My new girl

I finally got myself a red tail boa. She's so tiny!

Her first feeding here:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSCF3414.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSCF3421.jpg
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSCF3423.jpg
Digesting:
http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/p...l/DSCF3426.jpg
More pics to come I'm sure. :D

Anyone have tips on keeping humidity up?

She's got two water bowls one in the cool side for drinking and a big one on the heat pad to evaporate, but the new heat lamp is definitely zapping the moisture, it's ranging 38-45% humidity right now. I also covered 2/3rds of the screen top with foil to try and trap moisture.

With my other snakes the double bowl thing is enough but her cage is pretty big and she's the only one with a heat lamp and uth, everyone else has just uth or side heat (or both in the case of my bp)

I'd love suggestions!
Thanks
-M

umm i cover the whole screen except for the heat lamp. I would also try using some eco earth or another coconut fiber substrate and mist once a day and it should be perfect.

I've actually been thinking about getting one of those automatic misters. Anyone ever use one of those?

Boas really need the humidity. Have you thought of putting a RHP on the lid?

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Originally Posted by starmom

Boas really need the humidity. Have you thought of putting a RHP on the lid?

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I know they really need humidity, it acutally gets up to 63% when I mist it but doesn't stay there for more than and hour.

Radiant Heat, It's like a lamp but without the water zapping light, right?....I know what they are, but I'd like to use the equipment I have. or do this as cheap as possible, RHP's are kinda pricey? (I haven't looked much, tell me more)
I got the heat lamp for free so I'd like to make it work.

I'm still experimenting, she's only been her one night so she hasn't been at low humidity too long. And I've been misting her. It will be fixed asap, I'm gonna try more foil (though not the whole lid I think air is very important) and I'll keep misting her till I get proper equipment.

Hmmm....
This is where I purchase my RHP's: http://www.reptilebasics.com/RBI-Rad...p-1-c-283.html.
As for cheap as possible: get a tub until she gets bigger. While she's growing, save up for her permanent home and all the necessities :)

Niiiiice little boa! I'm getting more and more interested by them every day lol....... No...... no...............nooooooooooooooooooo. I have enough addictions already lol. Someday though! Congrats and good luck with her. I'm with starmom RHPs are the way to go and the ones Rich makes are top notch!

Oh Adam... just one little bitty boa won't start anything.... :rofl:

I think changing substrate will help with humidity a lot. If you dont want to do the whole RHP route, try using two water bowls. One under the heat, one on the other side.

Yeah, RHP's are a little out of my price range right now. Though in a month I may get one. I just spent 100 on getting her and another 100 on supplies for my other snakes and rodent farm. I'm clean out right now.

I just rearranged my heatlamp/tin foil setup on the lid and it read 50% before I misted it and now it's at 68% (after misting) so it's better.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,
I'm having a little trouble with this one cause all my others are kept in 20gal longs and it's easier to setup a smaller environment. I had trouble with them too at the beginning, I'm sure I'll get my new girl perfect with more fiddling. I can't stop till it's right and after that I have to decorate. :D

As for tubs, I thought about it, but then I'd have this beautiful 40gal display tank just sitting around empty, it's seems a waste. But if I can't make her healthy in this big tank I'll definitely let it sit empty to ensure her health.

Thanks again!

I'd look into a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) which you can just switch out with the existing heat bulb. Emits heat but does a lot less humidity zapping.

We have radiant heat panels in our burm's 8 x 3 x 2 enclosure, but just CHE's and UTH's in the boa and bp's 4 x 2 x 2 enclosures...

Don't feel pressured to move into a tub! You can do display enclosures with correct temps and humidity, it just takes a bit more work. =)

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

I think changing substrate will help with humidity a lot. If you dont want to do the whole RHP route, try using two water bowels. One under the heat, one on the other side.

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...and if you're not having much luck with your bowels, you might try bowls!! :rofl:

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

Niiiiice little boa! I'm getting more and more interested by them every day lol....... No...... no...............nooooooooooooooooooo. I have enough addictions already lol. Someday though! Congrats and good luck with her. I'm with starmom RHPs are the way to go and the ones Rich makes are top notch!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Oh Adam... just one little bitty boa won't start anything.... :rofl:

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Yeah it's just one.....

Ha!! that's what I told my boyfriend when I got my first snake, a corn, about a year ago. Now I've got four snakes, and breed rodents to feed them.:P

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Originally Posted by cassandra

....Don't feel pressured to move into a tub! You can do display enclosures with correct temps and humidity, it just takes a bit more work. =)

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Oh gosh- I wasn't pushing a tub; heck, I'm in deep negotiations with Ali (AP) for three modded 6x2x4's for my girls!!!! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cassandra

I'd look into a CHE (ceramic heat emitter) which you can just switch out with the existing heat bulb. Emits heat but does a lot less humidity zapping.

We have radiant heat panels in our burm's 8 x 3 x 2 enclosure, but just CHE's and UTH's in the boa and bp's 4 x 2 x 2 enclosures...

Don't feel pressured to move into a tub! You can do display enclosures with correct temps and humidity, it just takes a bit more work. =)

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I"ll have to look for a CHE, I was at petco yesterday to buy the bulb I've got and I didnt' see anything but regular day and night bulbs. If they'd had something like a CHE bulb I'd have gone for that.

and I'm not feeling pressured about the tub, I was just reassuring everyone that I would get her tank right no matter what and in failing that I'd go with a tub. But I'll get the tank right... I'm up for a bit of work.

OH Hey!! Any name suggestions for her?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Oh Adam... just one little bitty boa won't start anything.... :rofl:

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Yeaaaaaaah about that........ Lol one little ball python wasn't supposed to start anything either now look at me! I'm up to 7 balls, 8 corns, 3 hogs (next week) and 2 kings! Plus IDK if I'm ready for something that's gonna outgrow me in 3 years.

Mwah hahahahaha................... :halohorn:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by anendeloflorien

Yeaaaaaaah about that........ Lol one little ball python wasn't supposed to start anything either now look at me! I'm up to 7 balls, 8 corns, 3 hogs (next week) and 2 kings! Plus IDK if I'm ready for something that's gonna outgrow me in 3 years.

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oh, you know you can make room for one more. ;)

Got a CHE today, it still zaps the humidity but not as bad.

She's running above 50% all the time now, usually around 58%.
It's lower in the warm side obviously.

Thanks for all the help guys.