Got a BCI

Hello Tuesday my BCI will be in town and all i have to do is pick it up, I have my choice either the femle or male. Im not letting the sex determan the picking it's all about looks and colors. They are babies only 18" long so im wondering how big of a Rubbermaid im going to have to have for it. And how long can i keep the snake in the first tank i buy, im wanting it to last until i can get the 6ft. that everyone has suggested for a BCI. Where should i order the 6ft. cage from? and what kind of heating should i get with it. Put right now im more intersted in what size can i go with for right now? Also feeding should i take the snake out to feed or leave in the enclosure. Thanks Aaron

An 18" baby should be in something along the lines of a 12" x 20" tub.. give or take a little. You really can't just go from that to a 6' cage.. you need to have one or two graduating tub sizes. Tubs are cheap, so it's not a big deal.

I like the cages from boaphileplastics.com.. they have the best prices I've been able to find. For heating.. I just use flexwatt.

Leave in the enclosure to feed.

Hello a friend of mine suggested a 4ft tub already, is this a little to big right off. Also can i use a heating pad for right now until i get the flex watt?

help here anyone

I would go with what Shelby suggested. It sounds like the 4' cage is a bit big. As for using the heating pad until the flexwatt comes in, it'll probably work. Just make sure it's closely monitored, since many have automatic shutoffs and aren't designed to be run 24/7. Hope that helps.....

Four foot is too large for a baby... it would probably get too stressed out having all that room.

I would recommend getting a small sterilite box. Also, if you keep an eye on the temps, or can hook the heating mat up to a rheostat/dimmer or thermostat, it would work.

Actually im going to get a heating pad from a petstore the guy also said a 10 gallon would work but i don't want to screen to rub his or her nose. how do you keep them from doing this? also would a 20L work if i can keep the snake from rubbing it's nose?

Well, you can try to find a lid that isn't screened (which would probably be better because you need to keep good humidity levels).

Also, I would still recommend getting a small tub. It would be so much easier to keep humidity levels straight, plus you don't have to worry about screen rubs. They're not expensive at all.

Pet store heating pad + no thermosta/rheostat = burned snake/floor. Trust me on that one.. at least wire up a rheostat (lamp dimmer) to the heat pad.. better a thermostat.

I have the Dimmer switch found it tonight so it will be ok to use a heating pad now?