Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was thinking about getting a BRB but they are hard to find where I'm from. The one guy who just hatched a couple clutches only wants to sell in pairs, but the price is very right. I have a glass terrarium set up (20 gallon) really well and I've tested that it holds humidity well (i cover most of the screen lid and have a big water bowl and moist hide box). I know it will work for one BRB, but can a couple of them live alright in that together for a while? I've gotten a very wide range of answers to this but I thought I'd ask the experts here. Thanks.

People do successfully keep them together. Paul Buck comes to mind. IMO that works best with a setup like Paul's, very large, naturalistic type setup. Of course separate feedings etc.

Downside is there is a remote chance one can eat the other. Not a huge risk, I've not actually heard of any instances of BRB's doing that. The specific incidents with other species I've heard of we fatal to both.

Other downside is if one does gets sick, both can get sick and keeping track of individuals is harder. There's a shed but whose is it?
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks! That's really helpful. I have plenty of previous snake experience so I think I should be able to handle keeping them together and keeping track of them. A couple extra questions though. These are babies I'm thinking of getting, but I might want to breed them when they are ready. Will housing them together for a year or so be detrimental to that idea? Also, how long do you think 2 baby BRB's could live in a 20 gallon tank? I'm hoping for a year or so before I move them to larger separate enclosures. Thanks!

Two of them in that size cage for a year or even more is fine. For best breeding results they probably should be seperated by the time they are two years old and then reintroduced when fully mature for breeding. As they get bigger the likelihood of one mistakenly trying to eat the other is reduced. I have had hungry babies attempt to eat each other resulting in death. This only seems to happen right after one has fed and still smells like a rodent.
Jeff

>>Thanks! That's really helpful. I have plenty of previous snake experience so I think I should be able to handle keeping them together and keeping track of them. A couple extra questions though. These are babies I'm thinking of getting, but I might want to breed them when they are ready. Will housing them together for a year or so be detrimental to that idea? Also, how long do you think 2 baby BRB's could live in a 20 gallon tank? I'm hoping for a year or so before I move them to larger separate enclosures. Thanks!

Last question. If I use and under-tank heater will i need a light too? I've heard BRB's need less heat and more humidity. I'm using coconut husk bedding and that holds moisture well and heat well. I have several different light choices... anything from USB to a 40 watt lamp to a red light to a 150 watt heat bulb. What would be best, if any? Thanks sooo much!

No need for the overhead light. These snakes are nocturnal and will be stressed by too much light. All you need is to set it up with most of the cage in the 70s and a small warmer spot on a small part of the floor of the cage.

>>Last question. If I use and under-tank heater will i need a light too? I've heard BRB's need less heat and more humidity. I'm using coconut husk bedding and that holds moisture well and heat well. I have several different light choices... anything from USB to a 40 watt lamp to a red light to a 150 watt heat bulb. What would be best, if any? Thanks sooo much!

her mate. It was horrible, but they both survived! The girl (about 20 lbs) had the male's (4 lbs) front end down her throat. The male had bitten the female inside her throat, keeping her from swallowing him. We broke a lot of their teeth, broke some of the male's ribs getting him out, but they both came out alright- just had to go on antibiotics.
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1.1 96, 04 Het Albino - "Suzie" & "Lumpy"
0.1 03 Poss. Het Albino - "Ami"
0.1 05 Super Salmon - "CreamSicle"
0.1 04 Anery Het Snow- "Squelchy"
1.0 04 DH-Sunglow - "Dwayne"
1.0 06 TH-Moonglow - "Gargamel"
1.2 01 BRBs- "Gobball", "Larva" & "Tofu"