Does your BRB like to climb?

Nataku · 05-30-13, 09:42 AM

I'm currently in the process of setting up/building my next set-up for my BRB, and have some questions that I'd like to hear from other BRB owners on to help direct where I'm going with this build.

Right now, she is in a tub, but she's also only a baby at 2 - 2 1/2 feet long.
I have a 55 gallon tank I am looking to make her intermediary enclosure until I ultimately move her into a 125-150 gallon paludarium.

But back to the 55 gallon.
Do your BRBs climb or make use of vertical space provided to them? So far in her tub, I have a small arching branch cluster that goes over her water bowl, so she can climb into the water bowl from it, or sit above her water bowl if she so desires - but she doesn't use it. And putting her on it she immediately goes back to the ground or into the bowl.

I am wondering if there is a point in giving her a lot of vertical climbing space if she's never going to use it. Primarily because the dimensions of a 55 gallon are 48" (L) x 13" (W) x 21" (H). That's a lot of vertical space that seems like its going to waste to me if BRBs aren't particularly known to be climbers. But maybe they become more arboreal as they get older?

When calculating floor space, by keeping the tank upright, that's 4.3 square feet.
But what if I turn the tank on its side, so the dimensions become 48" (L) x 21" (W) x 13" (H)? That would give her 7 square feet of floor space, a sizable jump, but at the loss of some climbing room. I can add in a piece of plexiglass or lexan very easily (I've still got some nice long lexan strips that would only need to be cut to length) on the side/new bottom of the tub to help hold in substrate when opening the cage. This would also make the enclosure a side/front opening enclosure instead of a top opening one, although I suppose to a BRB it really doesn't matter, just makes it easier for me as a keeper to reach in to the tank.

Anywho, sorry, I'm rambling. What are your thoughts on the matter? Does your BRB climb? How old/big are they? Have you noticed that they become more, less or stay pretty much the same in terms of climbing? Would you consider more climbing space or more room for a bigger water bowl more important?

desipooh.12 · 05-30-13, 09:56 AM

Mm mine doesn't "climb" lol
Mine likes to burrow but mine is still a baby,
It comes out every once in awhile or when hungry
Knowing its feeding time,
But any who ..
Maybe as it gets older it will climb or be more active?
How old is yours?

continuum13 · 05-30-13, 10:06 AM

Mine is about the same size maybe a bit bigger and 10 mos old. I had a huge piece of wood resembling the roots of a large tree wrapped in vine and plastic leaves that was about a foot and a half tall in his cage and he almost never used it. She usually stays burrowed in substrate and I occasionally see her crawling around or poking her head out at night, but other than escape attempts where she perches up on her log, I rarely see her off the ground.

Nataku · 05-30-13, 10:40 AM

My girl is a cb'12, but I don't know her exact birth date. She is quite active though, at least around sunset, I'll often see her come out of her hide or one of the big leaves in her tub she likes to hide under, and do a few laps. She likes to burrow too, so I make sure she has plenty of eco-earth and sphagnum moss to dig into.

Pic for posterity's sake. Or maybe just showing size. xD She's shed once since that pic was taken a couple weeks ago.

desipooh.12 · 05-30-13, 11:14 AM

Mine is about the same size as yours,
I'm not sure of the DOB of mine,
I've had mine for a month.
Pshh I can't get mine to sit still when I take em out lol

bcr229 · 05-30-13, 12:38 PM

Mine was born last year, date unknown. He does climb quite a bit, usually late at night. I do a last bed check on all the snakes before I turn in for the evening, and found that between dinner and bedtime is most likely when he's hanging out in the vines. Otherwise he's either buried in the substrate or in his humid hide.

Snakesitter · 05-30-13, 02:05 PM

Nataku, Brazilians are primarily terrestrial snakes. They will climb occasionally if given the chance, and seem to do so more often when they are younger. But it would be unusual for one to climb up to the top of such a tall cage -- it makes them feel too exposed. Keep in mind they are also nocturnal, so they may make more use of branches at night when you are not around to see them.

Nataku · 05-30-13, 09:20 PM

Thank you everyone for the responses

And psh, Desipooh - she does not hold still for pictures. xD She is very inquisitive in her outings from her tub, always on the go. My sister is simply a good shot with a camera.

I am frequently up until 2-3 AM, so while I don't get the chance to observe her all the time she would likely be more active, I get to see a fair bit of it, which is very fun to watch her weaving her way through the big fake leaves I've stuck around her tub. Maybe she does just only use the branches when I'm asleep though, I've been thinking about setting up my game camera in front of her tank to see if it picks her up in her nightly escapades.

I think I'm planning to include some branches regardless of which way the tank is oriented, because they can also help to have things hanging off them to help create ground cover. I suppose, if the branches are also closer to the ground, the BRB would feel more secure and not as exposed if she did ever decide to climb? Or maybe I'm just hoping. I doubt BRBs ever do the same pose, but I would love to see a BRB do the coiled hang on a branch that a GTP or ETB does. I think with their ocelli markings it would be quite stunning.

SnakeyJay · 05-31-13, 12:53 AM

My adult female brb climbs often at night and definately makes use of the branches I've provided.. Just make sure that they're thick enough for them to grip and sturdy enough..

I find that if you offer cover on the branches (eg; plant/vines) they are more inclined to use them as they're a shy species.. And as snake sitter said, they may use them more often when all is dark and quiet.

Here's a quick pic of sasha using hers..

desipooh.12 · 05-31-13, 12:51 PM

wow I've never seen a BRB do that,
That's awesome! @Snakey-Jay
Yeah when mine gets bigger ill put branches &
Leaves in there, mine is just really shy!

CK SandBoas · 05-31-13, 03:13 PM

My adult male BRB pretty much stays inside one of his hides all day. When i first got him i did offer a climbing branch as well as a platform, but he never used them.. even when we came out at night.

Snakesitter · 06-03-13, 02:12 PM

Great shot. And I suspect you are right, more "cover" helps.