Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I just got my first BRB and I have few questions. It's weird how I got him/her. The pet store had apparently special ordered it for someone who didn't show up. The setup that they had for it was something that you would use for ball python. I assumed that this snakes requirements were similar (wrongly). They sold me a glass tank with a mesh lid (which now I know is bad) and heating light.

When I got home and read up on them more I found out that the pet store basically lied to me about their care (I know, I'm an idiot and should have checked first). So I set out to try to get the environment perfect. I got some substate that was supose to hold moisture and and Exo Terra Rainforest Heat mat, from a different pet store, to get the heat a little higher. I have the mesh part of the tank covered with damp wash cloths to prevent humidity loss and the sides insulated with cardboard to prevent heat loss. The light I'm using is infrared so I can keep it on at night to keep the tank warm and so the light doesn't bother the snake and stress him.

The temperature ranges between 77-81 and the humidity is about 80% in there.

Now I have a few questions:

1. The substrate I have is Exo Terra Forest Bark which is a Fir bedding. It was basically the only reptile bedding they had. When I first put the snake in the cage with the new bedding he seemed to "freak out" and tried to climb up the side of the tank. I am not sure if it was just the stress of the new environment or something bad in the bedding. I just want to make sure but is fir bark substrate okay for these snakes? One care sheet said it was but I want to make sure. Any personal experiences? I plan to get something different in the future but will it be okay for now. I'd rather not move him and stress him to change his bedding unless I have to.

2.I had one of the moist hide boxes that were suggested in his cage but removed it because he immediately went into the "hot" hide and hasn't really come out. I plan to put it back once he starts exploring more. The question I have is since he hasn't come out of his "cave" on the one side it's probably the driest part of the terrarium. Should I move the cave to mist under there or will disturbing him be bad? Should I worry if he doesn't come out to drink he will become dehydrated? I hear they are secretive and he may very well be sneaking out when I'm not around

3. I hear they like to soak but I don't want him to drown in the water. How deep should it be for a snake that is about 1.5 feet long?

3. He was fed on Tuesday (5 days ago). I heard that you shouldn't really bother them for about 5-7 days after you get them but should I feed him on Tuesday or wait? Should I just wait the 5 extra days to feed him? Basically are they more sensitive to the stress from the new environment or being a little later with feedings? My thought is if he gets hungry he'll start coming out more to "hunt" if he is getting hungry but given that he seems secretive I may not see him...

Thanks for the help.

I'll keep ypour questions and answer in blue.

>>1. The substrate I have is Exo Terra Forest Bark which is a Fir bedding. It was basically the only reptile bedding they had. When I first put the snake in the cage with the new bedding he seemed to "freak out" and tried to climb up the side of the tank. I am not sure if it was just the stress of the new environment or something bad in the bedding. I just want to make sure but is fir bark substrate okay for these snakes? One care sheet said it was but I want to make sure. Any personal experiences? I plan to get something different in the future but will it be okay for now. I'd rather not move him and stress him to change his bedding unless I have to.
I've never used it but also have not heard anything bad about it. I use paper towels and/or newspaper for all mine.

>>
>>2.I had one of the moist hide boxes that were suggested in his cage but removed it because he immediately went into the "hot" hide and hasn't really come out. I plan to put it back once he starts exploring more. The question I have is since he hasn't come out of his "cave" on the one side it's probably the driest part of the terrarium. Should I move the cave to mist under there or will disturbing him be bad? Should I worry if he doesn't come out to drink he will become dehydrated? I hear they are secretive and he may very well be sneaking out when I'm not around
>>
Don't worry about disturbing him so much, just don't handle him a lot. Try a variety of hides in various places. Remember, it's only a hide if he has to cram himself into it

>>3. I hear they like to soak but I don't want him to drown in the water. How deep should it be for a snake that is about 1.5 feet long?
>>
an inch or so will be fine, larger surface area dish is preferred

>>3. He was fed on Tuesday (5 days ago). I heard that you shouldn't really bother them for about 5-7 days after you get them but should I feed him on Tuesday or wait? Should I just wait the 5 extra days to feed him? Basically are they more sensitive to the stress from the new environment or being a little later with feedings? My thought is if he gets hungry he'll start coming out more to "hunt" if he is getting hungry but given that he seems secretive I may not see him...
>>
He can go for weeks (months even) without food so no rush for his next meal. First get him settled in and temps/humidity worked out

And if you've read much of my posts, you know I hate fishtanks for BRB's

My caresheet....
BRB caresheet
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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 for the quick reply. Just one quick question. You mentioned not handling him a lot. Do you mean just until he gets adjusted to his new home or ever? Do they not like being handled? The few times I held him (at the pet store and when I put him in his cage) he seemed to like being held. He wasn't aggressive at all or trying to get away.

Thanks again for the help.

Just for settling in, obviously each one is unique. But for the first while, IMO it's best to not add any stress you don't have to.
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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

I was just wondering what the temperature "danger zones" are for these snakes. I read that temps over 85 F are bad for them but then I heard about some people having temps up to 88 on other sites (but I think that may just be for larger snakes). What are your opinions on the absolute top and bottom temp that a cage should ever be?

So far mine has been about 73 at night and up to 77-80 during the day. Is that good? I tried to insulate the cage a little with a pillow behind it, in an attempt to shift the average temp to more of a 79-81, but that really shot the temp up to 86 in just an hour so I stopped that.

Thanks again for the help.

I never allow my temps tp go over 85 for my adults. For babies like yours I keep the temps lower like you listed 77-80 at the warm end and a few degrees lower at the front. Mine are all on thermostats, the babies do not get night drop.

You're most welcome.
-----
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

I agree with Dave about the fishtanks but since I already had 60 gallon reptile "fishtanks" I have been making use of them until I pick up adequate stacking adult enclosures. As a result I have noticed a couple things about maintaining humidity in them.

1) if you use dampened washcloths to cover the screen you will probably need to resoak(soak not just spray) the cloth's every 2-3 days. After that point I always saw a drastic jump in humidity loss.

2) Generally I got less humidity loss from thin(1/8th inch) countertop/cabinet material that was custom cut to fit exactly on top of the screens frame but inside the top edge of the tanks frame. Obviously finished/smooth side down to avoid humidity warping.

3) A second smaller water dish on the UTH or warm side to act as a evaporation dish helps alot.

4) a very large surface area soaking/drinking water dish on the cool side also helps and usually also prevents them from playing with the evaporation dish.

5) The Humid Hide Boxes that Dave suggests are a fabulous safety buffer if the other humidity features fail giving you time to fix them.

6) I've never found the side insulating necesary in the tanks but it would probably allow you to keep the heat sources turned lower and thereby make retaining humidity easier.

7) If you are not using a paper substrate then clumps/pads of soaked sphagnum moss(AKA Green Moss) placed arround the enclosure help keep up the ambient humidity as well as providing mini moss hides(but less effective ones then boxes).

I hope some of this is of help for you until you are able to get a appropriate enclosure.

Sean.

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1.1 BRB
0.1 Pacific Gophersnake(unproven Hypo)
1.0 Amel Pacific Gophersnake
0.1 Striped Anery Pacific Gophersnake
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat