Need a crash course in BCI / BCC husbandry...

[Bruce Whitehead]

I got a call tonight from a rescue in Montreal (that field most of their snake calls to me).

I will be taking on a juvie BCI. He is about 2.5 feet, thin but not thoroughly emaciated.

Has been in an abandoned apartment bathroom (loose) for 2 months. Access to water (toilet and tap), but not food.

I have a locking 28qt rubbermaid for him. Just need a quick rundown of the basics. Temps, heat, enclosure size, dish size, and substrate. And yes... he will in QT on the other side of the house from the snake room.

This will be primarily an assessment period.

The last BCI I took on was dead within 12 hours of arrival, but I do not see this case as being as abyssmal as the last 2 that I took on.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Bruce

PS: As much as I have really wanted a boa, I do wish the day will come that I am not merely doing death watches on neglected ones...

[Wh00h0069]

Husbandry is pretty much like a ball python except the temp should be a little lower. I keep my hot side at 90F and my cool side at 80F. The enclosure can also be a little larger. I use a larger water bowl, around 7", or so. They normally feed great on f/t rats. They seem to shed more easily than ball pythons, so humidity could be a little lower. I would say somewhere around 45 - 55% would be fine.

Hope this answers all of your questions. Good luck!

[DM1975]

I have always been under the impression that humidity needs to be up around 55- 60% or more during the summer and 40-50% during the winter. Humidity needs also vary with some locality species.

[Bruce Whitehead]

He is home and set up, thank you for the responses.

Already took his first FT rat, which I did not think would be an issue being that the snake has not been fed (that we know of) in about 3.5 months.

He is SOOOOO skinny for a BCI. But in true BCI style an absolute sweetheart.

He seems good, he is thermoregulating. I have him at 80 and 90, small enclosure for now, but moving him into a 28qt this weekend, and will offer him another meal.

Gonna keep him on smaller prey for the first few feeds, then move him up. He could take much bigger at this point based on his length alone.

Bruce

[Jyson]

He is home and set up, thank you for the responses.

Already took his first FT rat, which I did not think would be an issue being that the snake has not been fed (that we know of) in about 3.5 months.

He is SOOOOO skinny for a BCI. But in true BCI style an absolute sweetheart.

He seems good, he is thermoregulating. I have him at 80 and 90, small enclosure for now, but moving him into a 28qt this weekend, and will offer him another meal.

Gonna keep him on smaller prey for the first few feeds, then move him up. He could take much bigger at this point based on his length alone.

Bruce

I can't believe I missed this post! Sorry about my delay Bruce.

Sounds like you got it covered husbandry wise, as for humidity, same as a ball python. Also, don't know if you have but hides are great too, one will do, but two will work as well.