Hi, This is my first post and i was hoping someone could give me a little help. First of all, i love my two BP's and have no intention of breeding for profit. My maternal instinct in kicking in and since i refuse to have more human kids, baby snakes will do. Plus my girlfriends sister wants one bad. She also wants to be a vet so that's good.

I am not confident that my current setup and situation will end up with hatchlings next spring/summer. Any input either good or bad will be greatly appreciated. Here is what i have. He is 5 and she is supposed to be 2 but she is kinda small. Both are very healthy but never fat. the tank is 30 gal tall. i have pine bark floor with a large water dish. 1 big cave style hide for both, some rocks and driftwood for asthetics. humidity is usually always 60%, i mist to 80% - 90% every few days. temp is 85degrees day and 75 at night. i only heat with standard flukers lamp and 60watt bulb on a timer 12/12. i dont like that it's 12 inches away form where they bask but he seems to like it. she is only nocturnal, he plays all the time. i never see her basking in the warmth. they seem relatively happy with the tank, but their behavior is what concerns me most. like i said, he is very active day and night while she stays hidden most all the time. She has recently started coming out at night but that's after the timer light goes out. she seems relatively disinterested in him. i do see them sleeping together inside the hide, but other than that, there isn't much affection going on.

okay, sorry that was so long-winded.

so, with all the stuff in the tank, is it too busy? there is not much floor space other than what's in the hide. but, i've always been told and read that BP's like it that way. Cozy!

i figure she might be young. she is almost 2 feet long and has a diameter of just under 2 inches. she looks and eats great, rounded and healthy. she is just a lot smaller than he is. he is 5 ft and midsection has the diameter of a baseball. does her size matter? i know the weight suggestions for breeding but i have not had her weighed. lady i got her from said she was over 2yo. i think she should be bigger at 2yo. either she was underweight for a while or she is younger than i think.

how is the ambient light from the family room affecting their day/night cycles. should i put them in a darker enviroment and use the lamp exclusively?

they stay together all the time. is that bad? i have a 55 gal tank that is empty, but i think they will be uncomfortably open in that tank. then again, are they together too much? i could custom divide the 55gal which is what i planned if she actually got pregnant. i was going to put the babies in there.

both are very tame. my 2yo safely holds both on her neck and loves them. i try to have daughter/snake/mommy bonding time with both snakes at least once a week. is that a bad thing if i want her preggers?

so, i think that's about it for now. i love my babies and want them to have babies of their own. they seem to love their home but should i change anything? please let me know.

and i love this site. i've already found so much helpful information. thanks to all of you.

new member Kerry