Quote Originally Posted by dr del
I am currently unemployed and can't really afford the materials to build and equip 2 more cages.
So, put an ad in the paper, sell the 55g tank, use the proceeds to purchase 4 large sterilite bins with lids and then go to an office supply store and get some binder clips to hold the lids on. (about 30 bucks probably)

Then get some flexwatt and a thermostat.... on a budget, you could also use a rheostat... (dimmer) On a budget, this would cost you about $20-30 bucks.

Quote Originally Posted by dr del
In a possible update to the breeding question I found a blood spot near the big female this morning (she hardly ever moves from her fave cork hide at the cool end lately) it's kind of half blob / half smear so I dunno what to make of it.
Use the search feature to the forum to look up blood smears. It has been said in many different threads that breeding males sometimes drag their "junk" across the floor of the enclosure. It is also possible that an "aggresive" shed has occured, and bleeding from the vent could be a non-dangerous result of that.

Keep in mind that continued arguing about how you think it would be "okay" or "better" or "its worked for the past eleventeen years" or other coments like that about keeping all of your poor snakes together will not change anyone's mind on this forum. One snake, one cage is a mantra around here because everyone firmly believes it. Besides... if you're on a budget and you're unemployed, then smaller cheaper enclosures would probably be cheaper. Not to mention the heating costs in the long run. Four strips of flexwatt would probably take up far less electricity than your CHE and the UVB light.

Good luck!