Hey Jeff!

Let me start out with saying something that you already know.



"Its hard to forget the fact I screwed up somewhere and caused her to pass."



Stuff happens, buddy. Ain't none of us perfect. I've done it once in an experimental situation and I've done it once in an ignorant, not knowing better, situation. The main thing is that we have learned from it. The hard part is accepting it and moving on to better ourselves and our captives.



Don't let it eat at you. Thank the one that passed away for teaching you something, remember the good times and let the lesson be blessing in disguise. Now, if only I could practice what I preach. Ha!



About tanks - They can work just fine, for just about any size/age, but have their drawbacks. The main drawback is what Laura mentioned, insufficient tops for maintaining temps & humidity.



Also, glass doesn't hold heat in very well but cutting a piece of the blue insulation board used in home construction and putting it on the bottom-side of the tank, and also around three sides if desired/needed, can help a lot.



Most of my setups at the moment are tanks (Gasp!). Anywhere from 15-gallon (for hatchling) to 55-gallon, to 125-gallon, for my burms.



Here's a pic of an easy to make top that works well.







I've got DIY plans on my site for that one and another style for use with belly heat instead of overhead heat. Check 'em out.



As for male versus female - I think typical male size is somewhere 12ft and females average between 14 - 16ft. Another difference between the sexes is it appears to me that more males are problem feeders, finicky eaters, etc, than females. I've got two male burms and they're both finicky eaters, where my 5 females are insatiable pigs.



You said you like the thickness, and to me, that thickness is usually found in females, not males. Because of my males' finicky eating habits they're thinner-bodied than my females. No, my females aren't fat or obese, either.



Catch ya later!

Mike
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,

this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:

Appalachian American





www.natures-signature.com

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