Columbian Boa Husbandry Headache

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Either a heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter will work. They do dry the air but if you have a cover on the tank that will help keep the heat and humidity in. You can also use two water dishes - one on the warm side, the other on the cool side - and the evaporation from the warm side dish will help bump up humidity.

Rather than try to make the whole tank humid you can also make a humid hide. Get a food storage container that is just big enough for your snake, and cut an access hole in the lid. Put about half an inch of damp eco-earth in the storage container, put the lid on it, and that can go on the cool side of your tank. If you're having problems with bugs and mold in the eco-earth you can bake it in the oven to kill the spores, bugs, and eggs (make sure you take it out of the plastic first) before you use it.

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All correct.

The bugs should not be mites either. Mites need a live host, but the eggs don't. However the cooking should take care of it. I do have a light for heat, but again, a top cover will contain the heat and the humidity.

You should check your classified adds daily for possible deals on used plastic cages. There are some good deals out there.

I have been keeping an eye on local adds for one :p I also did bake that last batch of eco earth- at 300 for 15 mins. And I got mold. Maybe the bugs weren't mites. Maybe just another small bug.

What wattage of bulb would I want? She is in a 29 gal tank. Room ambient is generally 68-72.

I too heard about mites in eco earth, so I took to freezing the bricks when I get them until I use them. Haven't had a problem yet. Hopefully that helps. I think I finally resolved my BRB husbandry with reflectix, and glass covering the top.