Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey! As some of you who have answered my last post (btw, thank you so much! Very helpful.) know, I am really pushing towards a BRB for this spring, or sooner, if I can get the money together. Anyways, I have been doing a lot of reading, and I think I've got the temps and feeding schedules and everything down.

Here's my setup plan (for a hatchling):
34.75x16.5x6" bin (is this ok? I have an extra, but I'll go out and buy a different one if this is too big or too small for a hatchling) with 6 holes along the sides. Newspaper substrate, 2 hides, heat pad under one hide, and a large water bowl. I will clean everything on a weekly basis, thoroughly disinfect everything on a monthly basis, spot clean every day, and change the water twice a week.

Does that sound ok?

When my ball python Cu was in that bin (it proved too short for her to comfortably constrict a medium rat), I easily got the humidity above 90% when she went into shed, which I know is a bit too high for a BP. So humidity isn't a problem. But I do live in the desert. My house is usually around 30% humidity. I do plan to handle the BRB a lot. I know this is kind of a silly question, but would a rainbow boa be ok for a few hours in such low humidity during handling?

I think, for now, that's it.... I'm so excited! I love reptiles of all kinds, especially snakes, and BRBs are really pretty, fun snakes, from what I hear. But I can guarentee that I'll think of more questions soon, so keep an eye on other posts I may make on here!

Thanks to all,

CrazyForHerps
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

Handling for a couple hours at a time in low humidity is no problem. Your setup sounds good. You do need to make sure the temperature is right. With a bin that size you can set up a heat gradient with the warm end in the low 80s and the cool end in the low 70s.

>>Hey! As some of you who have answered my last post (btw, thank you so much! Very helpful.) know, I am really pushing towards a BRB for this spring, or sooner, if I can get the money together. Anyways, I have been doing a lot of reading, and I think I've got the temps and feeding schedules and everything down.
>>
>>Here's my setup plan (for a hatchling):
>>34.75x16.5x6" bin (is this ok? I have an extra, but I'll go out and buy a different one if this is too big or too small for a hatchling) with 6 holes along the sides. Newspaper substrate, 2 hides, heat pad under one hide, and a large water bowl. I will clean everything on a weekly basis, thoroughly disinfect everything on a monthly basis, spot clean every day, and change the water twice a week.
>>
>>Does that sound ok?
>>
>>When my ball python Cu was in that bin (it proved too short for her to comfortably constrict a medium rat), I easily got the humidity above 90% when she went into shed, which I know is a bit too high for a BP. So humidity isn't a problem. But I do live in the desert. My house is usually around 30% humidity. I do plan to handle the BRB a lot. I know this is kind of a silly question, but would a rainbow boa be ok for a few hours in such low humidity during handling?
>>
>>I think, for now, that's it.... I'm so excited! I love reptiles of all kinds, especially snakes, and BRBs are really pretty, fun snakes, from what I hear. But I can guarentee that I'll think of more questions soon, so keep an eye on other posts I may make on here!
>>
>>Thanks to all,
>>
>>CrazyForHerps
>>-----
>>CrazyForHerps
>>0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
>>1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
>>1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
>>Various feeder rats

Thanks! I intend to set up a few weeks before getting the snake so I have time to mess with the temps without stressing or burning the snake.
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

The bin is much larger than most people use for a newborn. That is not an issue - as it you will have a set-up well.
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

All sounds good, relatively larger enclosures allow for a better temp gradiant, just be sure to provide properly sized hides in various locations. I'd go with several for a hatchling and again, make sure you get small ones to start with.

Also, maybe damp moss hides, my BRB's love them and help with the humidity problems. They provide smaller are=as of higher humidity (inside them) and the snakes like to hide there.
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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

Six holes on each side might be too little. Just test it out, see if there is no extensive mold growth, if there is just solder some more holes.
I would definitely clean the water daily though. Bacterial growth is promoted when keeping a water dish above a heat source.
And, good luck! Rainbow boas are a very cool animal to keep.
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Thanks, Matt

Ok, I will experiment... I have a few more months before I can get one, so I have time. I kept my ball python in that bin, I cleaned it every week, and I never saw any mold. But in terms of ventilation, is 6 holes enough?
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

BTW, the holes are pretty big.
Here's a video I took when I first moved my BP into that bin... its kind of hard with the lighting, but you can see the holes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgdy9o0zyPc&feature=channel_page
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CrazyForHerps
0.1 Ball Python, Culebra (Cu)
1.0 Bearded Dragon, unnamed (waiting for me in CA!)
1.0 Tabby cat, Iraland (Ira)
Various feeder rats

I keep my little girl in a 32qt bin, which has maybe 12 or so holes on each side, and has newspaper substrate. I have no problem keeping her tub at 70% . That's just because my snake room is rather humid. In the 30s, I would think that 6 on each side, 12 in total would be enough. But like I said, you can experiment around with it and see what works best.
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Thanks, Matt