Planning on a new BCI. General questions?

[dakski]

Unfortunately he has been eating live hoppers. I do want to switch to FT. That is a thermometer probe. I have an under tank heater with a dimmer for now. I have a thermostat coming here in 2 days. Right now warm side is around 85. Cool side is around 75 but I was just in process of setting up small heater next to his enclosure to bring up his cool side for him.
Not even close yet to a finished product. I didnt plan on picking him up today, I think I just lucked out with finding him.
What are good temps for him? He is in a 72 QT tub with hides on both sides. I have a zoo med UTH I believe for 30-40 gallons on one side. Trying to find ways to raise the cool end, but as my bedroom is room temp I think I will be stuck with a small space heater next to him all year long. Any ideas? It's a starlite tub, using forest floor mulch bedding. I doubt the UTH will raise the whole temp up to where I want it.

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Cool on the thermometer probe. You never want a thermostat probe in the tank where it can get spilled on and worse.

You should be checking ground temps with an IR temp gun. If you don't have one, get one yesterday. Those are much more accurate and easier to check temps with.

You want 86-90F hot side, I would aim for 88-90F, ambient/middle temp of about 81-83F and cool side of 78-80F.

UTH heaters will only warm what they touch.

Not sure what else to do with a tub, but maybe other rack people/tub keepers can chime in?

Humidity should be 50%+ in winter and higher in shed, or about 65% all year round preferably, with a small bump in shed to 70-75%.

BI's are very adaptable relative to BC's, in general, and can tolerate lower humidity in winter (mine drops - but never below 50% and always raised in shed). My summer average is 65-70%.

He will probably switch to F/T with zero issues. If you are worried, you can offer live for the first feeding and then switch, but it probably won't be an issue.

HOWEVER, leave him alone until feeding day - which should be in about a week. Let him get settled and then offer a F/T hopper.

If you have questions on how to properly defrost, ask, but in general, just let the prey thaw completely in room temp water and offer on tongs/tweezers, etc. Boas do not have heat pits like most pythons and go more on scent and sight, not heat.

I switched my BC to F/T from live and stunned in about 3 seconds. Boas eat anything. They are like the corn snakes of the reptile world (they rarely if ever refuse).

Any other questions, let us know.