Petco BRB...

I KNOW, I KNOW! Go ahead with the Petco comments... BUT, I let my emotions get to me and "saved" him/her. I've been wanting a BRB since the first time I saw one and decided to pull the trigger the other day. I'd watched this little noodle for about 2 months at the store with little to no humidity for it at all. I'd held it a few times as well and fell in love... Very passive but very active and looked "healthy". I picked him up this last Saturday the 26th. It looked really dry the day we brought it home so I gave it a little soak and made sure my humidity and temps were on point. We woke up the next morning to a shed! A one piece shed! I was so happy! Later that day it took a 4gram mouse! It did't strike however, it just kinda opened it's mouth and grabbed it slowly. I then took the tongs and shook the mouse just a bit and it finally constricted and ate just fine. We are so excited to see it grow and thrive! It's a gorgous snake, especially after the shed yesterday! Here are some pic's and any tips and/or suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8722_2.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8695_2.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8705_2.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8710_4.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8709_2.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img_8716_4.jpg

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By the way it was 43grams when we got it home...

Nice snake. I love my BRB. He's a bit over six feet and a really good boy.

However, you didn't save it. You perpetuated the cycle.

The snake looks good!

Back when I worked for Petsmart (Early 2000's) we didn't care snakes because (this was the reason corporate gave us) our main customer base is women ages 35-60 and they want to shop in a safe environment that doesn't include snakes or spiders....I'm not sure at what point their redid their market research and decided that their 'demographic' wanted snakes. ;)

Congrats on the new noodle.

Looks like you got lucky and got the snake before Petco had it for too long.

I can't even look at the snakes when I go to Petco or petsmart, because it breaks my heart to see them in such poor conditions most of the time.

That being said, your snake is very pretty and congrats on the feeding and complete shed. :)


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Ooops...

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Originally Posted by KMG

Nice snake. I love my BRB. He's a bit over six feet and a really good boy.

However, you didn't save it. You perpetuated the cycle.

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Hey, I did save THIS ONE! :P (And perpetuated the cycle.) 6 Feet!!! I can't wait!!! :taz::taz::taz:

Hey man, PetCo-ShmetCo, you found a snake you loved and made it yours; more power to you!

(to say nothing of how you improved its quality of life:colbert2:)

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Originally Posted by dkatz4

Hey man, PetCo-ShmetCo, you found a snake you loved and made it yours; more power to you!

(to say nothing of how you improved its quality of life:colbert2:)

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Thank you...

Nice pickup!! Very cool snake!

Ditch the lights and cover the top of the enclosure. Even with the cypress mulch the lights and open top will dry the tank out too much for a baby BRB, they need to be at 90% humidity. If you're not seeing condensation on the glass it's too dry in there.

Use a UTH + thermostat to create a hot spot of 85-86*F under a thin layer of cypress mulch.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Ditch the lights and cover the top of the enclosure. Even with the cypress mulch the lights and open top will dry the tank out too much for a baby BRB, they need to be at 90% humidity. If you're not seeing condensation on the glass it's too dry in there.

Use a UTH + thermostat to create a hot spot of 85-86*F under a thin layer of cypress mulch.

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Thank you! The UTH is on it's way via snail-mail... It's cypress mulch and eco-earth? mixed. I also have a RepitFogger that keeps it at 99%. I'm going to put it on a timer so that it is not running 24/7. Also, both hides have moist sphagnum moss in them. I will figure out how to cover the top once my UTH arrives and I can ditch the lamps. Do you think the fogger/timer is a good idea? Thanks again!

Id give it a nice soaking bowl too. Mine loves to swim and soak. If mine is not is his pool it means he dirtied the water. He hardly ever uses his hide or hotspot. If his pool is out for cleaning many times he will coil where it sits right in the open until I put it back.

Also be prepared for it to burrow. Mine is super destructive and dug up anything I planted in his cage. He is now on newspaper with no plants because he "is the reason we don't have nice things."

They are also good climbers and giving it some things to climb on may make yours happy.

I have really enjoyed owning mine and they are a nice snake to have in your collection.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Id give it a nice soaking bowl too. Mine loves to swim and soak. If mine is not is his pool it means he dirtied the water. He hardly ever uses his hide or hotspot. If his pool is out for cleaning many times he will coil where it sits right in the open until I put it back.

Also be prepared for it to burrow. Mine is super destructive and dug up anything I planted in his cage. He is now on newspaper with no plants because he "is the reason we don't have nice things."

They are also good climbers and giving it some things to climb on may make yours happy.

I have really enjoyed owning mine and they are a nice snake to have in your collection.

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Thanks KMG! How big of a pool and/or deep should it be? Climbing! Yes! That would be very cool or see! What say ye in reguards to the fogger? If I figure an on/off pattern that keeps me at or above 90% would that work? Thanks again.

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Originally Posted by Ball2Drop

Thanks KMG! How big of a pool and/or deep should it be? Climbing! Yes! That would be very cool or see! What say ye in reguards to the fogger? If I figure an on/off pattern that keeps me at or above 90% would that work? Thanks again.

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Mine has a large constrictor corner pool. Much like the water bowl you have but they are deeper so the snake can submerge its body. They come it different sizes and I have seen them at petco. That is not to say you have to use that. Any bowl that allows you to put enough water in it to submerge their body without overflowing the bowl will work. You do not want to make the water any deeper than the snake is thick. Usually just under their body's height will work as when they enter the water it will rise from the displacement.


A timer will work for the fogger but they also make devices that can accurately control it. The Herpstat1 and above have this ability but you have to buy the humidity sensor(most expensive option). You can also use this Zoomed(middle option) option. I actually got one of these and a fogger when I bought my BRB and it worked well for me until I got him into a PVC cage and no longer needed the fogger. If it were me and I had a timer(cheapest option) Id give it a try and see what you think.

Having the gear I have now if I needed a fogger Id go with another Herpstat for it. They are the best in the hobby, imho.

https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Hygro...oomed+humidity

It can also be bought at petco.

Again, thank you! :bow:

I just remembered one thing I did to the tank I had that was similar to the one you have, it was just taller. On the front there is a black plastic trim that runs under the doors. In this trim is holes that allow for air flow. I found it was letting my humidity out and making my fogger work harder. I ended up covering most of the holes with black electrical tape. The trim is the same width as the tape and if done cleanly you will not even be able to tell its on there.

You need some air exchange but just enough to keep the air fresh and not enough to drain the humidity out. You will be able to cover most of the open screen and the front vent and get better control of the tank.

Once you get rid of the lights so you can cover most of the screen top, you won't need the fogger any more.

Awesome guys, thanks! I'll post updates here as they happen...

I liked the fogger when I had it. It was cool seeing the fog roll in.

I don't know how you have it set up but if you are using the bottle it came with you can ditch it. I regular 2L soda bottle can be used which will give you much more time between fill ups. The lil bottle it comes with doesn't last long when the machine is constantly pumping to keep the humidity where a BRB needs it.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I liked the fogger when I had it. It was cool seeing the fog roll in.

I don't know how you have it set up but if you are using the bottle it came with you can ditch it. I regular 2L soda bottle can be used which will give you much more time between fill ups. The lil bottle it comes with doesn't last long when the machine is constantly pumping to keep the humidity where a BRB needs it.

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I was not having fun switching that bottle out all the time! This will help a lot! Hey, I posted a video about my BRB's respiratory rate... Would you mind looking at it if you get a chance? It's under this sub-forum from today. TIA

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Once you get rid of the lights so you can cover most of the screen top, you won't need the fogger any more.

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Question, first thing is that my UTH should be here Friday. :taz: When you say "get rid of the lights" do you mean the BRB should not have lighting OR do you mean once I'm set up correctly and won't be using them for heat? My plan was to get the UTH and maybe only need one light for heat. (Until I can get a proper RHP and a Herpstat2) However, I would like to have lighting up top so I can enjoy it's amazing colors when/if it's ever out haha... I know they don't need any UVB so I was just going to configure a cheap LED strip for aesthetics. Any problems with that plan or any suggestions? Much appreciated bcr229!

BTW, I was able to cover half of the top with some styrofoam insulation and Gorilla tape today... What do ya think?
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...4/img_0110.jpghttps://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...4/img_0109.jpg

I like a cold home so when I had a glass tank like that I needed a che and light to keep the temps correct. You can make it work. They are like any other snake when it comes to a light and as long as it has some good hides the light is not an issue. You have to do what you have to do and if that means using a lamp than use it.

Thanks for the reassurance! They will eventually be treated a royalty! :D

Dude don't give em a hard time. They did save it. I wish I'd known more about snakes when I was younger, because now I know some of the boas and ball pythons I've seen in the past were emaciated if not already dead..I'd have saved them now if I could.

And funny coincidence, I just got one a week ago too...similar story, the humidity wasnt good and the water dish was almost empty and filthy. But my main concern is this BRB seems underweight to me...but I'll make my own post about that.

Yours is gorgeous, such bright Color! Mine is just brown really, which I don't mind, I just hope it isn't a health issue.

Thanks skinnyrascal!


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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

Dude don't give em a hard time. They did save it. I wish I'd known more about snakes when I was younger, because now I know some of the boas and ball pythons I've seen in the past were emaciated if not already dead..I'd have saved them now if I could.

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How is it saving a snake? All that happens is you buy or "save" a snake and the store then replaces it with another. It is a terrible cycle. If nobody bought the snakes and they quit placing them in their inventory then many snakes would be saved. Anytime you buy one it is nothing more than spinning the wheel.

Don't get me wrong I hate seeing the snakes like that. I even had a GTP die in my hands at a PetCo one time. I get the urge to "save" animals and I wish I could own them all but that is just not possible.

I hope you both have great luck with your pickups and enjoy them as much as I enjoy my BRB. They are beautiful snakes.

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Originally Posted by KMG

How is it saving a snake? All that happens is you buy or "save" a snake and the store then replaces it with another. It is a terrible cycle. If nobody bought the snakes and they quit placing them in their inventory then many snakes would be saved. Anytime you buy one it is nothing more than spinning the wheel.

Don't get me wrong I hate seeing the snakes like that. I even had a GTP die in my hands at a PetCo one time. I get the urge to "save" animals and I wish I could own them all but that is just not possible.

I hope you both have great luck with your pickups and enjoy them as much as I enjoy my BRB. They are beautiful snakes.

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100% agree. It's just perpetuation of a sad and terrible cycle.

If you saved this snake, are you going to "save" the next one? And the next one?

If seeing the snakes in bad condition in the big chain stores disturbs you, the best thing we can do as snake enthusiasts is to STOP buying them from these places.

With all that said, I hope you two have healthy pets that live long lives. Just don't do it again!! ;) lol


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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

And funny coincidence, I just got one a week ago too...similar story, the humidity wasnt good and the water dish was almost empty and filthy. But my main concern is this BRB seems underweight to me...but I'll make my own post about that.

Yours is gorgeous, such bright Color! Mine is just brown really, which I don't mind, I just hope it isn't a health issue.

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Are you sure that you have a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and not a COLUMBIAN Rainbow Boa? Colombians are brown. Of course you could have a low color BRB, but just thought I'd point this out in case you were told by some individual and not an actual breeder of BRBs.

Congrats on the Rainbow - they are a fantastic (looking) snake. I got one from a guy two months ago and was told he was a bit aggressive, etc and was wary of him when I first brought him home but he has been great to handle. I am always fascinated by how smooth his scales are (compared to my other snakes, especially the Jungle carpet). And he is fast - when he wants to go somewhere (where I don't want him to go) he can motor! He likes to wrap around my waist and then slide down my leg to get to the floor - caught me off guard the first time he did that as I thought that I was dropping him.

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Originally Posted by BWB

Congrats on the Rainbow - they are a fantastic (looking) snake. I got one from a guy two months ago and was told he was a bit aggressive, etc and was wary of him when I first brought him home but he has been great to handle. I am always fascinated by how smooth his scales are (compared to my other snakes, especially the Jungle carpet). And he is fast - when he wants to go somewhere (where I don't want him to go) he can motor! He likes to wrap around my waist and then slide down my leg to get to the floor - caught me off guard the first time he did that as I thought that I was dropping him.

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It is definitely fascinating to feel the difference in scale textures between different species for sure. My Kenyan Sand Boa almost feels scaleless. He's just so smooth. And my Brooks king is the total opposite. Big thick bumpy scales.


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Originally Posted by Reinz

Are you sure that you have a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and not a COLUMBIAN Rainbow Boa? Colombians are brown. Of course you could have a low color BRB, but just thought I'd point this out in case you were told by some individual and not an actual breeder of BRBs.

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It is indeed a BRB. https://mobile.twitter.com/scalemate...145600/photo/1

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Originally Posted by KMG

How is it saving a snake? All that happens is you buy or "save" a snake and the store then replaces it with another. It is a terrible cycle. If nobody bought the snakes and they quit placing them in their inventory then many snakes would be saved. Anytime you buy one it is nothing more than spinning the wheel.

Don't get me wrong I hate seeing the snakes like that. I even had a GTP die in my hands at a PetCo one time. I get the urge to "save" animals and I wish I could own them all but that is just not possible.

I hope you both have great luck with your pickups and enjoy them as much as I enjoy my BRB. They are beautiful snakes.

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I wouldn't do it if it was a BP or other common snake unless the snake really was in imminent danger, but my Petco almost never has BRBs. In the 7 years I've been frequenting, I've only known of one other time they had one and it already sold. They aren't going to immediately replace it, if at all. It's not like reptile sales are even what keep their business going. If people stopped buying reptiles from petco, Petco would still continue to sell small mammals and the major distributors of reptiles will find another outlet to sell to. Those places aren't going to stop unless enough petitions are signed or legal action is finally taken.

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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

100% agree. It's just perpetuation of a sad and terrible cycle.

If you saved this snake, are you going to "save" the next one? And the next one?

If seeing the snakes in bad condition in the big chain stores disturbs you, the best thing we can do as snake enthusiasts is to STOP buying them from these places.

With all that said, I hope you two have healthy pets that live long lives. Just don't do it again!! ;) lol


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Point to my previous reply being, saving every snake is unrealistic. But letting one you grew attached to go to someone else isn't going to stop it. Only legal action can stop it, and there's only so much we can do. I stopped buying hermit crabs when I was younger after learning they're taken from the wild, plus the fact their needs are almost never met in captivity. I helped educate people about it online and off. Did it stop them from being sold? Nope..

I'm also going to add, wholesale pet breeders ars just as bad as factory farming, but less people have feelings about how those animals are treated because they want to eat them. So while I do understand not agreeing with buying animals from Petco, I hope nobody tells people not to do it again unless they agree to never eat fast food or non organic meat again too.

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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

It is indeed a BRB. https://mobile.twitter.com/scalemate...145600/photo/1

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Thanks, I don't tweet, but I will take your word for it. :)

Thanks guys/gals!


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

I'm also going to add, wholesale pet breeders ars just as bad as factory farming, but less people have feelings about how those animals are treated because they want to eat them. So while I do understand not agreeing with buying animals from Petco, I hope nobody tells people not to do it again unless they agree to never eat fast food or non organic meat again too.

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Guessing you're a vegetarian then? Lol... to compare buying a neglected PET(s) from stores that have a terrible reputation for the way they treat said pets to large animal farms that supply humans with the food required to obtain proper branch chain amino acids for optimal health is like saying " you can buy frozen yogurt. It tastes OK, but don't buy ice cream because it derives from farms where the workers squeeze the cows teets too hard."

Or I don't know maybe that made no sense, but your argument is apples to oranges. .. animals in a slaughterhouse are mistreated. I've seen the videos. But that doesn't make me wanna call them and say, "wait! I wanna save that pig that you just kicked back into his pin.".... and that's ONLY because., well, I like bacon.


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Originally Posted by Mangiapane85

Guessing you're a vegetarian then? Lol... to compare buying a neglected PET(s) from stores that have a terrible reputation for the way they treat said pets to large animal farms that supply humans with the food required to obtain proper branch chain amino acids for optimal health is like saying " you can buy frozen yogurt. It tastes OK, but don't buy ice cream because it derives from farms where the workers squeeze the cows teets too hard."

Or I don't know maybe that made no sense, but your argument is apples to oranges. .. animals in a slaughterhouse are mistreated. I've seen the videos. But that doesn't make me wanna call them and say, "wait! I wanna save that pig that you just kicked back into his pin.".... and that's ONLY because., well, I like bacon.


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No, I'm not vegetarian, and no, I'm comparing animals to animals in terms of welfare. For the record, its entirely possible to obtain meat from animals that havent been abused. But yeah, I figured you were just a hypocrite. Thanks for confirming that. There goes the credibility of your argument.

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Originally Posted by skinnyrascal

No, I'm not vegetarian, and no, I'm comparing animals to animals in terms of welfare. For the record, its entirely possible to obtain meat from animals that havent been abused. But yeah, I figured you were just a hypocrite. Thanks for confirming that. There goes the credibility of your argument.

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I totally agree. And most of the large corporations we as American consumers buy our meats from treat their animals appropriately prior to slaughter. PETA and the FDA keep close watch on them for many reasons, and this is one.

Not a hypocrite at all but you're entitled to your opinion.


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Gorgeous snake.

Beautiful little guy... I always can't handle holding pets at pet stores because I end up wanting them, too. I'm not gonna bother getting mad about the Petco thing, enough people have already done that. I'm sure you understand that they are not the place to be getting animals. But, I do hope you throughly enjoy this pretty guy for years to come. Rainbow boas are quite brilliant, especially the Brazilians.

Beautiful BRB...who cares where you got it, as long as your happy with the purchase is all that counts!

Good looking brb for a petco pickup not to shabby. If i was gonna expand my collection with different species brb's would be one likely choice.

That is a beautiful BRB.

I'm interested in adding one to my collection in the not to distant future. LOVE the lighter underside and deep red dorsal complimented by the cool orange side markings on some of them.

Great find, who cares where you got it honestly. Pet stores will continue to sell animals whether they sell or die in the showroom IMHO. Personally I don't think that will ever stop or change the way they do business.