Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A Few questions about keeping BRB babies in a Plastic Shoebox.

*Water:
For Baby BRB's (barely 13”) kept in a Shoebox plastic container, what is the best-sized water dish to include for a baby this size? I am looking for shallow depth and small enough width that wouldn’t dominate the whole container.

Do babies this small (under 24”) need a water dish to soak and drink or is frequent misting sufficient?
I’m guessing both is required – but needed to ask.

*Moisture:
Is misting several times a day a good way to ensure that the moisture is in place?
I plan on setting up and monitoring the enclosure before introducing the snake as that way I can get a feel for the temps etc.

*Heat:
I want to use a small heat pad under the small Rubber Maid shoe box, is it suggested to have the heat pad only partially under the small plastic container to give it least a small 70 to 80 degree gradient inside? (If possible at this small size)

I understand 80 and no higher is the goal with these guys especially this young.
I wouldn’t venture towards 85 degrees as I think at that point it would be playing it WAY too close? (I read that at over 85 degrees, death can occur easily)

*Substrate:
I am using paper towels for a while so I can easily monitor feces. Plus they are suggested.
Is there another substrate that is safe for BRB’s under 24” that aids in keeping in moisture better than paper towels?

*Hide Log / Hide Area
I will be providing a hiding place for the baby. I imagine finding something this small like a hide log may be easy enough but, does anyone use any home made items for a quick hide box?

I have not owned Brazilian Rainbow Boa's before, so I would like nothing more than to be steered in the right direction.
Thanks in advance! Yet to be owner of BRB.
Regards Steve

i have an 18 inch brb,but i use a 25 gal rubbermaid,if i were to use an enclosure the size you are, i would use a small doggy bowl filled most of the way,if he needs to soak,he'll be able to,and it works as another hiding spot,also keep another container for soaking just in case of shedding problems,be creative as far as hide box goes(i use a computer game box)it helps keep humidity in.also if your gonna use paper towels as a substrate,it would be a good idea to put sphagnum moss in his hide box because you have to remember these little guys need a humidity level of 80%,i use fir bark and sphagnum in my brb's enclosure and it works well for him,and his heat pad is under his hide box but most of the time i find him hiding under the water bowl,well,i hope i helped you at least a little

I have kept baby BRBs in shoeboxes with no problems. A small tupperware bowl should do for a water bowl (baby BRBs are incredibly tiny despite their length and can easily fit into a small water dish). Definitely stuff the hide with damp sphagnum and spray the shoebox a couple times a day if you're going to be using paper as a substrate. You can make a hide out of just about anything: Tea boxes, cereal boxes, old plastic cat treat containers, cigarette cartons, small plastic cups, etc. Just remember that if you use a hide made of cardboard, you'll have to replace it about once a week or it will get moldy. Hope this helps, and good luck with your new snake

Steve,
. Many of us have kept baby BRBs in plastic shoeboxes. They work fine if you have the temperature safely controlled. The problem with shoebox size containers is that if you do not have the temperature well controlled you can overheat them and the snake does not have a big enough cage to get away from the heat. I would suggest setting the cage up with the heating pad under just a corner of the cage and then checking it for several days before putting a snake in to make sure the temperature is right. I like papertowels for substrate in shoebox containers. Rather than misting the cage several times each day you can just dampen the papertowel and it should keep the cage humid for a day or two. Papertowels will mildew pretty quickly and have to be changed out around twice per week. All BRBs need a good sized water bowl in their cages. In addition to the other hiding places mentioned I use the cardboard tubes from a roll of papertowels. Little BRBs like to hide in these tubes.
Jeff

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