Radiant Heat Panel with BRB?

[polito]

Hey guys, new to the forum and wondering about this. Tried to look through using the search bar to see if this had been mentioned before, no luck. If it has already been discussed send me a link and i apologize for bringing it up again!!

Looking to get a BRB in the next little while, the enclosure will be PVC with plexiglass front door. Going to work on a nice setup and was thinking of heating it with a heat panel. Anyone use heat panels with brbs? Any success with them? Pros, cons? Should I use a UTH as well as a heat panel?

Lotsa questions here haha, anything would help. Thanks guys.

Look forward to chatting with you all over time.

[Snakesitter]

Welcome to the forum, Polito!

Radiant heat panels work fine with rainbows. Just make sure to use a quality thermostat.

A secondary heat source should not be necessary.

Looking forward to pictures!

[aaron_cg]

Any Snake that loves to climb around, I would highly recommend an RHP. Great products, love them! As sitter said, use in conjunction with a high quality thermostat, and your good to go!

[polito]

Thanks guys! Super pumped that's the RHP is a good option for BRB's. I wouldn't ever use any heating device without a good thermostat, I'm way to much of a paranoid person haha. Just want the best for my reptiles. Going to use some RGB LED strip lighting for light source as well.

For humidity what would you recommend? A fogger or a misting system? The only thing I'm worried with the misting system is that it may get too wet. I want to keep that humidity up but don't want it to be soaking wet. I will have a nice sized water bowl on the warm side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. A lot of the research I've done explain temps and humidity extremely well, they don't really touch into what is best to maintain it though.

[aaron_cg]

Use pure cypress mulch, and a big water bowl and you shouldn't have issues with keeping it around 70%. If I remember right, young brbs need upwards of 90%. What type of enclosure are you using? Pvc, wood or glass?

[polito]

I'm definantly going to house him in a PVC enclosure. Trying to decide what to go for, more of an arboreal enclosure or longer. The babies I'm looking at are 2013's and already around 2 feet long. Think a fogger would be good to have just to top off the humidity when needed?

What size would you recommend? I see a lot 4x2 feet is a good size for an adult but see nothing about height. I'm looking at a 3x2x2 foot arboreal enclosure. But don't know of this is the best option.

I'm currently looking at this company as it is local for pickup, and prices seem to be quite fair (for a Canadian company atleast)

Products HerpHouses.com (http://www.herphouses.com/shop/)

[Snakesitter]

That sounds right. I breed Brazilians myself, and our last 2013s are probably two to two and half feet as well.

As babies, rainbows will climb, but adults are mostly terrestrial. They will use the space if available, but it is not a requirement. Size should be one square foot of floor space for every foot of snake (so an adult will need five to six feet).

A misting system should not be necessary so long as you set up the enclosure correctly. The four keys are limited ventillation to the room, a large water bowl placed partly over the heat, a humidity-retaining substrate (Aaron's suggestion is good), and a moist moss hide (preferably sphagnum). I've used this setup for years, and only this year with California in deep drought did I need to do more.

Great to see someone ask the right questions *before* they get a snake!

[aaron_cg]

Try calling the company, and see if they'll do a 4x2x3 for you. Personally, I would just go with the 4x2x2, but my kindest is a bit different. It's completely up to you, and I highly recommend pvc over melamine. Lighter and will last pretty much forever!

[polito]

Thank you both so much, really have given me great answers and a ton of information. I can't even think of anything else I want to know!! Ontop of all this information you guys have really made me feel welcomed to the forum. So thank you both again for that.

Personally I will go with the 3x2x2 PVC enclosure for right now as that is what space allows me where I am currently. As I get into a new place (within 1 - 2 years from now) I will have a dedicated reptile room, in which if I find the 3x2x2 to be crammed I will without thought update to a 4x2x2.

I plan on getting my BRB in september, looking at a 100% het hypo male from a breeder in Vancouver, BC. He was born in june 2013 and already eats FT. Which I am super pumped about!! I will be purchasing the tank in a couple of weeks, and will install the RHP (plugged into a Herpstat 2), LED RGB strip lighting, and a fogger (JUST incase I ever need to use it). I will do a full set up with cypress mulch and place everything including decor in the tank so i can test and make sure humidity and temps are perfect before he arrives!

I lied I have 1 last question. err 2.

1. Will the 3x2x2 be to small for a snake of this age? He will be over a year old, and if already at 2feet should hopefully feel comfortable in a tank this size? Whats both your opinion on this?

2. Probe placement of the herpstat. Ive read closer to the ground is better as BRB's will spend most of their time on the ground. Does this sound correct to you guys? What do you do?

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. I have purchased and read a book on BRBs, and many caresheets but I like to be 100% sure and really appreciate learning from others what works for them.

[polito]

Dont know why I can't find an edit option but want to fix this.

**1. Will the 3x2x2 be to BIG for a snake of this age?**

[aaron_cg]

1. With plenty of hides, it won't be too big. Just make sure it can feel safe and secure.

2. I would put a branch for climbing under the RHP and place the probe about half way up.

Why a herpstat 2, versus the basic?

[polito]

I guess with the one set up there really is no need to get a herpstat 2. Herpstat 1 it is haha!! Thanks so much for the info, you rock!!

[aaron_cg]

Haha, no problem. I remember when I first started getting serious about Reptiles and all the questions I had.

Your definitely on the right track. If you put half as much work into the animal itself, as you have for the research, your going to have some happy and good looking snakes.

[franks]

Good for you Polito. Most people ask the questions after they have their snake in a fish tank with an overhead light.

[polito]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it, I just really like to be sure about everything before I purchase an animal.

I had quite a large collection which I had to sell off a year ago. Long story short, it was a mixture of animals that i had accumulated with an ex girlfriends and everything was sold when we parted ways. The collection was a mixture of BP's, Leo's, Cresties and a Beardie. BP's were never really my love, they were hers (she had more of a say in what we purchased, which was a mistake I wont make again haha). BP's were the first snake species ive ever owned (and only to date). Dont get me wrong they were cool and all, but not what caught my eye. Now that I'm ready to gather the collection Ive always wanted I'm feeling a passion I would have never expected. Took all the passion I had before and timed it by 10.

Absolutely cannot wait to get my BRB.

[franks]

I'm excited for you- can't wait to see pics. That guy cliff (snakesitter) has some really really nice BRBs. He does things the right way by his animals too. Definitely reach out to him when you have your questions. He knows his stuff.

[Snakesitter]

Why thank you, Franks!!! I try and prioritize quality over quantity, and health/disease management over cost-cutting, and am glad to see it is appreciated!!!

I think Aaron very capably picked off the last two questions. Nothing to add.

Well, except for one caution: watch your heat carefully. Lots of care sheets say hot spots of 90F are fine. That is not true. Aim for 83F, which leaves a few degrees of safe margin if things go wrong.

Good luck, and let us know if you have any other questions!

[Snakesitter]

Spot on, sir.

[polito]

New question!! Hope you guys don't mind!!

Getting a bit worried that 36x24x24 is a bit too small for a BRB. Am I just being paranoid? I don't know haha. My options are between the 36x24x24 or a 48x24x16. Which do you think would be better? Difference of square footage (floor space) very slight. 36X24X24 = 6 SQ FT. 48x24x16 = 8 SQ FT

Does it just come down to personal preference?

Thanks again for answering all my questions guys. Just want my enclosure to be as nice as it can be.

[SnoopySnake]

I personally think that the 48x24x16 would be better in the long run, as I think bigger is better. It will be fine for a baby as long as you put in enough hides, branches and foliage. I plan on giving my rainbows a 5x3x2 or 5x2x3 pretty soon here. Of course you could always start with the 3x2x2, then upgrade to the bigger enclosure when you feel its time, and use the smaller one for another snake. ;)

[Snakesitter]

Six square feet of floor space is the minimum. However, I try and offer all my adults eight square feet, just to give them more room. More is always better, provided the viv can maintain the right temps, cover, and humidity. (Note the last item gets more challenging as the viv area grows.)