Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[garysumpter]

Hi all,

Very general questions, how do you heat your Boas and Royals?

Ceramic? Normal Bulb? Mat?

I have a rack system (one of the commercial ones) that I am not happy with at all. It doesnt hold ANY humidity and doesnt heat up well enough at all (the only way its ok is if the central heating is on full) Snakes havent been eating great and every one had shed really badly since going in there (despite being soaked several times per day and given a moist hide)

I am therefore going to sell it (crappy sales pitch above I know, but as my reptiles are in my bedroom I dont want the radiator on full)

Anyway I am going to move my snakes into vivs. This is two Boas (year old), two royals (year old) and 2 royals (6 months old).

Would you put the boas straight into a 3 or 4 foot viv? Or 2ft for security? Not sure if there would be a good enough gradient in 2ft?

I know this is very general, just hoping to get some ideas.

Although I was all for racks before, as I am REALLY downsizing, I want to display what I have

Thanks

Gary
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[James]

I heat my royal viv with a heat mat but alot of people use ceramics and bulbs. some people use a combination of the two for example a heat mat to supply surface temperature but a bulb to warm the air temperature.

The reason why i am using a mat at the moment is because i just had a spare one and know people have successfully kept royals on them. one thing you do have to be carefull with if using a mat is that it doesn't get two hot if your snake can touch it also iam sure your awere that whatever you do use ceramic or mat that a thermostat is highly recommended.

So my answer is basically whatever works if you can get the correct temps and humidity with a ceramic then use it if you can get them with a mat use that if you need a combination then do it.

As for the boa i have no experience with them but from what i have read they are not a shy and scared of open spaces as royals so i would say put it straight into a 3 or 4 foot viv. hope this helps i am sure somebody else will come with some more options soon.

[Lynne]

the royals,corns and hoggy are all on heat mats. the boa i heard like ceramics, so she is getting a ceramic. i like the heat mats and prefer then to lights etc, but thats just me.
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[Rad]

i have my royals on ceramic and red heat lamps, both seem to work. As for sheding i find that skocking them in a tub from an hour whiles in shed helps.

I assume you have a BCI mine is in a 4x4x2 with a ceramic setup and my Brazilian Rainbow Boas are in 4ft with ceraric plates

[Lynne]

central american, common boa. i just moved her into viv, but misjudged size, so she will be moving again soon. i had spare 2ft and spare 3ft, i moved her into the 2ft. wrong decision im afraid. they do grow like weeds!!!! she wont be in 3ft for long either.
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