Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I will have 4 BP babies ranging from 1-3 months old comming to me in MN next week. My question is, I have a rack system that can hold 8 28qt containers, will these be too big to house such young babies? And if so, what should I put them in in the mean time?

Also, how do I know when I should be giving them bigger food, and more of it?

It seems most breeders have there snakes in rack systems with little lighting. (or the ones I have talked to) however, in a BP book i recently aquired they seem to condimn this in less its for short periods of time. Will my babies grow up big and healthy if I keep them in a rack system that gets no light? And Should I turn on a desk lamp during the day so they get light thru the front? The heat tape is on the back. Will this be enough to keep them warm and how does it grade down? From 90-95 in the back to around 75 at the front, is there something special i need to do to make it cool? the 28qt seem long enough to do this but if I have to put them in something smaller how do i keep them from being too warm.

I have clay shelters with 1 opening for each baby and my snake i have had for about a year is in repti bark so i will probably keep him in that as he likes it well enough. but i was planning on using cypress mulch for the babies.

sorry i know its 100000 questions but i dont want to hurt them by not knowing something. and it seems books are a bit out of date and a lot of people have different opinions and it would be easier on a forum to find out what i need.

Thank you so much!
Tianna
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~Tianna~

1 BP norm 'Fluffy'
1 st. bernard/great paranese mix 'Chester'
I am a fostermom for pitts/bully breeds (mainly pitts and their mix's) my current is Anjel and she lives up to her name to such a amazing extent!

We must all learn to blame the DEED and not the BREED, dogs are what we make them. Remember Pitties rank above labs in temperment testing, and that says something.

Obsolescenttears@aol.com

Would a 12qt container fit inside a 28qt?

At target it seemed only a 6qt was within the height restrictions. im thinking a 12 would be too tall. for some odd reason 28 and 6 seemed to be the only ones within the height range. that is why i am concerned. im thinking they will be ok as long as they have their hide space.

but what about lighting? should i have a light on during the day facing it?
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~Tianna~

1.0 BP norm 'Fluffy'
1.1 Matrix Blonds
1.1 Mojave
1.0 st. bernard/great paranese mix 'Chester'
1.0 Great Dane Harley
I foster pitbulls and love every minute of it.

We must all learn to blame the DEED and not the BREED, dogs are what we make them.

Obsolescenttears@aol.com

I've used smaller tubs with lids on them. Just make sure they can't squeeze through or push them off.

About the whole rack thing, I don't think it's that big of a deal if the don't get enough light, etc. In the wild these guys usually live in rodent burrows. I'd only worry about light when it comes time to breeding them as light cycling helps to let them know when that time has come.

What book were you reading? Some of the older books tend to stress replicating a natural environment, but most big breeders (VPI for example) use a rack system with tubs that don't let a lot of light through.

It is a VPI BP book, its 2002 but some info is from 2005 so my assumption is it is 2005 lol.

Thank you all for responding!

Thank you!

Tianna
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~Tianna~

1.0 BP norm 'Fluffy'
1.1 Matrix Blonds
1.1 Mojave
1.0 st. bernard/great paranese mix 'Chester'
1.0 Great Dane Harley
I foster pitbulls and love every minute of it.

We must all learn to blame the DEED and not the BREED, dogs are what we make them.

Obsolescenttears@aol.com