newbie saying hello

[junji98]

hello all,

just wanted to say hi and that this is a great forum. just got a new BP from a local herp store in toronto. plan to start feeding next week. it is only a juvenile, measuring around 18 inches i guess. vernon is currently housed in a 20 G viv. we also have a leopard gecko, named sandy. anyways, we are keeping our fingers crossed that feeding will not be a problem.

i did see from your caresheets that the size of rodent should equal the girth at largest diameter. this is my first BP (we used to have a corn) and rule of thumb for corn was the size of the head (around 1.5x the head size). this rule does not hold true for BP's? looking at him based on head size, it seems he should be on fuzzies. looking at his girth, he could take something bigger. i am not sure what to buy.

also, i am increasingly drawn to the idea of tubs for herp keeping as we are quite afflicted by reptile fever. is there a sticky on how to make a rubbermaid container? i cant seem to find it.

thanks and this IS a great site.

ed in toronto

[gmmuscle91]

The rule for bp's is one girth-sized prey item a week. Remember, they can open REALLY BIG and their skin stretches so dont be afraid to feed a large prey item, as long as it is not any bigger than the largest part of their girth.

As for the rubbermaid containers, someone else should pipe up about that. i use a 20g also and it works just fine for me. i have a UTH and use Eco-Earth as bedding and a large water bowl. the humidity is about 60-70% constantly. i also partly cover the top with a t-shirt.

Welcome!!!

[reptile-girl]

Hey welcome to the forums. every1 here is glad to help you with anything you need help with

[daniel1983]

Here is a DIY on plastic enclosures:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=40

You do not have to do exactly like it says....just make sure to understand the basics

Welcome to the site!

[JLC]

Welcome aboard! If your snake isn't too shy to let you watch him eat, I think you'll find yourself totally amazed at how wide and stretchy their mouths are. Truly, if you tried to feed a bp based soley on the size of its head, the poor thing would be very hungry.

[frankykeno]

Don't know if this pic will be of any great help but just to show you what one of our big Rubbermaid tubs looks like open. This tub is quite large as the snake pictured in it (Brannagh) is over 2,200 grams. The lid for this tub also has ventilation holes melted in it (a cheap soldering wand is a wonderful thing LOL). You'll just want to fiddle with the number you need dependent on your own humidity in the room the tub would be kept in till you get it steady around 50-60%.



There is normally also an Acu-Rite in each tub (I'd just cleaned this one so hadn't put it back in yet when I snapped this pic). They are a nice, reasonably priced digital unit that will give you two temps plus humidity for around $11.00 (Walmart, also Lowe's and Home Depot but under different brand names).



Plastic tubs aren't the prettiest enclosures but they are super easy to maintain and BP's do very well in them. You want to go for more floor space than height as BP's aren't big climbers and a very secure lid (reinforce if needed) as all snakes are natural escape artists.

[junji98]

thanks for the welcome guys. i hope to be able to post pics soon.

ed

[Blu Mongoose]

Just wanted to say hi! Glad to have you along.