Tub question. New 5ft RTB

Howdy, I will be taking on a 5ft RTB that itzazoo has rescued, and before I pick it up next weekend I have a few questions regarding my set-up and feeding before I go to pick it up next weekend.

#1) I read the care-sheet and it says a 6x2 tank for a rtb, now I have plenty of experience with glass tanks and I would rather use a tub for such a large snake. My question is, what/where would I come across a tub this size? If I cannot find one immediately I have a 55gal tank I can keep him in the meantime, but would like the ease of use a tub has maintaining temps and humidity for a snake this size.

#2) I know food of appropriate size, but for a 5 footer what would that be? My guess is a large rat if he'll take it? or more? I would like to get my hands on plenty of frozens before he arrives, as well as know how many to offer.

Thank you in advance. I'm looking forward to this experience.

I'd recommend that you get a 4X2 PVC cage to house your BCI. They tend to be more mobile than a Ball, and will really utilize any extra space that you give them. I wouldn't suggest a glass tank as they have a way of hitting their prey pretty hard and can possibly break the glass.

As far as food, large or extra large rats fed every other week would be fine.

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

Howdy, I will be taking on a 5ft RTB that itzazoo has rescued, and before I pick it up next weekend I have a few questions regarding my set-up and feeding before I go to pick it up next weekend.

#1) I read the care-sheet and it says a 6x2 tank for a rtb, now I have plenty of experience with glass tanks and I would rather use a tub for such a large snake. My question is, what/where would I come across a tub this size? If I cannot find one immediately I have a 55gal tank I can keep him in the meantime, but would like the ease of use a tub has maintaining temps and humidity for a snake this size.

#2) I know food of appropriate size, but for a 5 footer what would that be? My guess is a large rat if he'll take it? or more? I would like to get my hands on plenty of frozens before he arrives, as well as know how many to offer.

Thank you in advance. I'm looking forward to this experience.

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www.reptiletubs.com and the biggest ones like the VE series

Thank you very, very much. I'll get him a VE tub. Looks great!

Now that I think about it, I have another question.

What would be the best way for me to transport the snake back to my house in college station from Houston? It is roughly a hour and a half drive. Should I have someone with me holding him the distance? Put him in a bag for transport? etc?

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

Now that I think about it, I have another question.

What would be the best way for me to transport the snake back to my house in college station from Houston? It is roughly a hour and a half drive. Should I have someone with me holding him the distance? Put him in a bag for transport? etc?

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A pillowcase would be fine, you may also want to place it in a medium Sterilite or Tupperware type of box.

I wouldn't have someone hold it in the car. BCIs can move around a lot, and your friend would either have to juggle it constantly, or it could get stuck somewhere or impede your driving if it gets loose.

Tape a 2 liter bottle with warm water(90 degreeish) to one side of the tub and he should be fine. I would use binder clips to keep the top on for the ride. Also, I would reccomend you get a boaphile for him/her as a final home since you don't seem to like the idea of keeping him/her in a tub. Besides, boas make such great display animals its a shame when I have to keep them in tubs until they get bigger. You won't regreat bringing home a rtb!!! Also, make sure we get pics!!

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Originally Posted by Gooseman

#2) I know food of appropriate size, but for a 5 footer what would that be? My guess is a large rat if he'll take it? or more? I would like to get my hands on plenty of frozens before he arrives, as well as know how many to offer.

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didn't see this question until now. Likely he will be on XL rats as someone may have already said. At 5', I fed my female every week and she started getting fat. I cut her back to a XXL rat from rodentpro every 2 weeks or as often as I need to feed her to keep her at a healthy weight. Not a big fan of feeding boas much more than they need to keep a healthy weight. Fat boas are a slithering heart problem waiting to happen.

I personally would invest in a vacume sealer thing for your frozen rats or make sure you order from a company that vacume seals their rodents.
I wish you the best

Hera was getting an xlg rat every week, but she's hit the max growth/weight and since the male I was going to use had arrived DOA, she's not needing to be breeding weight. So now she's 1 xlg every OTHER week, until they're gone, then it will be a large/2 weeks.


Since she's grown, I need to upscale her home, but in the interim, her tub is 4' long and she's usually doubled up. I got one of the 5.5' under bed sweater boxes, that have the wheels but that's Kaa's new home now.

Be sure to post pics! RTBs are awesome creatures!