Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like all information that I can get from anyone, on how to care for this beautiful snake. Right now he is a little over a foot and I have him in a 20 gallon tank. It has the normal tank lid and I have a tank light and also a heat light. The heat light is just a 40 watt bulb and it is over the spot where I have the heat pad. Next to the heat pad is the tupperwar container with wet papertowls for his humidity. The other side of the tank has a piece of wood to climb on and his water dish. I think that there might be mites in there, because I saw little white things jumping around. So any help with that would be apprectiated. He is also a little snippy. I was wondering how to make him stop biting and if he does bite me what should I do. Any other information would be great. Thank you.

Good luck with your BRB,they are great snakes.Basically,there are two ways to make a major mistake with baby Brazilians: too much heat and not enough humidity.

You could actually do away with the overhead bulb if you have an under the tank heater,as that much heat will probably force the snake to spend all of its time on the cool end of the cage.Place part of the water bowl over the "hot spot" to help increase humidity .I would also go with a hide box since you are using a very large space for the snake.Get a rubbermaid container and cut an access hole.Fill the rubbermaid with spaghnum and keep the spaghnum misted.Paper towels would be the substrate of choice for the bottom,and mist these as well.Keep the temps in the low 80's.Simple is best,as a general rule.

Baby Brazilians are onery at first,and I have a unique way of taming them down:I simply let them bite me until they realize that I am not a danger and that that particular defensive reaction isn't going to do them any good.It doesn't hurt really and after a few nips they settle down nicely.Good luck with your snake.

I would actually recommend just purchasing a large (and not too tall) tupperware container (something that's about the size of two shoeboxes), drill or burn (with a soldering iron) several holes in it, use paper towels as a substrate and a human heating pad set on low or some heat tape with a dimmer switch as a heat source. You can also buy a few round tupperware containers as hide spots and cut entry holes into them and fill them with damp sphagnum moss. Put a water bowl in the box and you're set. About every 3 or 4 days, tip the water bowl so the paper towels are wet and that's about all you have to do. Keep it clean and sanitary because damp cages are havens for mildew and bacteria.
Cheap, simple, effective, and recommended!

But, if you really want to use the 20 gallon long, you're going to have to some modifying to get your temps between 70-85 and your humidity at 80% (you can't have too much humidity for baby brb's unless you have standing water). By the way, if your room stays at about 75-78 like mine does, you may not even have to have a heat source!

Good luck and enjoy your new baby!
jb
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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery