Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two young BRB's, one male and one female, living together in a 10 gallon tank. The humidity is usually between 75 and 85 and the heat is always between 80 and 90. The snakes have eaten for me 3 times since I've had them and the seem to be getting along just fine. They share hides, and don't seem to stress out each other. On Saturday I tried to feed them again and only one would eat, the female. I separate them into smaller tupperwear containers with a paper down and a thawed fuzzy. I put the containers into the cage I keep them in just so the humidity and temperature stays about the same for them to eat. Usually they take a little while but if I leave them for an hour they will both have eaten. Once the female didn't eat but I dangled the mouse in front of her and she grabbed it quick and ate. This time the male didn't eat at all, even after dangling the mouse and leaving him in the tupperware overnight. Should I be worried if he isn't eating and the other one is? I will be moving them into a 20 gallon soon, but I was hoping to get them to eat one more time before I did it. Any suggestions or things I should be wary of?

Drop your temps 10 degrees to 70 - 80, above 80 is to warm and 90 is way to hot for lil BRB's......

Also, where are you measuring temps? Should be at substrate level.
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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! I will drop the temps a bit. I should be trying to keep them between 70 and 80 then? I have a heating pad on one side and that is the side that i cover with a damp towel. The other side has a 40 or 60 watt bulb and that is the side with the water bowl, which both snakes tend to hide under. I didn't think it being hot would make a snake not eat, I was just very worried about the humidity or it being too cold. But 70-80 is easily doable with just the under tank heater. Would ditching the lamp probably be fine? Also, in case this doesn't make a difference (although I trust it will), what else might be the problem? I know snakes sometimes just won't eat for a week but these guys have ALWAYS been great eaters. Thanks!

I'm relatively certain dropping the temps to the right level will fix their appetites. We see these posts all the time at only 85 degrees. Losing the overhead light is fine as long as the UTH can keep the temps within desired temps. One other thing, from your description it's a glass tank? If so wrapping three sides in "Refletix" (aluminized plastic bubble wrap) will help hold in the heat. Glass is a good conductor of heat, right out of the tank. You can find reflectix at your local home improvement store (home depot) in the home insulation area.

Sounds like your snakes are seeking out the coolest spot in the cage, away from the UTH and putting the water bowl between them and the over head heat source.

Like our guru friend Jeff says - listen to your snakes! Their actions are telling you they are too hot.
-----
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 a lot! I love having this forum so I'm sure of what I'm doing. I've had snakes for a long time but have just recently explored the world of rainbows. I've heard too many horror stories about keeping them, so I feel like I have to double check everything.

They are actually quite easy, just provide proper temps, humidity, feed and clean!!!
-----
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

Drop your temps to a range of about 73-83 and they'll be a lot happier.

Sharing a hide doesnt mean their friends, piling up on top of each other can mean that one's being dominant over the other. If you're going to keep them together, offer multiple hides on the cool and warm side so they can each have their own.

You're actually better off keeping them in separate enclosures so rather than a 20L for both, pick up another 10 and separate them.

FWIW, aquariums are for fish, there are a lot better housing options for BRB than aquariums.

Now lets see some pix of the little critters!
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Julie
www.[url ban]/gfx

Separating them is a good idea, especially a sexed pair. There are a whole slew of reasons not to house snakes together and very few snakes actually require company (only one I know off hand are baby garter snakes who seem to thrive better when housed in groups then individually, but only as babies).
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PHLdyPayne

I'd love to show you some pics but I can't figure out how to upload them on this message board! I sent a link to a photo album of mine that has some of my snakes. The BRB's are in it. The darker one is my burgundy male (bigger than the female) and the lighter (and more photogenic and agreeable) is my orange female. I've also got a kenyan sand boa, baby spotted, baby milk, and a pastel ball. I've got lots more but those are some of the better ones that are with me at school. Thanks for all your help and advice. I love the little guys, and I feel like I almost stole them getting the pair for $150.
Some of my snakes.

Very nice! Great steal of a price. The spotted is cute too.
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Julie
www.[url ban]/gfx