Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey i am going to start breeding boas and i was just wondering if the plastic tubs that they breed like mice in are okay (mine will be bigger of course)? are they going to be just as good as in a glass aquarium?

There are exceptions, but many snake species seem to do better in tubs/lidless racks. If you look at how many Boa constrictor breeders keep their snakes an appropriately sized tub would not be that different.

The only tub I can think of suitable for a large female Boa constrictor would be the large Xmas tree box available from Reptiletubs.com

Are you aware of another product?

actually you were reading my mind, i was looking at a big tub from reptiletubs.com at the daytona reptile show and thats why i asked this question. i was just wondering if they would do good breeding in tubs like the ones reptiletubs sells. but i was thinking of those tubs with the lids, not the rack system. so will those tubs be better to breed in than an aquarium or a cage made of wood? and wouldnt it be alot eaiser to regulate temperatures for them if you use heat tape with a temperature regulator because its just a thin layer of plastic so it is going to be the exact temp that it reads from the heat tape instead of wood cages where you cant really use heat tape...? let me know because i am thinking of starting to just use these tubs for breeding. but do they make a big enough tub for a male and female to breed in?

As far as I know that box is the largest tub made. It probably would be a bit small for a large female, but I don't recall what the floor area was. Due to the sloping sides and the domed lid it's considerable smaller than the listed size of the box.

I'd e-mail Eric and have him measure the floor area for you.

The thin plastic might make the boxes harder to heat evenly. These boxes in a cool room with just heat tape might not be enough. Yes, the thin plastic will transmit the heat, but to have a decent air temperature might mean the surface of the heat tape will have to be quite hot.

Same probably holds true for an aquarium, although they're generally easier to heat with lamps.

I think it would be pretty easy to put a radiant heat panel in the lid of these boxes.

Unless you are going to be keeping and breeding smaller locality boas even the larger reptiletubs.com tubs will not be sufficient for breeding boas in. a suggestion I have, which alot of people do not think to do, is make a rack system and make your own tubs out of wood and line it with the 1/8" expanded pvc.. It would offer good humidity, be as large as you need it to be, and you can place the wooden tubs on shelf guides, like in dressers. I am debating making a unit like this myself out of 1/2" plastic for the rack and 1/4" plastic for the tubs..

Good luck with what ever you end up doing.

Later
-----
Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR THE SIZE ENCLOSURE TO BREED BOAS IN?

I would try and stick with 6x2x2 preferably for a breeding pair, but some smaller pairs will be fine in 4x2x1 enclosures.

Good luck.
-----
Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

A lot of boa breeders, Pete Kahl included, are using Freedom Breeders' large tubs with the windows in front. They are awesome. Worth every penny if you are a serious keeper. They come in a 4 ft model & a 6 ft model, and are stacked 6 high. They slide out on tracks. Remember, it's not what yu put into it ($), it's what you want to get out of it that matters !
Just my 2 cents !