Getting BRB!

Well, what a difference a month makes!
I am now able to get a new snake this summer after all (I had been building up a minimum savings after being financially hurt by the NE wind storm)
And I had it down to a choice between a bull snake, a BRB, and a Woma Python. After visiting the Manchester Reptile Expo and handling all three types, I made a *tough* decision - my next snake will be a BRB! I have always been enthralled by them and now that I have experience maintaining high humidity levels I feel I can handle it. It was the first snake I ever wanted but didn't feel up to the challenge until now.

Anyway, I'm on a waiting list for babies from Dave Colling at Rainbows R Us - late summer due date!

Please share your advice with me. I've done my research but it's not the same as hearing from you guys! My first questions are:
what size tub is best for a neonate?
snug hides or loose hides?
at what size/age do their humidity requirements drop from 90%+ to 70%+

Thank you

I gotta say I think you made the right choice. I really want one someday to. I'll be interested to hear everyone's answers.


I never could quite figure out how to house and properly heat an arboreal species. Not alot of books on it.

The one thing I can tell you, is they do not like high temps. 80-85 max. Large water dishes help with the humidity.

I have 3 brbs and my one female is really gravid now! (yes, a little excited:D)

I second the temp issue, though it seems to vary a bit by the snake. My male never liked to be on the hot side and one female is always on it while the other female is in between haha.

as far as substrate goes, I used coconut mulch and had no issues and it held humidity really well. cypress mulch would work too.

Hides for a juvie I would say something like a small rock hide or something tight to the ground. They like to burrow into the substrate too and just laying some moss along one side they should feel nice and snug just chilling under the moss and part in the mulch.

good luck!

yes, I have read that temps in excess of 85 can kill a baby BRB.
I'll be using the alarm functions on my Herpstat for sure

BRBs are definitely a good choice. I plan on getting one sometime within the next year or so.

I would get a tub with more headroom. I bought a latch tub for my young JCP that is the floorspace of a 15q but is about twice as tall. I put an angled branch in there for perching too so he can choose, and since BRBs are semi-arboreal as well, something to climb on would probably be a good idea.

I have personally found the most success with cypress mulch for humidity specific animals as well. :)

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

Well, what a difference a month makes!
I am now able to get a new snake this summer after all (I had been building up a minimum savings after being financially hurt by the NE wind storm)
And I had it down to a choice between a bull snake, a BRB, and a Woma Python. After visiting the Manchester Reptile Expo and handling all three types, I made a *tough* decision - my next snake will be a BRB! I have always been enthralled by them and now that I have experience maintaining high humidity levels I feel I can handle it. It was the first snake I ever wanted but didn't feel up to the challenge until now.

Anyway, I'm on a waiting list for babies from Dave Colling at Rainbows R Us - late summer due date!

Please share your advice with me. I've done my research but it's not the same as hearing from you guys! My first questions are:
what size tub is best for a neonate?
snug hides or loose hides?
at what size/age do their humidity requirements drop from 90%+ to 70%+

Thank you

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not to hijack the thread but Dave Cooling has some nice snakes, i just purchased my first boa from him (even though its not a BRB) at the san mateo reptile expo and so far i've got nothing but compliments on my purchase.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ighlight=mateo

Good choice! BRBs are awesome. I don't actually own one, but they are awesome. ;) And good call with Dave Colling; I've purchased from him before, excellent animals. Probably the best BRBs out there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

Please share your advice with me. I've done my research but it's not the same as hearing from you guys! My first questions are:
what size tub is best for a neonate?
snug hides or loose hides?
at what size/age do their humidity requirements drop from 90%+ to 70%+

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6qt or smaller.
Snug.
It should be a gradual drop, and it varies between individuals, but... I'd say around a year or so...?

Quote:

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not to hijack the thread but Dave Cooling has some nice snakes, i just purchased my first boa from him (even though its not a BRB) at the san mateo reptile expo and so far i've got nothing but compliments on my purchase.

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Was there. :D Didn't buy anything from Dave this time (he's usually got more variety at the Sac show), but I did take a look. Gorgeous boa you've got! I love BCIs with a lot of speckling!

What sort of heating devices do you guys use to heat your brb's? Especially those of you without a snake room at a higher than house temp.

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Originally Posted by Seru1

What sort of heating devices do you guys use to heat your brb's? Especially those of you without a snake room at a higher than house temp.

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A heat pad I got at Rite-aid.