CRB Setup confirmation

[formica]

I've been getting a small enclosure ready for a baby CRB, wondered if i can run things by everyone before she arrives, this is my first Rainbow! the enclosure has been stable for a month now - except the cool end, which has bumped up a few degrees since the humidity and temps here in the uk have gone up

Starting out with a small 50x25x25cm glass tank, aluminium sealed top

Substrate - 2cm Coir and 2cm of orchid bark on top, with sum sphag mixed in

3 hides:

2 on cool side, one dry and one with sphag, ~22-24C, no hope of anything cooler here in summer time

1 on warm side with spag, ~26-28C (inside air temp)

Heating is a single 15W heat matt on one side of the enclosure, with a thermostat set to cut off the heat at 29C on the hot side, probe is inside the substrate - 30C is the highest substrate tempreture i've measured over that time (IR gun), thats lower down in the substrate, surface tends to be ~26-28C - should i push that up a bit? wondering if i should set the thermostat to 32C so the surface of the substrate gets closer to 30C - any thoughts?

Humidity is stable at 80%, sphag is swapped over with fresh damp load if it dips below that - which has only done once so far

Picking her up at the end of next week, shes going to spend the first week in a plastic tub while i check her over, so still got another 2 weeks to make tweeks if anyone has suggestions!

[smy_749]

I've been getting a small enclosure ready for a baby CRB, wondered if i can run things by everyone before she arrives, this is my first Rainbow! the enclosure has been stable for a month now - except the cool end, which has bumped up a few degrees since the humidity and temps here in the uk have gone up

Starting out with a small 50x25x25cm glass tank, aluminium sealed top

Substrate - 2cm Coir and 2cm of orchid bark on top, with sum sphag mixed in

3 hides:

2 on cool side, one dry and one with sphag, ~22-24C, no hope of anything cooler here in summer time

1 on warm side with spag, ~26-28C (inside air temp)

Heating is a single 15W heat matt on one side of the enclosure, with a thermostat set to cut off the heat at 29C on the hot side, probe is inside the substrate - 30C is the highest substrate tempreture i've measured over that time (IR gun), thats lower down in the substrate, surface tends to be ~26-28C - should i push that up a bit? wondering if i should set the thermostat to 32C so the surface of the substrate gets closer to 30C - any thoughts?

Humidity is stable at 80%, sphag is swapped over with fresh damp load if it dips below that - which has only done once so far

Picking her up at the end of next week, shes going to spend the first week in a plastic tub while i check her over, so still got another 2 weeks to make tweeks if anyone has suggestions!

Congrats on the first rainbow. Idk if anyone else does this, but I like to put the humid hide on the warm side. Maybe offer the dry/humid hides on the warm side, and just 1 dry one on the cool side.

[formica]

thanks! :D

kool yeah the hide on the warm side is humid, its filled with sphag, I'll add another dry one in on the warm side, so 4 in total

[franks]

Woa awesome! Cannot wait to see pics formica! I do not own a cbb, but like mikoh, I put my humid hides on the warmer side so the snake does not have to choose between humidity and heat.

[Snakesitter]

Sounds fine to me. However, while I hear Columbians can tolerate slightly higher temps than the Brazilians I usually deal with, I'd be cautious on that temp raise to 32C...I think that would be 90F?

[Amadeus]

Sounds good. Pictures of this specimen may be in order. =]

[formica]

Sounds fine to me. However, while I hear Columbians can tolerate slightly higher temps than the Brazilians I usually deal with, I'd be cautious on that temp raise to 32C...I think that would be 90F?

yeah i'm cautious too! the 32C would be inside the substrate, I was under the impression that ambient temps at 90F (32C) are the issue, rather than subtrate temps as part of a gradient?

well I wont push the temps up for now, will keep an eye, have a few degrees to play with if she needs it

Sounds good. Pictures of this specimen may be in order. =]

few more days yet! :bouncy: i'm gettin impatient!

[marvelfreak]

Sounds fine to me. However, while I hear Columbians can tolerate slightly higher temps than the Brazilians I usually deal with, I'd be cautious on that temp raise to 32C...I think that would be 90F?
I second this. Had a buddy who lost a CRB because it cage temp got up over 90F while he was at work. He blew a fuse on his air and it shoot up. Did bother the other snake but was to much for the CRB.

I personally believe in only using plastic tub or totes for any baby snakes that have high humidity requirements. I do this till they are a year old and very well establish.

[Concept9]

I second this. Had a buddy who lost a CRB because it cage temp got up over 90F while he was at work. He blew a fuse on his air and it shoot up. Did bother the other snake but was to much for the CRB.

I personally believe in only using plastic tub or totes for any baby snakes that have high humidity requirements. I do this till they are a year old and very well establish.

I do the exact same with all my snakes. These are awesome for snakes requiring high humidity.

[formica]

thanks for the advice guys, my question about 32C was re substrate temp (ie basking spot) - not ambient air temps, which are 22.2C cool, to 27.4C warm end atm

[marvelfreak]

thanks for the advice guys, my question about 32C was re substrate temp (ie basking spot) - not ambient air temps, which are 22.2C cool, to 27.4C warm end atm
Being rainbow love to burrow a UTH (under tank heater) aka heat pad would work best. This way they can get right on the heat to bask and still stay hid. plus it won't dry the humidity like a heat lamp.

[formica]

Being rainbow love to burrow a UTH (under tank heater) aka heat pad would work best. This way they can get right on the heat to bask and still stay hid. plus it won't dry the humidity like a heat lamp.

thats what i'm using, a heat mat, awsome, didnt realize they liked to burrow and havent read anything about it! that solves the basking temperature issue perfectly as the tempreture inside the substrate is far more stable than the ambient tempreture

[Snakesitter]

Marvel is right. They will not always burrow to the heat, but will do when seeking warmth. Because of this, however, to be safe, measure your hot spot at that point. Good luck!

[formica]

Marvel is right. They will not always burrow to the heat, but will do when seeking warmth. Because of this, however, to be safe, measure your hot spot at that point. Good luck!

thanks, yeah I've been using my IR gun to check the temps below the substrate, it hasnt gone over 31C, been measuring 2-3 times a day (lucky enough to work from home so i can keep an eye on these things)

[marvelfreak]

Then it sounds like your good to go. Can't wait to see pictures once you get it.

[Snakesitter]

Agreed!!!!

[formica]

Shes home :D still decieding on a name :bouncy:

http://i44.tinypic.com/2qi672c.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/z47t4.jpg

[Mark Taylor]

Congrats she's a beauty.

[rocknhorse76]

She's a pretty girl!

[Amadeus]

Shes home :D still decieding on a name :bouncy:

http://i44.tinypic.com/2qi672c.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/z47t4.jpg

Very pretty snake. =]

[formica]

thanks guys! she is beautiful eh :D looking forward to her first feed with me in a few days, fingers crossed all goes well, been assured she's got a great apatite for fuzzies. got sum rat pups in the freezer aswell as I want to switch her over to rats asap

[smy_749]

thanks guys! she is beautiful eh :D looking forward to her first feed with me in a few days, fingers crossed all goes well, been assured she's got a great apatite for fuzzies. got sum rat pups in the freezer aswell as I want to switch her over to rats asap

Wow, she is very beautiful. Congrats mate.

[marvelfreak]

Congratulation she a beauty.

[Snakesitter]

Very nice -- congrats on the new member of the family!

[formica]

thanks guys :D decieded on her name, Ximena (Shay-me-na), a Spanish/Columbian version of Simone :)

[formica]

Shes been very active the last 2 nights, so i decieded to try her on a fuzzie - must have been hungry coz she came out of hiding within seconds of me putting it in the enclosure, struck hard and fast and it was gone in less than a minute, was suprised by her speed because shes a pretty slow snake from what i've seen so far, takes her time exploring and looking around her new home

Very happy she doesnt have any problems eating, not very shy at all either, there are still lights on and she didnt mind we watching the whole time :)

http://i42.tinypic.com/a0f249.jpg

[marvelfreak]

Congrats! My buddy had two CRB and they were two of his most aggressive eaters.

[Snakesitter]

Congrats -- I like the same, and am thrilled to hear such a good feeding report!