Changing Brazilian Rainbow Boa habitat

[bhallfau]

I have had my BRB for over a year now and wanted to try something new with her habitat, but I want to make sure what I want to do is ok. I want a real jungle theme. I was thinking about making her terrarium half land half water and a lot of plants. Now when I say water I only mean 3-4 inches of water over some gravel and making a bank to the land side. Out of all my research ...I have never seen anything like this before, so thats why I decided to post a thread on here to get more opinions. The size of the aquarium I have is a 55 gallon, possibly looking to get into a 75 gallon. What do you guys think?

[fishmommy]

how do you plan to keep that water area clean? I recommend a big dish of water instead of something integral to the tank so that you can remove it, wash it, and change 100% of the water as often as you need to.

[Wretched Deviant]

I agree with fishmommy, the reason most people don't do this is it'll become mildewy and moldy quickly, algae will build up. You'd have to make something that's completely removable, and if you didn't want to change the water all the time and scrub it you'd have to invest in a really great filter that somehow wouldn't affect the snake, I mean he/she couldn't dig it up or break it and hurt them self on.

[olstyn]

I agree with fishmommy, the reason most people don't do this is it'll become mildewy and moldy quickly, algae will build up. You'd have to make something that's completely removable, and if you didn't want to change the water all the time and scrub it you'd have to invest in a really great filter that somehow wouldn't affect the snake, I mean he/she couldn't dig it up or break it and hurt them self on.

Nevermind the mildew and mold; what do you do when the snake drops feces in the water? It'd be impossible to sanitize without rebuilding the entire enclosure every time the snake uses the water as a toilet. Call me crazy, but I wouldn't want to wash (bleach?) that much gravel that regularly.

[fishmommy]

exactamundo!

I hear you though OP....I wish I could do something like that too. I keep my terrariums free of animal life, and my animal enclosures free of stuff that isn't specifically designed to keep the animal comfortable and healthy. Trying to combine the two is risky to the animal.

[bhallfau]

Hey thanks everyone... I guess I will see if I can find a large black tub, possibly fll it with larger rocks and have that waterfall filter in the corner. This way I can pull the tub out and change the water weekly. Anyone know where I can find a tub like that? close in size to 20x16 ??

[fishmommy]

now you're talkin!

good luck and post pics

I don't know where I'd get something like that - try looking at turtle tubs maybe? You could also buy a rubbermaid and coat it with black silicone (make sure it dries AT LEAST a week before it goes in the tank)

[kman7183]

when u get your set-up done i would love to see it.

[bhallfau]

Thanks! And I will def post pics... Im in the process of getting the 75gallon tank, in the mean time Ill look for that tub... and if not, maybe ill try that black silicone idea!