try rat pinkies first)and only offer them twice a week not daily. He will take them soon, just be patient

mykee · 10-20-03, 11:17 AM

Do not try pinkies. BP's, as said for the 1000th time on here, are MUCH too small for a BP. BP's can easily eat an adult mouse right outta the egg. From following your posts on the other forum, and now here, I'm guesing your ball is probably about 2-3 months old, right Maiden? Well, I feed my 3 month old hatchlings anywhere from 20-50g rats (fuzzies -weanlings) I would try a nice hot weanling, if it takes it, feed him 2 weanlings every 5 days, and the snake'll be rockin'.

Bartman · 10-20-03, 11:28 AM

instead of starting a new thread i figured since were on the topic ill ask my question...

does anyone have a good suggestion to switch my bp from mice to rats. I have no idea where to start and any info will be helpful

thanks

Big Mike · 10-20-03, 11:52 AM

Bartman,

Try a search...there have been many, many good methods posted in the BP forum.

sapphire_moon · 10-20-03, 03:13 PM

ya a 40 gal tank is big enough for an adult bp, if it doesn't get over 3 ft. My bp is 3.5 ft, has a hide, crawling stick (kinds small for his size, but it's strong enough to hold him) a large water dish, and fake plant that sticks to the side of the tanke ( it's in the cornor behind the water dish and acts as a cool hide) and he is WAY outgrown his tank. He can easily stretch from one side to the other and part of his body still be in his hide.
I would go with atleast a 55 gal long for an adult, or a custom enclosure.
Rubbermaids do show gallons but I think I remember someone saying that, they are decieving, it's the floor space you want not height.

mykee · 10-20-03, 05:29 PM

Bartman, go to a thread titled "A few feeding questions...again..." in this forum. I posted a 'tried and true' method (toot toot) about how to get your mouse-eaters over to rats.

AnniesMom · 10-20-03, 08:15 PM

Maiden, this sounds gross, but if you are feeding F/T, when heating the rat, try popping it. YEW!! I did this by accident once and my girl went for it big time! I squeezed the rat a bit too hard with the tongs and it bled. The smell got her all worked up. Good luck!