Habitat stuff?

[Korclabael]

Hey guize,

I couldn't help but notice that my snake's (poprocks) terrarium, is extreamly dull, I have been getting her cypress mulch, she has a half log hide, a water bowl, and a heat pad, although I've been told that you don't have to over due it with the terrarium look but I love to spoil my little girl (yes she is like a child to me), and while shes still little I wanted to buy her some things to hang on, but for some odd reason, I couldn't find any second level vine systems and wanted to know if any of you knew some good places to order them for reasonable prices? Or if I should add anything else into her tank. I was going to buy a heat emitter but I was told while she is still small and in a 10 gallon a heat pad will do just fine, so I didn't get one, I may or may not need to buy her a daylight. I was also told that cypress mulch is okay but bark will do just fine and keep them from burrowing?

Either way, poprocks and I send lots of love!


~Kaala

[MrLang]

She needs 2 hides that are more enclosed than a half log and your heat pad needs a thermostat.

She doesn't need a daylight.

What are your air temps in the tank and what are the surface temps where the snake sits?

[kitedemon]

You have raised some questions.

You are using a thermostat correct? If not this is your first purchase period.

The second is what are your temps?

No body can tell you what you will need for heat unless they have the exact same conditions the tank is in. In other words in the same room. The conditions in your living room or where ever the tank is are not the same as mine or the next persons there are simply too many variables.

The temps (warm, cool, and ambient) are the only things that will tell you if you need a secondary heater or not.

Log hides are not the best they often are too open, do you have two hides or just one?

Has 'poprocks' eaten and does he/she eat regularly?

Fake plants can be bought from dollar store places, avoid any that smell strongly. Vines are a bit harder but exoterra and zoomed (others too these just came to mind) make vine products that use suction cups to hold them in place that is a pet store or on line. Avoid hard closed shapes like skulls with open holes for eyes. If a snake becomes stuck it is quite serious after a meal the stomach is not as compressible and on rare occasions a snake can become trapped and cause them selves harm.

[ewaldrep]

If I'm not mistaking you are talking about a red tail boa correct. If so, I would suggest two hides but don't be surprised if she does not use them much. My little boa just recently started going inside of a hide for the first time recently and many people say that thier boa uses hides when little but not as much as they get bigger but still offer at least one anyway. You could clutter it up as much as you like and if there is a reptile show near you then it may be a good place to pick up a variety of things such as vines, hides, fake rocks, etc., and you won't have to pay much for shipping. I think boas tend to be less finicky (not sure if I spelled that correctly) than ball pythons so I would not worry too much about not having perfect hides. Good luck!

[Evenstar]

You have raised some questions.

You are using a thermostat correct? If not this is your first purchase period.

The second is what are your temps?

No body can tell you what you will need for heat unless they have the exact same conditions the tank is in. In other words in the same room. The conditions in your living room or where ever the tank is are not the same as mine or the next persons there are simply too many variables.

The temps (warm, cool, and ambient) are the only things that will tell you if you need a secondary heater or not.

Log hides are not the best they often are too open, do you have two hides or just one?

Has 'poprocks' eaten and does he/she eat regularly?

Fake plants can be bought from dollar store places, avoid any that smell strongly. Vines are a bit harder but exoterra and zoomed (others too these just came to mind) make vine products that use suction cups to hold them in place that is a pet store or on line. Avoid hard closed shapes like skulls with open holes for eyes. If a snake becomes stuck it is quite serious after a meal the stomach is not as compressible and on rare occasions a snake can become trapped and cause them selves harm.

I agree with most of this - especially that thermostat. But I do think the 1/2 logs are ok as hides for boas. Boas are not usually as shy as BPs. My question is, why do you want to prevent her from burrowing? Boas, especially young ones, like to burrow and they should be offered that option.

She doesn't need any specific lighting. You should know what your temps are - what is the ambient temp in her cage and what is the hotspot? That is the only way we can gauge if you need the additional heat emitter. Most of the time, a heat mat (ON A THERMOSTAT!!) is enough.

[WifeOfSlasher]

My guy used a half log as a perch more than a hide. He spent more time hiding under his substrate than in his hides.

Other stuff. I have an exoterra fern. He uses this as a hide and it's awesome for keeping up humidity. Just spray well when misting or get it wet in the shower and shake it off before putting back in.

We also have two water bowls. One on the cool side and a larger one in the center to help with humidity.

[WifeOfSlasher]

We don't bother with hides anymore. He thermoregulates and moves around a lot more without them. We also have a chunk of wood in there.

<a href="http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/AHegbom/?action=view&current=657F820D-0080-400A-A3C6-105703556108-803-0000007BDD1206E0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/AHegbom/657F820D-0080-400A-A3C6-105703556108-803-0000007BDD1206E0.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

Awful photo but this is the current setup. Not the best but it works well for us for now.

[WifeOfSlasher]

Wrong code

[WifeOfSlasher]

By the way... The black cable is the thermometer. There's too much to hide :-/

[kitedemon]

Sorry I missed the red tails my mistake. No the hide is likely fine the thermostat is still a necessary part likely the most important part to keep a reptile healthy, personally it is not a place to save money buy the best you can.