Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking to acquire a blue beauty, but I'm running short on much specific info. Google searches only yield the site www.bluegorgon.com/caresheet.htm and I've gone through a few threads, namely http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1166896,1166896 and http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1159195,1159195.

Questions I have include what am I looking for in terms of required humidity, temperaments, housing requirements (how anyone would say a 55L gal tank is enough is beyond me...), suggested feed schedules for an adult male blue, and pretty much anything else you guys can tell me. With the lack of much published info, anything--personal experience, hearsay, whatever--is beneficial. I find nothing on humidity or much definition of temp gradients.

I'm used to keeping boas, where humidity and heat controls are paramount. My corn didn't seem to have anything specific she preferred so much as it was not warm above 76*F. Am I to expect that this guy is to be treated approximately the same? (Say no to that, I expect it.)

Somebody give me something to go on while I plan the building of my enclosure

Thanks
TB

I'm no expert but I have some experience. The big guy pictured I presently own. He may be near 10' and seems to be growing at a healthy clip. I believe he's wild caught. He is a great feeder on frozen thawed anything. He'll take rodents from my fingers while being held. He'll also take my face off while being held. I handle him often 'cause it's just impressive to hold a colubrid that is that long, but I do take alot of bites. The captive bred pair I used to own eventually tamed down (kind of). They were big biter's their first two years. They were great feeders on anything. Even an occasional chunk of fresh organic chicken was eagerly devoured. They bred all year round without any cooling period. The babies ate frozen thawed rodents immediately. I found they spent more time in a hide box on the ground than in their presumed arboreal environment. With regards to conditions/humidity, I found that a large water bowl in giant plastic shoeboxes kept the humidty just right. They are very easy to maintain an very adaptable, kind of like a giant king snake with attiude. I just have a bottom heat source on one end of the enclosure with hide boxes on both ends. This way they can controll there own temp and feel safe. They defecate in their water dishes often, which makes cleaning rather easy. The one I have always craps in a small plastic garbage can I put in there for him to hide in or climb on. Every single time! I need to get a nice female. They're great huge snakes that are very easy to care for, their down side is the temperment. But if your willing to work with them they do get better. Hope this helps, Don

Helps a lot. Thanks for the personal experience.

I figured it would be a lot like a giant, mean cornsnake or kingsnake but thought it best to get it confirmed. Thanks again.

Other responses are certainly welcomed and valued.

I kept mine around 80F and misted them when they were in shed. These guys were in large plastic tubs so humidity wasn't too low at other times. They require quite a bit of room and are very aggressive, but fun to handle (if you have the nerves!). They will eat you out of house & home. I never had success breeding them though.
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