Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently on this forum there has been alot of discussion on heating enclosures for BRB's (of the Rainbow's this is the only sub-species I currently keep). UTH's are certainly the most convenient, cheapest, and probably safest way to heat an enclosure but in my opinion are not the best way to provide heat for tropical, rainforest snakes like the Brazilian Rainbow Boa. Ambient temperature supplied by an overhead source is, in my very un-humble opinion, the BEST way to keep these snakes. The key is a large enclosure (I'm talking about something 5 to 6 ft long, at least 3 ft. high and a couple feet deep; my enclosure is 6Lx4Hx3D). With several light fixtures (mine has 6) distributed across the top you can create both a vertical and horizontal gradient of temperature. When calibrated properly the BRB can always access temps in the low 70's when needed (even on the hottest days). If your keeping your snakes in small, low enclosures UTH's are the way to go. This information is for those who want to get the most out of their BRB experience (you know, actually see them). I read of others experiences with these snakes and its as if I'm keeping a different species altogether. BRB's love to climb, I think this is a very under appreciated fact, supply them with vertical room and a nice branch to hang out on.
Also, I've visited the areas these snakes come from. It is warm and humid. They are comfortable in temps in the mid to low 70's but in my opinion need temps higher than that on frequent occasion (all of mine spend time in temps in the low to mid 80's). Anyway, this is not meant to state that UTH's are detrimental to BRB's, obviously they are effective in keeping healthy, breeding snakes. But there is an alternative that I think is superior when done properly. Below is something I wrote last year and got blasted for, but I think it makes sense and maybe someone will find it informative.
Ambient temps are effected by a number of factors, but it is the sun that is the source.

BRB's being nocturnal certainly do not bask in direct sun. However they also do not derive thier heat in the wild from below ground (unless they happen to live in a geo-thermal area or next to a road). I think it is the ambient temperature that is most critical to these snakes and the absolute best way to replicate an ambient temperature gradient in a large enclosure is by an over head heat source. I use incandescent night lights exclusively to heat my enclosure (I like the blue lights) and have done so for over 4 years now (5 now). Granted, a light can kill a BRB but so too can a UTH. By controlling the heat source by a rheostat or thermostat one can advoid overheating. I personally think UTH are not the best way to heat an enclosure because they heat the area just above ground. In a rubbermaid this is probably OK, but not in a large enclosure.
Just my opinion,
Paul

Paul,
...Good post. I like the way your big natural looking cage is setup. If I did not have a bunch of these snakes I would probably keep a few of them in naturalistic setups. If you have a big enough cage you can have part of it as hot as 100 so long as their is plenty of variation across the entire cage so that the snake can select the temperature that it wants. I do think that for a first setup for someone with limited herp keeping experience a very simple cage with paper towel or newspaer substrate and limited furniture is best. But solely because it is easier for someone to set up and by keeping it simple you eliminate the variables. Whenever anyone mentions hydration or skin problems with a new BRB I have to wonder whether the substrate may be the problem or the temperature or humidity may be the problem. After a keeper learns about controlling the temperature and humidity in a simple cage they can apply that knowledge to setting up a more complex naturalist cage. We still disagree about lights. All my BRBs seem to hate light.
Jeff

>>Recently on this forum there has been alot of discussion on heating enclosures for BRB's (of the Rainbow's this is the only sub-species I currently keep). UTH's are certainly the most convenient, cheapest, and probably safest way to heat an enclosure but in my opinion are not the best way to provide heat for tropical, rainforest snakes like the Brazilian Rainbow Boa. Ambient temperature supplied by an overhead source is, in my very un-humble opinion, the BEST way to keep these snakes. The key is a large enclosure (I'm talking about something 5 to 6 ft long, at least 3 ft. high and a couple feet deep; my enclosure is 6Lx4Hx3D). With several light fixtures (mine has 6) distributed across the top you can create both a vertical and horizontal gradient of temperature. When calibrated properly the BRB can always access temps in the low 70's when needed (even on the hottest days). If your keeping your snakes in small, low enclosures UTH's are the way to go. This information is for those who want to get the most out of their BRB experience (you know, actually see them). I read of others experiences with these snakes and its as if I'm keeping a different species altogether. BRB's love to climb, I think this is a very under appreciated fact, supply them with vertical room and a nice branch to hang out on.
>>Also, I've visited the areas these snakes come from. It is warm and humid. They are comfortable in temps in the mid to low 70's but in my opinion need temps higher than that on frequent occasion (all of mine spend time in temps in the low to mid 80's). Anyway, this is not meant to state that UTH's are detrimental to BRB's, obviously they are effective in keeping healthy, breeding snakes. But there is an alternative that I think is superior when done properly. Below is something I wrote last year and got blasted for, but I think it makes sense and maybe someone will find it informative.
>>Ambient temps are effected by a number of factors, but it is the sun that is the source.
>>
>>BRB's being nocturnal certainly do not bask in direct sun. However they also do not derive thier heat in the wild from below ground (unless they happen to live in a geo-thermal area or next to a road). I think it is the ambient temperature that is most critical to these snakes and the absolute best way to replicate an ambient temperature gradient in a large enclosure is by an over head heat source. I use incandescent night lights exclusively to heat my enclosure (I like the blue lights) and have done so for over 4 years now (5 now). Granted, a light can kill a BRB but so too can a UTH. By controlling the heat source by a rheostat or thermostat one can advoid overheating. I personally think UTH are not the best way to heat an enclosure because they heat the area just above ground. In a rubbermaid this is probably OK, but not in a large enclosure.
>>Just my opinion,
>>Paul
>>
>>
>>

Jeff,
All the lights in my enclosure are blue night lights (Nocturnal Black Heat Lamps from ESU Reptile). The enclosure is always dark even during the day. I still have a small flourescent light that I used to keep on a timer so that during the day I could see inside but even that I no longer use. They definitly shy away from bright light. Do yours hate the heat generated from lights or is it the light generated from the incandescent bulbs that they don't like? With the aforementioned lamps my BRB's are often resting in fairly exposed areas during the day that I am sure they would never use with regular heat lamps (white light).
Paul

Paul ~

On a side note, I have noticed that neither of my snakes are bothered by the red light, and yes, both love to climb on the wood I have in the tanks. I am looking right now for good cages that have some elevation to them.

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~ Noel ~
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