Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know they are classified as terrestrial snakes, but I have also read posts and seen pics of BRB's using branches and perches to climb. Does it depend on the heat source (accessing a basking light)or available cage space? I am setting up an enclosure for mine and just wanted to see what everyone thought.

SO-what do you think??

Thanks,
Dan

The biggest I have is a subadult, he still climbs I have a few hooks in his cage and planned on building him a little pvc pipe jungle gym but never got around to it. I've heard that as they get older and heavier they stay on the ground more both in captivity as well as in the wild, I'm sure some long-time owners can give you more insight on this.
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Danne
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1.0 '07 BRB "Monroe"
1.0 '08 BRB 66% het Anery "Ace"
1.0 '08 Pastel BP "Sebastian"
1.1 Leos "Bowser & Peach"
0.2 Dumbo (non-feeder) rats "Josie & Holly"
1.2 family members who can't wait until I move "the zoo" into my own place

Email = dshoback@eden.rutgers.edu

Hello there,

In my experience, similar to what was already mentioned, my younger BRBs love the added room and ability to climb. I haven't noticed any real relation to the heat source and climbing but I do see them out and climbing during the night. My older BRBs don't seem to show much interest in climbing.

Thanks,

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Ike Lightner

1.3 BRB (Dugo, Roxy, Brazita, & Lucille)

IMO my BRB's definetly do enjoy climbing. At the same time I will agree that they are terrestrial, in that, they tend to spend MOST of their time on the ground or in hides. In my experience, they usually climb during their active hours(evening-night).
I like to provide my BRB's with a variety of obstacles to climb on including ledges, tree branches and other cage furnishings.

I have found that if given the chance mine will utilize climbing branches. Most of my adult cages/racks are not set up that way but in the one that is I do seem them hanging out on the dowel rods provided. I will sometimes swap the BRB's through that particular encloser so that they can get the additional excercize. I rarely see them use it during the day but if I sneak down there at night it's not unusual to find whichever boa I have in the cage hanging out or cruising off the ground.

Here's a really blurry pic of a male on them(taken at night through glass) but you can get the idea.

All the responses are the same as what I have seen in my collection. They climb more as young-uns and less as adults. Almost always at night.

One clear point I can add is my gravid females DO CLIMB to thermoregulate. My wood cages use RHP's for heating and I see the females perched on the rim of the water bowl as close to the RHP as they can get. Not always, just sometimes
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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 (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I forgot to mention that My BRB's "DO" seem to climb up near heat sometimes in order to thermoregulate (basically bask). Also, wanted to mention that I have both my young and adult BRB's and both seem to enjoy climbing.
In fact, the adults are often appear stimulated to climb after I clean/ rearrange their cages. Not sure why but it is cool to see them cruising around.

Thanks for all your responses! You've helped me a lot. I will post pics when I finally have my enclosure done, which will include branches and shelves.

>>I forgot to mention that My BRB's "DO" seem to climb up near heat sometimes in order to thermoregulate (basically bask). Also, wanted to mention that I have both my young and adult BRB's and both seem to enjoy climbing.
>>In fact, the adults are often appear stimulated to climb after I clean/ rearrange their cages. Not sure why but it is cool to see them cruising around.

Here are some example photos, most of which I shot last night. I also took some video of my adult male climbing, email me if interested.

Dan,
They like to climb. Adults, juveniles, babies. They all like to climb.
Paul