Racks? Better yet how to build

[Seeker]

Hey guys and gals on BP.net I need a little expert advice. Sorry mods if I posted this in the wrong thread. I have a very picky normal BP female that doesn't like to eat. When I got her she was 350g now she's at 313g give or take. For 2 months she was off feed. then she at one rat. I think weened fuzzy. Went into a shed, and went off feed again. I have been toying with the idea of getting a 41 quart sterilite, but I am not sure how to heat one. What do you need to make a tub? This is my last resort. If she does start eating I am going to sell her cheep. Thanks all

[The Serpent Merchant]

a 41 quart tub is a little big for a BP that size, I would go with a 28 quart tub max

This thread goes over setting up a tub step by step:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-Basics-*DUW*

Something to keep in mind... the cool side/air temperature in a tub is dependent on the temperature of the air in the room that the tub is in. This means that a room will have to be kept at least 75 degrees year round for a tub to be used successfully. There are a few tricks apart from heating the whole room, but none are simple.

[Seth702]

Im not sure about your rakc system but a BP usually goes off feed for a reason. Have you checked to make sure your Husbandry is spot on? If its on, how is your current tank ( i assume) setup? If the snake is stressed she wont eat. I know with my tank i had to put black construction paper on 3 sides. How many hides do you have? With a few adjustments you may not need to change your current setup unless you of course want to anyway.

[kitedemon]

Small Royals not eating is linking to husbandry almost exclusively. It is usually heating or security. Humidity usually has no impact directly on feeding, it is linked to illness. Illness is another reason why a snake of this size will not feed.

A rack will complicate the issues for heating and only exchanges the one set of problems for another set. The range of solutions with a rack are limited comparatively speaking.

What is your current enclosure?

Do you have 2 hides and are they correctly sized?

Do you have 'cover' over head?

What are the temps under the hot side hide?

Under the cool side hide?

The ambient air temp in the enclosure?

[Luke Martin]

If you change its tub size because its not eating, put it in a smaller tub. They feel more secure in a smaller tub and will eat more readily than if you put it in a bigger tub. I'll pull 1500 gram females out of breeder tubs and toss them in a 12qt and they'll start eating most of the time. They fill up the WHOLE tub, but if they weren't happy they wouldn't be eating!

[AK907]

If you change its tub size because its not eating, put it in a smaller tub. They feel more secure in a smaller tub and will eat more readily than if you put it in a bigger tub. I'll pull 1500 gram females out of breeder tubs and toss them in a 12qt and they'll start eating most of the time. They fill up the WHOLE tub, but if they weren't happy they wouldn't be eating!

I've kept 500g balls in 12qt tubs, but 1,500g seems a bit extreme to me. How do you even give them water?

[Kaorte]

I also agree with the others. Throw her in a 12-15qt tub. If your house temps are around 75* and above you can just leave the tub by itself, you don't necessarily need a rack system. Just need a heat pad, thermostat, thermometers, water bowl, and some hides.

[Luke Martin]

I've kept 500g balls in 12qt tubs, but 1,500g seems a bit extreme to me. How do you even give them water?

It's not a permanent thing. I don't house 1500 gram snakes in 12qt tubs on a regular basis, and wouldn't recommend anyone housing a snake that size in a tub that size as a permanent enclosure. It's a way to trigger them into eating. I put the water bowl in before the snake...they maneuver themselves around it.

[Seeker]

The ambient air temp is any where from 80~90 ish. Hot in my house during the summer months. I have a black felt blanket on top of the screen lid to help with humidity. I sometime wet down that blanket when I need to increase humidity. I have several enclosures in the tank. The large ones I have buried in the substrate to make then "feel" smaller then what they are. I haven't found a good hid that I like; except for those little plastic black ones, and half the time I remember about them I don't any money to order them. The sides of the tank are covered in a felt blanket. The only opening beside that on top for air exchange is the front. I have a basking area. All my other guys eat like a champ. I have a baby got her when she was 90 something grams. Now shes tipping the scales at 206. My normal is the only one not eating , or going on a non feed.