Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a baby/juvenile bci (18-20in).I currently have him in a 20 gallon rubbermaid with a reptile heating pad at one end and a medical heating pad at the other, but I am having trouble controlling temp and humidity. I have bred cresteds and used to have a ball so I have some extra stuff lying around. I was wondering what you guys think would make for the best setup for this guy. Here is what I have: 40 gallon breeder aquarium w/ screen top,10 gal aquarium w/screen top, heat lamps, a 10-20 gal reptile heat pad, heat lamps w/ 75 watt night bulb, rheostat. Maybe the 10 gallon would be easier to control temps, but maybe tooo small? Would 40 gal be too large? I have heard mixed opinions on cages being too small/large for juveniles. Also, when using temperature probes, is it accurate to lay them on top of the substrate (reptile carpet) or attached to the side of the cage, and where should I check temps? I am new to redtails, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. I never seemed to have much trouble with other herps, but I have heard so many mixed things about these guys.

From personal experience, you'll never get a wide enough heat gradient in a 10 gallon with the temperatures that boas need. The entire cage ends up being that hot.

Take the medical heating pad off of the other side of the cage - defeats the purpose of having a heat gradient if you heat both sides.

Cover the screen lid, either with a towel, or plexiglass, or whatever else you can manage. See how much that helps, and then if you still need more heat, use the lowest wattage heat light you can get away with. Use a big water bowl to increase humidity (keep it on the cool side), and try using cypress mulch/orchidbark/coconut bark instead of beddings such as aspen or sanichips.
And/or don't worry too much about the humidity until the first shed - that'll tell you what you need to do. It may be that the humidity is just fine the way you're maintaining it now. If the snake sheds fine, then your humidity is fine. If it has a bed shed, then worry about humidity.

As far as the rest, I'm not sure. Hopefully some of the other helpful folks here can chip in!

~jenny
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"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words."
- Anna Sewell (1820-1878)

Thanks, I see what you mean, and I seem to have gotten things set up pretty well. My only other question is: When you set up the gradient , is it ok if the cooler end is in the 70's. I have a basking spot that is 90-95, and I guess the middle is 80ish, but the other end is cooler.

By basking spot, I hope you don't mean with an overhead bulb or heat source. These are snakes. Not lizards. An overhead radiant heat spot is more injurious than beneficial. 95F is too hot. Thermal gradient needs to be between 80F min. through 90F max. Nighttime lows on the cool side of 78F should be acceptable.
jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer