new bp owner and I have a question

[tek0509]

Hey everyone,

I guess I should first introduce myself. My name is Adam and I recently purchased a bp. I have been doing research for a couple months now and the time has finally come where I have enough time to devote to my new friend. I currently have Mr. Snake (name still being decided on) in a 41 qt. Sterilite with temps being held by a uth 92 and 81 and humidity at roughly 55%. Everything is going great. I am going to order my Ranco and flexwatt tomorrow from Rich from reptilebasics even though this heat pad has been working wonders for almost a week.

This is where my question comes in, although I see all the great benefits of using tubs, I think I am going to switch over a glass aquarium. I am willing to take on the extra work and care and maintaining just for the natural look that I would be able to make. This is my current iguana cage that I made from scratch about a year ago. I would hope to make something for my bp in the future but the tank will do for now...



Anyway...I do not want to go to big to start...my bp is currently 21". I would love to get a 40 gallon breeder now but I am not sure if he would feel too stressed in it? So I was thinking 20 gallon. How long would this last me, time and lenght wise? I know I heard the general rule of lenghtXwidth = lenght of snake rule. How does this hold in this regard?

Thanks again for all your help and I am sure you will hear more from me in the future.

[cassandra]

*chin drop on floor*

Wooooow...that thing is COOL! You can post more pictures of that ANYTIME!!!

Being of the few resident "glass" folks here, a young bp will do great in a 20L...see the link in my sig for a description of how we set our 20L up. I'll try to dig around and find some pictures of our bp in one.

We had her in a 20L for...9 months or so? Until she was about a year old and decided that because of the nice looking hides we like to use and the fact she had outgrown her current ones and the next size wouldn't fit in a 20L, we upgraded her to a 4' x 2' x 2'. This is our current and final home for Cleo our ball (although it now looks like this since we upgraded our Surinam boa to the same cage that stacks on top).

[recycling goddess]

wow... VERY nice enclosure. i'd love to see more pics

welcome to the forum adam.

[tek0509]

Thanks for the quick responses. Its hard to tell in the picture I sent you but the bottom of the iguana cage is 4'X3'X19". When I expand my iguana cage and add an additional unit the same size I am hoping to make the bottom of the second one into a perm home for my bp.

cassandra your cage setup is awesome. That's what I am going to go for eventually, a cage that looks like a nice piece of furniture as well as a very natural looking environment. Did you make that yourself? I hope that I will be able to somehow incorporate that when I build my second cage.

I am not sure if this would be considered breaking the rules, but I am in no way advertising this other site. I am simply adding this link to allow people to view the rest of my pictures as well as comments on my iguana cage, everything is said in this thread and it is too much to add here, specs and etc. ( http://www.reptileforums.com/forums/...ad.php?t=31049 )

So back to the topic of the tank. Would it be a bad idea to purchase a 40 gallon now or should I just stick with the 20 gallon? Granted it is only 50 bucks but if I am going to have to increase in size in about 9 months it almost seems like a waste. I know this is where tubs are great because theyre so easily replaceable but, again, they are just not for me although they are great,

[jglass38]

Wow..That is one killer enclosure. While most people find plastic enclosures to be better all around, glass can work. Cass has a good link in her sig on the glass tank route. Good luck and welcome!

[Aric]

wow... VERY nice enclosure. i'd love to see more pics

ditto to that, that thing is amazing. I wouldnt mind living in there myself.


Welcome

[cassandra]

Thanks! We opted to buy cages since we have rudimentary woodworking skills, I doubt we could make something that would look nice enough, hehe.

We have been buying our cages from a local manufacturer that resells through local reptile stores, Critter Condos.

The problem with a young bp in a big cage is stress. They can get stressed out being a large environment. However, I would guess (and other more experienced members are welcome to chime in here) that you could use a 40G and put in a lot of hides and cage decor to give the snake lots of secure hiding places.

[tek0509]

Thanks! We opted to buy cages since we have rudimentary woodworking skills, I doubt we could make something that would look nice enough, hehe.

We have been buying our cages from a local manufacturer that resells through local reptile stores, Critter Condos.

The problem with a young bp in a big cage is stress. They can get stressed out being a large environment. However, I would guess (and other more experienced members are welcome to chime in here) that you could use a 40G and put in a lot of hides and cage decor to give the snake lots of secure hiding places.

Thanks thats kinda what I was thinking. I will have to decide within the next couple days. I have searched this forum and found that 1 foot of 11" flex would work well in a 20 gallon. Does anybody have any experience with a 40 gallon and flexwatt? as in how much to use?

Thanks again