BRB Good 2nd snake?

snakelet · 09-29-03, 07:47 PM

Hi all,
I'm the proud owner of two young corn snakes, and have been seriously thinking about getting a third snake sometime in the future. I really want to get a boa or python, and I absolutely looove Brazilian Rainbow Boas, so I thought I'd field a few questions to the pros here, as I couldn't find some of this information on any caresheets.
I really like my corns, as I often (maybe once a month) go out of town for the weekend, and since I have them feeding on Monday and pooped and cleaned up before the weekend, I can just leave them alone. Any way I could do this with a BRB? I understand they need quite a bit of humidity, and I don't always have someone around that would be able to spray the enclosure. I'd be using a very large rubbermaid as an enclosure, so that would hold the humidity quite well. If I left real large water dish, and maybe covered the whole floor in moist sphagnum or something else that would hold water, do you think a BRB would be okay to be left alone for the weekend?
Also, I've heard that most are okay to be handled, but only for short periods of time... is this generally true?

Thanks all, I appreciate any input.

Leanne

Jeff_Favelle · 09-29-03, 08:40 PM

Quote:

really like my corns, as I often (maybe once a month) go out of town for the weekend, and since I have them feeding on Monday and pooped and cleaned up before the weekend, I can just leave them alone. Any way I could do this with a BRB?

Even MORE so. Rainbows, being Boas, need far less attention. They eat bigger meals far less frequently. That's their thing! They do things slower than colubrids (corns), but on a bigger scale!

Quote:

understand they need quite a bit of humidity, and I don't always have someone around that would be able to spray the enclosure

Including babies, I own 98 Rainbows right now. I hardly ever spray the cage. I use a water dish on the heat pad (as well as a water dish on the cool end **for adults only**) and I use damp newspaper in a hide box. I spray maybe once every 2-3 weeks. No probs.

Don't use sphagnum. Just use layers and layers of damp newspaper that you change every few weeks. Its a piece of cake!

You can handle them. I don't handle mine, but they tolerate it. They are one of the greatest pet boas. I am not joking.

snakelet · 09-30-03, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle

Including babies, I own 98 Rainbows right now. I hardly ever spray the cage. I use a water dish on the heat pad (as well as a water dish on the cool end **for adults only**) and I use damp newspaper in a hide box. I spray maybe once every 2-3 weeks. No probs.

Don't use sphagnum. Just use layers and layers of damp newspaper that you change every few weeks. Its a piece of cake!

Thanks for the great information Jeff;
Just curious, why do you use a water dish at the cool end for adults only?
So you just put layers of damp newspaper in there and you don't have to rewet it or change it for a few weeks? I saw a cheap ($30) misting contraption at the pet store today that was kind of neat too, using an aquarium pump and airstone, might have to look into that as well.
One other thing I forgot to ask, do people brumate rainbows (I find it rather handy to have a brumating snake, if I don't feel like paying to feed them for the winter, they have a nap

), and what temperature and conditions would you brumate them at?

Thanks a lot!

Leanne

Jeff_Favelle · 09-30-03, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Just curious, why do you use a water dish at the cool end for adults only?

Baby cages simply aren't big enough to fit TWO water dishes. I'm a firm believer that when snakes are young, they need small, perfectly-controlled cages.

Misting contraptions? Don't bother. Waste of time.

Quote:

One other thing I forgot to ask, do people brumate rainbows

Not like colubrids (corns and kings). They cycle during OUR winter months, but they still need access to 85F during the day and 70F at night. You can't cool them to 55F for 3 months like you would a milksnake or corn.

But adult Rainbows only need to eat like 10-16 times the WHOLE year. These are boas and they eat big meals every few weeks. I can't honestly think it would be a chore to feed one or a pair of Rainbow adults for 12 months. **Males do go off food from Dec. - March/April sometimes**

Invictus · 09-30-03, 09:01 PM

Something else to keep in mind is that BRBs are NOT corn snakes in their temperaments either. Whereas we can flick our corns in the nose and they wouldn't do squat (not that we would, just an example, peeps!), BRBs can be quite nippy as babies, but calm down rather nicely into adulthood. Be prepared to take a nip or two.

Pekker · 09-30-03, 09:14 PM

Not too much humidity just a moist box because they can get scale rot

Jeff_Favelle · 09-30-03, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Not too much humidity just a moist box because they can get scale rot

Really? And what exactly are you basing this on?

Beardonicus · 09-30-03, 09:59 PM

I say go for it.....BRBs are great snakes and are fairly easy to care for.

ChaosCat · 09-30-03, 11:13 PM

Just curious, why not use spaghnum moss as a substrate? Is it better put into a hide box then?

-cat

Beardonicus · 10-01-03, 08:55 AM

I just use cypress mulch.....it holds humidity like none other and it much less messy than sphagnum.

jay76 · 10-01-03, 02:06 PM

An excellent choice! BRBs are very nice snakes. Hoping to get one or two of my own by spring/early summer

I really hope you give Jeff's advice the weight it deserves - 'round these parts, he's accepted as a BRB guru. You just can't consistantly produce such incredible BRBs without knowing the ins and outs

VenomAngel · 10-01-03, 03:10 PM

be proud...be very proud cos tgey r amazing snakes....

snakelet · 10-01-03, 06:19 PM

Jay76: Definately listening to Jeff's advice/opinions right now as my number one source of advice, it was his website with the write-up and pics of his BRB's that really got me seriously thinking about this snake! Hopefully I'll be able to get one or two from him directly, they're so gorgeous! :jawdrop: Is it wrong to want to lick a snake? (don't answer that) For some reason BRBs remind me of those big long twirlie coloured lollipops.

Invictus: Thanks for the heads up on the nippiness, I think (hopefully) I've been bitten by worse

That's what work gloves are for

(Another) Question to Jeff (and others): What size rubbermaids would work best for BRB adults? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you have them in a rack of some sort, having 98 BRBs? My only sticking point right now is the size of enclosure I'll need...

Much thanks to all for the helpful advice! And thanks for the encouragement, BRB owners seem to be very enthusiastic about their snakes.

Leanne (off to clean up cornsnake poo... _again_!)

Jeff_Favelle · 10-02-03, 01:09 AM

They don't make the Rubbermaids anymore that are big enough for adults. You'll have to build. I wouldn't worry though, because you're Rainbows will be able to max out in the 42L-sized Rubbermaid until year 3 (or so, depending on feeding schedule).

As for full-on adults, a custom-built cage is the way to go. But don't fret, its easy. They should be in a 4x2x1 wood cage with a glass front and small vents on one side (usually the cool side). Each one of those adult cages is abou $27-32 to build from scratch. I just built 4 more yesterday and today. Totally easy, and really, the only way to go.

Thanx for the nice words people! I'm speechless!!

Linds · 10-02-03, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pekker
Not too much humidity just a moist box because they can get scale rot

I'm with Jeff, what are you basing this on? BRB are swamp snakes making them practically impervious to scale rot. There is no such thing as too much humidity when it comes to these snakes.

Quote:

Originally posted by snakelet
What size rubbermaids would work best for BRB adults?

Gracious Living makes underbed storage units that are suitable for most BRB. They measure around 44"x22" I believe. With the proper ventilation, you should have no problems maintaining humidity. I never mist mine, I wet the newspaper whenever I clean their cages and it stays wet and humid until the next time.

Quote:

Originally posted by Invictus
Something else to keep in mind is that BRBs are NOT corn snakes in their temperaments either. Whereas we can flick our corns in the nose and they wouldn't do squat

I wouldn't necessarily go out on a limb and say your more likely to take a bite from a BRB than a corn. True babies can be quite nippy, but IMHO you have better chances of having a docile adult BRB than a docile adult corn. People always say corns are so laid back but there are quite a few nasty corns out there. In my experience, BRB are some of the easiest snakes to calm down with some patience and regular handling as babies and stay that way.