Quote Originally Posted by Twist View Post
Brazilian rainbow boas are a beautiful snake, but have some pretty strict temperature requirements for proper keeping. I dug back a few pages here to see what all I could find on BRBs, mostly just checking out other peoples snakes and such. Here's what I've come up with for a the few posts I've seen with people asking about substrates and temperatures.


Humidity Requirements

The humidity is the most important. Depending on which type of enclosure you're using. If you have a glass tank, I really recommend switching to a sterelite tub or a under bed storage like the one im using.

It's a pretty well known fact that if you have a glass tank, it probably has a mesh top which is horrible at keeping humidity. If you're like I was, and have one, the idea of wrapping the top in ceram wrap is a bit ugly, so switch to a plastic storage tote for the best humidity retainment.

The humidity should be kept at atleast 70%. These snakes are unforgiving when it comes to humidity and heat requirements. Humidity lower than 70% can result in an RI and death by dehydration. If you have a sterelite enclosure this is easy. My humidity usually stays at 85% to 90%.

If you're having trouble keeping humidity, one of of things you can do to bump it up is cypress mulch. Everyone keeps mentioning this Sphagnum moss that you put in their hide to create a humid hide. I wasn't really fond of the 30.00 price tag at petsmart for some moss, so I went to our local Lowes and bought some Cypress mulch. Do yourself a favor and find a bag that's tore open or has a hole in it. They'll tape it up and sell it to you for a dollar basically. The bag said "Cypress mulch mix" but I called the mulch company and confirmed there was no Pine or Cedar in it, because Both types of wood have oils that will give your snake an RI.

Cypress mulch is easy to figure out when it needs re-misted. One misting usually lasts 2 weeks or so. When moist it's a deep brown. Dry mulch results in a really light brown. You know you're in the right area when the top of your tub has moisture built up on it, and on the sides of the tub (mines clear) there's water droplets about an inch down in the mulch inside. Cypress mulch is also extremely resistant to mold and mildew.

Burrowing

BRB's love to burrow, so you need to be extremely careful if you're using a deep substrate to allow burrowing in conjunction with a UTH. I have about 4 inches of cypress mulch in hatefuls enclosure. One issue I came across with hateful was where she likes to burrow, she was actually clogging her nose with dust particles from the mulch. I Just put her in a container with warm water in it and she goes underwater and blows the particles out.

Climbing?!

Some people have told me that their BRB's love to climb and may even spend more time on a branch than on the actual floor of your enclosure. This is up to you, as I have a tub which isn't exactly set up for climbing.

Temperatures

BRB's are found in Rain forests, hence the high humidity requirement. Temperatures are a LOT different than ball pythons. Balls require a high of 91 or so. 91 degrees will kill your BRB. The way my temperatures are set up, is 73-75 in the cool side and 85 on the hot side. Be extremely cautious about this as fluctuations can result in your snake overheating and dying.

If anyone has any questions about BRB husbandry, post it here or PM me and I'll give the best answer I can, based purely off what I've done with my snake.

Chase
do you have fb if so i should have you add a friend of mine they got a brb for a first time snake sigh stupid petshop anywhoo they called me frantic about some issues i sent a care sheet loaned them a tank to keep humidity and warmth up as well as info on how to fix the minor issues since the pet shop said sure feed a small rat to a baby as thick as a bp baby. ugh anyways i give you props for keeping brbs they are hard i do not know many people who keep them because of that I just hope i dont end up with their down the road cause its too much for them.....wouldnt turn her away but i know how picky they r little divas (lovingly said)