Tank size questions

[dakski]

Late to the game here and a little confused.


First, I agree you have a beautiful animal there. I would want to show her off too. However, I also know that glass tanks are not ideal for BP's and little ones in particular are usually very shy and need a lot of security. All BP's need proper regulated temps and humidity, unless you like sending your vet's kids to college.

If you have to make it work with a glass tank, we can help you with that, but it's an uphill battle.

There are plenty of enclosures that allow viewing the animal, but help your BP feel more secure and make it much easier to control temps and humidity properly. Boaphile Plastics and Animal Plastics are probably the two most common. I have the former and many people on here are happy with the latter.

I would get the enclosure correct temp wise and humidity wise and security wise and enjoy showing off your happy and healthy BP mostly when you take Lucy out and can allow people to view and experience/handle her.

It's been said, but all heat sources MUST be regulated by thermostat. Not should, or maybe, etc.

Too hot = neurological problems at best and death at worst.

Too cold = may not eat or won't digest properly which can lead to regurgitation; very bad.

Humidity - 55-65% with a bump in shed and with proper temps. Lack of proper temps and or humidity that is too low or too high can quickly lead to respiratory infections. That means shots, lots of $$$$$ and vet visits and a snake that will be more susceptible to RI's for the rest of its life.

Ambient temps: 80-83F

Hot side: 88-90F (90F is tops).

Cool side: 78-80F

All temps must be measured at the ground, where the snake is, and with a reliable and calibrated temp gun.

If you want to make this tank work for now:

1. Smaller water bowl - BP's don't generally soak and need fresh water to drink and to help maintain humidity.

2. Two equal size hides - One on the warm side and one on the cool side. http://www.reptilebasics.com/small-hide-box http://www.reptilebasics.com/medium-hide-box

The links above are ideal and cheap hides. Easy to clean as well. You want the small for now, but will need medium, and large, later.

A trick to make hides feel more secure if they are a little too big - not massively too big - is to crumble up some paper towels and stick them in/under the hide. This helps block out light and makes the snake feel more secure. I have a tiny baby corn snake (in addition to the rest of my reptile collection - including a BP) and even the mini hides are a little too big for her still. Half a sheet of crumbled up paper towel and she is happy as a clam. She can borrow under and in the paper towels in her dark hide and feel very safe.

3. Thermostat. Get one that you can grow with. At least 2 devices capable. https://www.spyderrobotics.com/index...products_id=76 https://www.spyderrobotics.com/index...products_id=26

4. UTH - I prefer for hot side ASSUMING it is regulated, but I already said all heating devices must be, so I am probably being redundant. The probe for the thermostat goes between the UTH and the glass bottom of the tank. Do not set and forget. All heating sources will need to be checked regularly and sometimes adjusted. When you first set them up, you will notice there is most likely a discrepancy between the temp where the probe is and ground temps where the snake is. Adjust accordingly. It may read 90F on the UTH probe, but be 88F at the tank bottom, or 93F, etc.

5. CHE for ambient temps and maybe a little warm side temp. Again, regulated by thermostat. I prefer RHP but in a glass tank, that isn't happening. CHE's work well in this application.

In a 30G - if you do the above and place the CHE middle to slightly closer to the hot side, and it's 84F below and 88F on the UTH, it should be about 78F on the cool side as well. It all depends on room temps, etc. You might need to adjust placement of the CHE.

Wishing you the best of luck and hoping you better understand the needs of beautiful Lucy now.

Feel free to ask for clarification or about anything else you need help with.