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Rainbow Boa Enclosure

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  • 08-07-2011, 04:01 PM
    JGB24
    Rainbow Boa Enclosure
    So I just got a baby BRB yesterday. We have already had quite a first day if you read my other post. but everything is fine now.
    I just need someone to tell me if my enclosure is ok.
    Temps are around 75F throughout the tank and the warm hide is around 85F
    It has 2 hides on both sides, hot and cold.
    The substrate is entirely Exo-Terra "Forest Moss"(which I must say smells quite a bit)
    Attached is a picture. please let me know if this is alright or if I should change things or add things.
    Thanks!
    http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...7.03_thumb.jpg
  • 08-07-2011, 04:43 PM
    TheWinWizard
  • 08-07-2011, 11:18 PM
    Evenstar
    From the look of the picture, it seems as though the cage is sitting directly on your carpet. Is this so? If it is, you're going to need to raise it up at least a 1/4" off the carpet if you're using a UTH. I use a rubber furniture foot at each corner of my cages to lift it off the counter top. They work well. I can post a pic of it if you want. The UTH needs to breath and it could overheat and start a fire if it's resting on the carpet. If you aren't using a UTH though, then never mind, lol... ;)

    Also, young boas in particular like to climb. I would add a branch or two. And even though they need higher humidity, substrate that is perpetually wet can cause mold to grow and/or scale rot. Cover your screen top with wax paper or foil to hold in humidity and you'll be better off. You might even find that the moss isn't necessary and coco fiber or cypress mulch will do fine. I use cypress mulch for my BP and lightly misting every 2-3 days keeps humidity at about 70% easily (she's in a glass tank with a screen top covered with wax paper).

    Hope this helps! :gj:
  • 08-08-2011, 05:06 PM
    JGB24
    Ok so I have read replies and such and I have changed some stuff around. I mixed the moss with cypress mulch so the substrate is now both. I added leaf litter on top of that and then put in a piece of wood for the snake to climb on.
    Attached is a picture.
    http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...6.06_thumb.jpg
  • 08-08-2011, 09:09 PM
    Evenstar
    Why the leaf litter? Just curious - to each his own - but you might find that difficult to keep clean. A couple of hide boxes will work better and are easier to clean. The branch is good. Here's a pic of Ella's enclosure just so you can see a comparison. Granted, Ella is a BP, but set-up is basically the same. Substrate is 100% cypress mulch over top of a thin layer of newspaper. If I were getting a rainbow boa, I'd set up its enclosure like this but add lots of green vines both for climbing and for a more jungle appearance. Just a thought.....

    http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...lascage003.jpg
  • 08-08-2011, 09:19 PM
    JGB24
    I did the leaf litter because I read stuff about them and it talked about how they have that in their environment . Ill probably make a more elaborate tank for her when she gets bigger and I have to move her.
  • 08-08-2011, 09:40 PM
    ReMiXeDg
    Nice set up, I love that wood that you added. As another member stated you should make it look more like a jungle look and add some green vines and maybe you could throw in a real or fake plant.
  • 08-09-2011, 09:13 PM
    Evenstar
    Re: Rainbow Boa Enclosure
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Ginger24 View Post
    I did the leaf litter because I read stuff about them and it talked about how they have that in their environment . Ill probably make a more elaborate tank for her when she gets bigger and I have to move her.

    Oh, it's no problem - you just might find cleaning a bit more of a chore. But if you like it, there's nothing wrong with it! :gj:

    Although, I would make sure the leaves are clean and there's no mold or fungus on them. Especially if you're collecting them off the ground or picking from trees around your home. Never know what might be on them..... ;)
  • 08-10-2011, 08:35 PM
    blushingball419
    Re: Rainbow Boa Enclosure
    Congrats on your new addition!! BRBs are awesome snakes!! :D Your second updated enclosure looks good and the temps sound fine. I'm sure she's nice and happy in there. The main thing (besides lower temps) that you have to worry about is the humidity. Baby BRBs especially need it to be pretty high, and I keep mine at around 80% Since you have a glass tank, you should definitely cover the screen top with tin foil if you haven't already, it really helps to hold the humidity.

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Evenstar View Post
    Although, I would make sure the leaves are clean and there's no mold or fungus on them. Especially if you're collecting them off the ground or picking from trees around your home. Never know what might be on them..... ;)

    x2 That's exactly what I would be worried about. I use plain coconut fiber for my little guy, and then I just took a few of the fake fabric plant leaves off of the fake plant I have in there and scattered them over the substrate to simulate natural leaf litter. They're really easy to clean, and I've found him hiding under them more than once too :aww:

    Everything else sounds great though and I love that so many people seem to be getting into BRBs recently! They're such interesting and beautiful snakes!!
  • 08-11-2011, 07:28 PM
    JGB24
    Re: Rainbow Boa Enclosure
    The leaf litter is from a company that makes things for dart frog enclosures. I had some left over and thats what I used. Its completely clean. I didn't get anything from outside.
    The humidity is 80 and temps are still same as they were. warm hide is lower 80's.
    I also added a vine.
    Here is a picture.
    http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...2.03_thumb.jpg
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