Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Will try this again. Hope for some response to assist.

I am now looking to get a 3 foot BP from someone in my area looking to give up a female. I met the BP today and even after having had a recent feeding her attitude was great. Let me hold her, kids touched her and was all around a good snake.

With the "adoption" of this snake comes a good size wood/plexiglass/screened top snake cage and all accesories. Catch is the current owner says that her heat lamp just went out so she will not have one for the cage. The BP was semi cool to the touch as the cage has no heat source. I intend on getting this snake and cage but want to get a heat source for it in the next 24 hours ahead of time. Bottom of the cage is wood...should I avoid a heating pad underneath as most of the heat will not pass through to the cage or is this an ok option? Other choice is a multi-bulb canopy to set on top of the cage for UV and heat.

Cage size is 42"long by 25" deep by 25" tall. Best method to get temp back up where it should be would be appreciated. I will try to bring the temp up gradually so it is not too much of a shock but want to know how best to work with a wooden cage.

Thanks in advance.

I'm no expert but I'll put in my two cents.

I agree with you on the UTH, a solution to this could be a clean, decorative rock (not hot rock obviously) placed on the floor of the cage on the heated side. They hold heat and provide it to the snake's belly which is the most important kind of heat for digestion. Of course the rock isn't necessary but it's the closest thing to a UTH you can probably have. You can use a traditional bulb (an infared will work fine since they just need heat not UV light), although a ceramic bulb would work well for 90 degree heat it is also dries out the cage tremendously, something not so desirable with a ball, unless you have a really wide water bowl and great humid hide to go with it.

As far as getting the heat source, do that ASAP, especially since you said the snake just ate. You want her to be able to digest normally which requires her to be able to thermoregulate properly by having a "hot side" of the cage as well as proper ambient air temperatures.
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Danne
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1.0 BRB "Monroe"
1.1 Leos "Bowser & Peach"
0.3 cats "Beast, Smokey & Thelma"
0.2 Dumbo (non-feeder) rats "Josie & Holly"
0.4.2 fish

I appreciate any feedback as I am definitely in speed learning mode!

Have added a few items to my pre-snake welcoming party:

Driftwood for more climbing area(current owner has a large piece of driftwood that goes to a ferret hammock...says that
BP spends a lot of time there...wondering in back of head if that was to get warmer but will see.

Another water bowl to add more humidity.
ZooMed Rheostat Deluxe 500
R-Zilla Premium 8.5" Reflector Dome(Light&Heat)
Exo-Terra 100w Infrared HeatGlo Bulb
Exo-Terra Hygrometer
Exo-Terra Liquid Crystal Thermometer

I forget if she had humidity/temp meters...figure if she does I can place these in other cage areas for added monitoring.

Current cage bottom is fake astro turf...suspect this is to ease cleaning but will not help out much with humidity so
may add aspen chips to half of base to see how she does with it. Figure I don't want to make a ton of changes besides
the relocation of her whole cage.

Holler if any of this is off-base or too extreme a change that I might get behavior changes creeping in. Thanks again.

>>I'm no expert but I'll put in my two cents.

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Soon to be 0.1 Normal BP
0.1 mixed feline
1.0 bengal feline
0.2 german shorthaired pointer
0.1.1 Paint Horses
0.1.0 Thoroughbred Horse
1.0.0 Friesian Stud

Well, update. Cage and snake are safely in my home. My driftwood is dinky in this cage but the BP has been
spending most of her time on it. Held off on my water bowl as the one in the cage is much larger though not
very naturalistic. Held BP while situating everything in the cage and she seems content. While back in the
cage she is cruising the whole area to see what has changed. No curling in a ball or hiding under large log
hidey. I put the Infrared Reflector on the top for now and temp is working way past 80 currently with the
rheostat set on low...will make certain it switches off at reasonable heat before heading to bed tonight.

Also had a good surprise...lifted the astro turf in bottom of cage to find the bottom is entirely plexiglass
so I am going to be shopping for an UTH afterall...prefer that to the overhead as I have two,far too curious for own
good, cats that may cause problems with the reflector...will switch off when not present for safety till all is
up and working properly. Also put wet towels on half of screen top to help get heat and perhaps humidity up.

Any brand preferences for UTH for a 42x25x25 cage? Wattage?

How long after the move should I wait for first feeding in new home? Same cage so should adjust faster than
old tank to new tank transitions I suspect but...?

>>I'm no expert but I'll put in my two cents.

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Soon to be 0.1 Normal BP
0.1 mixed feline
1.0 bengal feline
0.2 german shorthaired pointer
0.1.1 Paint Horses
0.1.0 Thoroughbred Horse
1.0.0 Friesian Stud

I would say that the uv lights sound like ur best bet. goodluck