Christmas Boa Heat Concerns

I was given a CA BCI for christmas. She's a baby produced from an 8ft het t+ mom and a 5ft t+ dad. Both parents came from Kahl. Supposed to be a nic but doubting that due to mom's size. She will be here Tuesday and is 24-30" and het t+. My fiance and I had plans to get a BCI in March AFTER we set everything up but we cannot get ahold of the breeder to cancel. She will be going in a 75 gallon tank (48x18) with 2ft of 11in (40watts) heat tape connected to a hydrofarm thermostat. The temp in the room is around 70F. Heat tape is coming in the box with her. The top on the tank will be 1/2" medium density fiberboard siliconed to the rim with air holes and a lid on hinges along with two masterlocks. Substrate - Paper towel. Using an appropriate sized tupperware for water. The thermostat will be set to 92F. I am flat broke until February (she will be fed, don't worry) and can't afford another heat source until then. Will a month on only heat tape be too long? I can set the space heater up to be pointed at the tank to maybe help heat it. I'll have a dome for a 75 watt I just don't have a bulb or screen to set it on/cover it with. I can get another foot of heat tape if it will help but that's really all I can do right now. Any and all advice is appreciated. Giving her out on CL is not an option and if she goes home with the person that purchased her, she will be in an unheated 10 gallon for life. I'm trying to do what I can to make it through this month until our paychecks are back on track in February.

Thank you,
Flint

I think between the space heater and using an appropriate-sized hide on the warm side, your new addition will be ok until you can get a CHE or heat lamp set up.

A cheap people's heating pad stays at 90 degrees all the time at the "#1" setting.
I have several of them for emergencies and travel.
Make sure you get one that does not have an "auto-off" feature.

I don't have any money, Salamander. I also don't understand why I would need a human heating pad when I have heat tape....

so happy to see you on here!

where are you located Ill send you stuff you need. no animal deserve to suffer

Good to see you, too, Lexi!
I'm in Central Louisiana but I have everything covered but ambient heat.

what's the temp now

I would personally ditch the tank and put her in a sterilite tub and use the heat tape with that. It will hold in the heat much better than a glass tank. Get 32 qt tub and she'll be fine in that for a good 6 months before she outgrows it. You can get a 32 qt sterilite for less than $10 at Walmart or Meijer. PLUS, in a tub, you'll only need to have the t-stat set to 88-90 and it'll make the perfect hotspot and raise the ambient temps enough in the tub. Tubs hold heat much better than glass.

You don't need lights, heat bulbs, or anything of that sort - those will only suck whatever humidity you have right on out of whatever enclosure you use. Tanks frankly suck for most snakes. Get the Sterilite. You'll be very pleasantly surprised. If you want a display enclosure, you can set one up later when you're more financially able.

So. You can do what you need to do for your snake for about $10. Get the Sterilite, use the heat tape and the t-stat, and you're good to go for at least 6 months. If you don't have $10, borrow it. I'm not trying to sound mean or insensitive, but $10 is not a lot of money. Collect some pop cans and turn them in if necessary. Just trying to offer you some very reasonable suggestions. With the tub, you don't have to worry about the ambient heat - it'll take care of itself. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Flint

I don't have any money, Salamander. I also don't understand why I would need a human heating pad when I have heat tape....

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You were inquiring about extra heat and I offered a really cheap solution.

Sorry.