Looking for new snake

Plaxito · 09-09-16, 08:46 PM

Ok, so I am looking for a new snake that can fit in a tank smaller than a 40 gallon breeder tank. I used to have a corn for about 5 years until I had to move out of my house and give it to a friend of mine. I am now ready to buy a new snake now that I have finally settled into the new home. I would like for the tank to have some sort or water feature. (Stream or water basin of some sort) If this is not reccomended for any sort of snake I dont mind ditching the idea.
Thanks!

**Minkness** · 09-09-16, 08:55 PM

Just to clarify, do you have a 40 breeder or are you asking specifically for smaller? Like a 20 long? Or a 10?

Plaxito · 09-09-16, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Just to clarify, do you have a 40 breeder or are you asking specifically for smaller? Like a 20 long? Or a 10?

I will buy the tank that is appropriate for the size of the snake
After some reconsideration I can do a little bit larger than a 40.

dannybgoode · 09-09-16, 11:01 PM

Don't know about their availability in the States but for a smaller snake the African house snake always interests me.

Care looks easy and they have good temperaments and are just something a bit different.

eminart · 09-10-16, 06:05 AM

Most of the commonly available colubrids will do fine in a 40 breeder or smaller tank. Corns, rats, milks, kings, etc. Some of the larger rats may need something a little bigger. Some of the smaller pythons and boas are options too.

I think it's best to just decide which snakes you're interested in, and THEN figure out how large the enclosure should be. After all, you're wanting a snake, not an enclosure.

**Minkness** · 09-10-16, 07:41 AM

Well said Em!

Plaxito · 09-10-16, 08:01 PM

I have setup a 20 gallon enclosure to house a brazilian rainbow boa that I am buying today. I will be upgrading him/her to a 75 gallon tank in the future.
What are some things that I could use to decorate this tank?

Albert Clark · 09-10-16, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plaxito

I have setup a 20 gallon enclosure to house a brazilian rainbow boa that I am buying today. I will be upgrading him/her to a 75 gallon tank in the future.
What are some things that I could use to decorate this tank?

Hi, and first of all tanks are for fish. If you are going to get a Brazilian rainbow boa try and make sure you do as much research on them. Because they have some special requirements to help them thrive in a enclosure and getting the husbandry correct is crucial.

**Minkness** · 09-10-16, 08:49 PM

Fish tanks are fine with some customizing. I have several of mone in tanks and they thrive just right.

For Brazilians you want to keep them VERY humid and COOL. They are not heat lovers like balls and will dehydrate easily.

Just make sure to keep the lid covered with something like plastic or tinfoil ect. Make sure they have a moist substrate like moss and ecohearth or cypress.

Others on here have way more experience with these guys (I have none, but want one and have done all the research).

Good luck and looking forward to some pics =)

JellyBean · 09-10-16, 09:37 PM

I've got my BRB in a tank, and the best revision we did was to cut a piece of plexiglass to fit the top of the tank. It fits in the grooves, and the screen top still fits over it for now, so we can easily use our cage clips.

Welcome, and good luck with your new Rainbow. We love our baby Bean!

Plaxito · 09-11-16, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JellyBean

I've got my BRB in a tank, and the best revision we did was to cut a piece of plexiglass to fit the top of the tank. It fits in the grooves, and the screen top still fits over it for now, so we can easily use our cage clips.

Welcome, and good luck with your new Rainbow. We love our baby Bean!

Wouldn't a fully sealed top suffocate the snake?
What type of enclosure would you recommend instead?
How could I cool the tank down?
How do I bring the humidity up? Fogger?
Also, what about substrate?
Anyone have an in depth article that I could read through? I have been looking online but everything is pretty vague as to how to do it.

Albert Clark · 09-11-16, 06:57 AM

Hey Plax, most would go with a pvc enclosure for brazilians bc they are a special boa and need special humidity percentages to remain constant. Glass tanks are poor retainers for both heat and humidity. Some people do have success with them however. There are several members who keep them ( Brazilians) and breed them and they can be a resource for you here on the forum.

Plaxito · 09-11-16, 11:57 PM

Ok, so I have setup an enclosure for the snake which is arriving on either thursday or friday depending on the ship date. I will try to post some pictures of the ten gallon enclosure. I have a heat mat setup under the tank which I set to 90 degrees. This keeps the inside of the warm side of the enclosure at 83. I have some fake silk plants as well as cork bark. Also, a water dish big enough for ghe snake to soak in and a humidity box with slightly damp sphagnum moss. I am ordering a mesh lid which I will cover 3/4ths of with an acrylic sheet. If you have any recommendations please let me know.

dannybgoode · 09-12-16, 12:12 AM

Brb's need more than just a humidity hide. They need constant high humidity throughout their enclosure.

You need a substrate that retains moisture without becoming mouldy or rotten. Eco Earth, Cyprus mulch, orchid bark etc are all good at this.

I've not kept brb's but I'd question the effectiveness of a uth keeping the ambient air temperatures up high enough to support high humidity-they only really heat what is directly above then not the air as a whole however if a more experienced brb keeper corrects me on this point that's fine..

Just remember that a BRB is a specialist snake and 'making do' like you can with some other species is not as easy. It pays to buy the right equipment, which may be more expensive, than muddling through on a budget.

Plaxito · 09-12-16, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybgoode

Brb's need more than just a humidity hide. They need constant high humidity throughout their enclosure.

You need a substrate that retains moisture without becoming mouldy or rotten. Eco Earth, Cyprus mulch, orchid bark etc are all good at this.

I've not kept brb's but I'd question the effectiveness of a uth keeping the ambient air temperatures up high enough to support high humidity-they only really heat what is directly above then not the air as a whole however if a more experienced brb keeper corrects me on this point that's fine..

Just remember that a BRB is a specialist snake and 'making do' like you can with some other species is not as easy. It pays to buy the right equipment, which may be more expensive, than muddling through on a budget.

After some testing the full enclosure is 80% and the humidity hide is 93-95%
I am having trouble getting the temperature to stay constant. What should the cold side rest at? I will order some eco earth