Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking about buying a baby nicaraguan boa. My question is, How long can a snake live in a rubbermaid container? Will it stress out or anything like that? If it is ok to house them in there for a while, can you keep it heated by a ceramic heat bulb? The problem i have is that i live in a dorm, and we're really not supposed to have animals. Thankyou

Nicaraguan boas are great pets BUT more often than not, they're imported animals, NOT captive-bred, as seen by their lower prices. I used to keep my snakes in glass critter cages but I'm moving and planned on the move awhile back so I transferred all my snakes into Sterilite containers. It was only supposed to be temporary but my new home kept getting delayed and delayed. Now I actually love keepping my snakes in Sterilite containers b/c it is much more sanitary and easier to monitor any strange behaviors. Downside....not visible or decorative. I use heating pads with all my Sterilite containers...no heat bulbs....it could melt them or cause fire. If you are not supposed to have them in your dorm, then check with some of your science/biology professors first b/c many have a small collection of all sorts of reptiles...and maybe you can volunteer to spend time involved with that instead. Just a suggestion since I wouldn't want ya to get into trouble...not saying that I didn't do it when I was in college but I didn't take care of my herps as well then as I do now. What school do you go to?

I'm thinking about buying a baby nicaraguan boa. My question is, How long can a snake live in a rubbermaid container? Will it stress out or anything like that? If it is ok to house them in there for a while, can you keep it heated by a ceramic heat bulb? The problem i have is that i live in a dorm, and we're really not supposed to have animals. Thank you
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Sincerely,
Jason
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My Website:
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Too many snakes to list in my signature anymore.

Thanks for the reply. When you heat them with the heating pad, do you put it underneath the container? how do you know how strong of a heating pad to get? I'm a junior at Pace University in downtown Manhatten.

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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

as far as heating...I use heating pads made for humans...I get them at Walmart for $10 and they have 3 settings...low-medium-high. I have them plugged into surge protector strips. I have used this method for over 10 years and I feel its the safest for me since I'm paranoid about fire hazards. You must be careful with how you set the temps...b/c the room temperature can factor in too. I have my room temperature stabilized with a space heater b/c I have an entire room full of snakes. but MOST IMPORTANTLY...I bought a TEMPGUN to frequently measure surface temperatures. I check surface temps 2-3 times per week and even more frequently when outside temps fluctuate or after storms in case the surge protectors don't work properly...You don't want to cook your snakes. Also, I don't have the heat pads under the entire container..only part...this way they can thermoregulate and move to whichever part of the enclosure is most comfortable for them. It may seem tricky but its really quite simple and safe if you plan accordingly and have safety of the animal in mind at all times.
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Sincerely,
Jason
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My Website:
www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes

Too many snakes to list in my signature anymore.

i did this my first year of college with a 3 foot bci and a 18 inch bci .. we had room inspections but they didnt check in your closet or under the bed so .. i had my larger snake in a chest type rubermade which was the larget i could find with a hinged/locking lid. i used cobra heat mats under the cage on a dimmer but cobra heat mats can be used inside the cage as well. this setup worked fine, just make sure you get rubermades with some sort of locking lid as you do not want them to be able to get out .. i went to the hardware store and just began pulling up on lids when they were locked to make sure what i got could not easily be pushed up and cause an escape. good luck .. dont get caught.

Rubbermaids are practical and convenient for breeders/collectors with large collections looking to save space.
For one animal, it is not the greatest option, and i'm still trying to think how you would heat it with the light bulb... with th lid open?

Anyway, I recommend you go here -> WWW.Boaphile.com and go into their caging section.. Boaphile Plastics, or Drastic Plastic..

They are the premier makers of these cages and you will see how they are very light, durable, practical, sleek, modern, and contain all the goodies inside... heat, light.. no extras needed.
For a decent price, you can get a 3 or 4 footer which would be good for the Nicaraguans lifetime and you could arrange it in your closet, under your bed, over a bookshelf, or other areas where it will not take up much space and practically blend into the room and not be noticed.
There are many other knockoffs that are just a bit cheaper.. but in my opinion, if Mercedes cost $100k, a Ford cost $95k and a Hyundai cost $90k, there would be no reason in the world not to get the Mercedes. If it were half price, then I would MAYBE compromise.
But if you want the best, there is no choice in the matter. Boahile is the way to go.

You can use old towels for bedding that you can then wash occasionally, you can use the artificial green turf, or you can go with pre-cut thick paper liners that are made and sold specifically for these and other cages. They come in a large roll and will last for a long time. They are available for sale from a few different companies that can be found here on kingsnake in the Cage/Supplies Classifieds.

Hope that helps..

Take care, Joe Rollo - BciJoe
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Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

In your other response, You told me to contact you, because you live in NY. Email me when you get the chance at calienteA1@yahoo.com. My name is tony.