New to BPs and this site!

I just want to start out by saying you guys have loads of great info on this site! And yes Im new and this will be my first post. With that being said, thats why Im here, I think I might be doing some stuff wrong after looking at some of the posts. I just recently purchased 2 BPs and the Mars Reptile show this weekend (1.1.0). I have a friend that has BPs and he told me how he set his up so I went off of that. Im not using UTH, just a basking light. I have 2 hides, a water bowl big enough for them to get in, a big basking log(that is also rough) all on aspen bedding. I Keep there basking spot at about 90 degrees and the ambient temp is about 72-73 degrees. Heres a pic

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/NewImage.jpg

I dont have a humidity gauge, I just mist it once or twice a day. I also have both in the same tank which after reading some I think that might be a bad idea. The tank is a 20g long critter keeper. I have another 10g tank just laying around. Do I need to split them up? If so should I get another 10g and put each in one or will one be ok in a 10g and the other in the 20g. Should I go ahead and throw my heat pads on and get Red or Blue lights for the cool end? If there is anything else you guys see thats wrong or could be upgraded let me know. I have kept corn snakes up until now and their care is a bit different as Im sure you all know. I did my research before I got them but this site seems to be giving better info than I found elsewhere. Thanks in advance for the help. O yea here are my BPs.

The Male
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/103_2024.jpg

The Female
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/103_2023.jpg

nice :)

First off, nice snakes.

Now for some advice that you wanted:

I wouldn't keep 2 bp's in the same tank, due it being stressful and both trying to get the better tank spot. I see you have a male & female, so the only time I would really put them together is during breeding season, when they are the proper size/weight. I would also recommend getting something that measures humidity, so that way you know weither or not misting is good. I would also get an UTH, so you can dim the light down even more, or possibly not use it at all. BP's are very secretive and only venture out during night, the log isn't necessary as it would just give you more stuff to clean, and last but not least, you need 2 identical hides.

Ok thanks. A few more question: What is the point in 2 of the same hides? Does that serve some purpose? Also you didnt mention if I need to put them each in their own10g or if 20g would be ok for each of them? If I need to bump them down to a 10g, i need to stop and get one on the way from work tonight. As far as the hygrometer, are the dial ones accurate enough or am I going to need a digital one for more accuracy?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by puckett26

Ok thanks. A few more question: What is the point in 2 of the same hides? Does that serve some purpose? Also you didnt mention if I need to put them each in their own10g or if 20g would be ok for each of them? If I need to bump them down to a 10g, i need to stop and get one on the way from work tonight. As far as the hygrometer, are the dial ones accurate enough or am I going to need a digital one for more accuracy?

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dial = garbage

u can but them in 2 DIF 10 gallon tanks

2 IDENTICAL hides are important so the snake can thermoregulate (switch between warm and cool) - they must be identical so the snake doesnt choose SECURITY over HEAT.

a good accurate thermometer that also tells humidity is the acurite

check out the caresheet

You can pick up an acurite thermometer/hygo. from home depot or wal mart for about 13 bucks. they make it really easy to read temps and humidity. also you should get an under tank heater and a dimmer so you can turn the heater down since they can get well over 100 degrees and you only need it to be between 92-94, the lamps tend to suck out the humidity from your tank. I would just keep one of them in the 20 gal and make sure its kinda cluttered up so the snake feels secure, eventually the snake is gonna be big so why spend the money on 2 10gals?? I would get another 20 for your snake and keep a 10 gal incase they ever refuse a feeding (i feed live) unless you feed f/t then forget that. Good luck with your new babies they are really cute :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by puckett26

Ok thanks. A few more question: What is the point in 2 of the same hides? Does that serve some purpose? Also you didnt mention if I need to put them each in their own10g or if 20g would be ok for each of them? If I need to bump them down to a 10g, i need to stop and get one on the way from work tonight. As far as the hygrometer, are the dial ones accurate enough or am I going to need a digital one for more accuracy?

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I stated that you shouldn't keep them in the same tank. I would get seperate enclosures. I wouldn't get another 10g though, I would get a 20g, and just keep the smaller one in the 10g until you need to get bigger. Identical hides are for security like h00blah said, if you have a really big hide, then one that makes them feel secure, they will end up choosing what makes them feel secure over needing to cool down or such, and can lead to a stressed snake. The hide you get for your bp, needs to be so when he's coiled up, hes touching all 4 walls, but still has some room to move around and such.

Edit:
Also the half-log hide isn't very secure for a bp, because of the dual openings.

The best hide, and the one I use for my snakes:

http://markhampets.co.uk/onlineshop/...ptile_Cave.jpg

It's an exo-terra cave hide.

Ok I will get that stuff, Im making a list right now for the stuff I need.
1- heat pad/cable (I have 1 extra heat cable at home)
1- water bowl
1- hygrometer x2
1- screen lid locks
1- hides x4
1- plants
1- Red Bulb x2 (more for viewing)

Ill just use that hide I have now for my corn snakes.

If I were you, instead of going with red bulbs, I would go with the Moon bulb, because it looks a lot better and it doesn't emitt much light, especially put on a dimmer. You can leave it on at night, it won't stress your snake out.

BTW, that's the other thing you need, you need to purchase 2 dimmer switches, they're like $10 at lowes/home depot. You can control the light/heat with it.

Moon bulbs, check! I have plenty of dimmer switches, I still have them from when I had my leos in tanks(their in a rack currently). I also have one extra socket in my thermostat that is controlling the flexwatt in my rack. Its set to 92 degrees so it should be ok for my BP tank

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neal

I stated that you shouldn't keep them in the same tank. I would get seperate enclosures. I wouldn't get another 10g though, I would get a 20g, and just keep the smaller one in the 10g until you need to get bigger. Identical hides are for security like h00blah said, if you have a really big hide, then one that makes them feel secure, they will end up choosing what makes them feel secure over needing to cool down or such, and can lead to a stressed snake. The hide you get for your bp, needs to be so when he's coiled up, hes touching all 4 walls, but still has some room to move around and such.

Edit:
Also the half-log hide isn't very secure for a bp, because of the dual openings.

The best hide, and the one I use for my snakes:

http://markhampets.co.uk/onlineshop/...ptile_Cave.jpg

It's an exo-terra cave hide.

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Ok well I split the balls up and got some accu rites. I even got one for my corn snake. I got some of those blue moonlight bulbs. I also got matching hides for both that are small enough for them to feel comfy in. I got the cool end to 81 on one tank and 75 on the other. And I have the warm ends at 94 and 95 respectively. My question now is I misted the tanks pretty heavily after I put the aspen in. But the humidity reading is still the same. I also put towels on the top in order to keep some of the humidity in. How long will it take to get a reading or maybe I did something wrong? The sensor is under the substrate on the warm side right beneath the hide. Is this the right location? Here are the new pics

The 20g
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/103_2043.jpg

The 10g
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/h...6/103_2047.jpg

Hi,

The acurite reads temperature only at the probe and temperature and humidity at the base unit.

Since your base units are outside the tank you are only reading the temp and humidity of your room. :)


dr del

u need to put the acurite inside the tank

Yea, the reason you readings aren't changing is because you have them on the outside of the tank, instead of inside the tank, so all you're doing is reading the room humidity. Put the acurite inside the tank, on the warm side.

I like your setups though, very creative, and I love the BP on top of the plants in the 2nd picture.

Also make sure you only have the moon bulbs on at night and not during the day. You can keep it on a dimmer if it starts to affect your humidity/temperature. That way you can dial it down and still have a nice little glow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neal

Yea, the reason you readings aren't changing is because you have them on the outside of the tank, instead of inside the tank, so all you're doing is reading the room humidity. Put the acurite inside the tank, on the warm side.

I like your setups though, very creative, and I love the BP on top of the plants in the 2nd picture.

Also make sure you only have the moon bulbs on at night and not during the day. You can keep it on a dimmer if it starts to affect your humidity/temperature. That way you can dial it down and still have a nice little glow.

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AHHHH i feel dumb now lol. I put them inside and they jumped right up to 61% lol. I also wasnt getting accurate temps, then I realized that I had way to much aspen in there, I removed some and put a second zoomed thermometer in and the temps leveled out. I also foil to the lid and black construction paper around the outside of the tank. Thanks so much for the help.