Colombian Rainbow Boa info

[lws]

I've recently rescued a snake from a friend of mine who bought it for his son, the guy's a **** and has'nt got a clue what he's doing.... I took the snake from him and now I'm taking care of it. I have some basic knowledge of reptiles which goes back to me keeping lizards.


Sadly my knowledge of snakes is slim to none, I've read many care sheets on the net since I got him (I'l call it 'him' I don;t actually know the sex) The first two days I had him I had the temperatures way too low, after buying my digital hygromoter and thermomoter, I've been able to maintain temperatures of 85 degrees F, and a relative humidity of 72 - 88%.

Before this the snake burned itself slighly on the heat matt which was only covered with a 2 layers of news print. I was wondering, would it be possible to mount the heat matt on the side of the vivarium (close to the candle bulb I use for heat) or do snakes need a heat mat on the bottom of the vivarium to keep warm, even if the vivarium is at the correct temperature.


I'l attatch some photos of my snake and set up, thanks to ImageShack.

http://img14.exs.cx/img14/6576/picture0242xz.jpg

http://img84.exs.cx/img84/5479/picture0363ef.jpg

http://img84.exs.cx/img84/738/picture0226vq.jpg


The news print covers my heat mat, but i've had to keep my snakes hide box off it because it burns itself.


Extra info:


I use Aspen Proffesional Snake Bedding.


thank's in advance.

[Invictus]

Well, for starters, I'd find a way to cover that bulb - the snake likely will find a way to burn itself on it.

Your choice of bedding is great, as are your temps. No, snakes do NOT require belly heat, and in fact I argue that overhead heat actually warms more body surface, and thus aids in digestion that much better. If you can though, try to get the basking spot up to about 90. With your candle bulb it may already be right around there, but to make sure. Get rid of the heat mat entirely, those are not meant to be used inside a cage - they are meant to be used outside.

[lws]

Thank's for the reply, I just called up the reptile shop I called for advice and told them they don't know what they're talking about, ******* in the shop said these snakes are fine at room temperature, I should break a lamp on his face. I suppose to them a sale is a sale, I'm going to mount my heat mat on the side of the vivarium at the hotspot, untill i get my infrared heater bulb with guard.


thank's again!

[lws]

Just a follow up post, he recently shed his skin and with the conditions he was kept in prior to me aquiring him he shedded in bits, I gave hima good few warmish water soaks and it came off no problem, there is still a small ammount left under his mouth and just below, what's the best way of getting this off without stressing him?

[Invictus]

Just let it come off. You don't want to be getting near the mouth, and if your humidity is high enough, it will eventually find its way off.

[lws]

I havent noticed him deffecating alot.... any ideas?

[HeatherRose]

72% humidity isn't good enough, these snakes should have it at approx. 80%...

Obviously if it's not shedding well, the humidity isn't high enough.

I really disagree about the bellyheat/light idea, but I don't feel like arguing. It's simple science, lights dry out the air.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Your choice of bedding is great, as are your temps.

Nope. Temos should be 90F warm end, 78F cool end. maurus can take a little more heat than Brazilians. Furthermore, Rainbows do NOT LIKE HEAT ALL THE TIME. They NEED access to cooler temps. Plain and simlpe. Go look for them in the wild. You'll see what I'm talking about.

90F warm end, 78F cool end, accomplished by a heat pad on low or with a dimmer switch attached. Cage temps calibrated BEFORE the damn snake is put in. Lights and Epicrates do NOT mix.

[lws]

I'm now sustaining the correct temperatures and humidity, don't talk to me as if I'm some kind of kid - I done the snake a favour by rescuing it and now it's in ideal conditions. Some people on the internet love to talk down to other people for asking simple questions, makes me sick really.

[twistd]

wow temper temper... at first reading your post I think that you are the ****, you claim the previous owner didn't know squat and then you say don't talk down to me. Yet you even admit knowing nothing about snakes, you don't even cover a HOT bulb and now you are going to mount a heat mat on the side of the tank, which makes no sence at all,, if anything keep the heat mat BENEATH THE TANK, that way the heat will comp up from the bottom of the tank and less likely to burn the snake.

you should have read more and had the tank all prepped and ready before accepting this snake. Snakes are different from reptiles, and each snake requires different environments. From reading this post and the questions u asked, the snake was purchased by a "****" and then was given to a "cocky ****". oh and btw your posts do make you sound like a kid, whining and bitching about the previous owner and how people "talk down to you". You're asking some pretty basic questions that you should of alrady known after your intense care sheet studying

my final advice is to get a book on your snake so you can properly look after her

[mcfreshdeli]

Damn you guys suck. This guy is trying his hardest to save a snake and obviously making an effort or he wouldn't be here. And he is right just because you are experienced gives you know right to treat people like crap, you should be trying to help him and in turn that would help the snake. OR would you rather he just left it with the other guy in poor conditions to die, Get off your damn high horse!

[ottawaguy]

Hear hear.....well put my American brother!
Mcfresh is right, give the guy a chance....Way to make someone feel welcome.
Kudos to those that took the time to reply and try and help, without being condescending.
By the way lws....nice snake, and it looks to be a nice enclosure once you fine tune everything. Hope all goes well...keep us posted

[lws]

Oh ****, I've just been attacked by an Internet Tough Guy..... way to get everyone on your side. As I've said, I never looked to purchase a snake, I took this snake because I knew it was in the wrong conditions. What was I supposed to do, leave it there for a 10 year old to twist and pull about? Allow it to be taken on tours of peoples houses for hours on end as the kid goes "look what i've got" I took it and looked for info on what to do, and I've got you on my back criticising me for lack of knowledge, as for the heat matt, the panflet that came with it shows it being mounted on the side of wooden vivariums for background heat, I just thought it was an option, I am humbled in the presence of your Almighty Book Of Snake Knowledge.



I am in the middle of constructing a huge vivarium for the snake, it is over 9ft long and 3ft high, thermostaticaly controlled, but I'm sure you'l have something to say about that aswell...



You disgust me.

[HeatherRose]

LOL.

There's no high horse, he was correcting WRONG information that was given, and about to be taken.

I didn't see any of you stepping in to help out, just whining over how information was presented. :rolleyes: Rescuing a snake is a sweet thing to do, but burning it and drying it out with crap husbandry and no research isn't any better than what the snake had before he got it. Right? I KNOW I have a point here.

There's no way you're sustaining proper humidity with that light in there. Humidity is the toughest thing to keep up with these snakes, but putting them in a rubbermaid solves it in a snap.

If you really have the snakes best interest at heart, just take the advice given to you...

What kind of vivarium are you making?

[lws]

My humidity is a constant 84 - 90%


I don't even use that bulb any more, I won't go into specifics of my vivarium untill I've decided on how to heat it but surfice to say it will be The Best Vivarium In The World (TBVITW)


After re-reading your post I thought I'd have to edit.


I made my original post weeks ago, What advice haven't I taken? After looking at your Freewebs site I now understand the capabilitys of your mind.



Opinion discounted.

[theweezel]

dont worry lws we all have to learn. I'd say read as many caresheets on colubian rainbows as you can. I use a heat pad and rubbermaid for mine. I mist her once a day except when shes shedding I do it twice daily. I saw what you said about building your own habatat and thats good.
Remeber that snakes can get stressed with too much space. Mine is always in her hide and if not shes under the substrate.
Some good people have replied to you, dont let attitudes get to you and remember your doing it to help a snake. Ive seen kids bring their snake to others house and carrying it around and I wish they didnt have them.
Keep up the good work.

[HeatherRose]

And what capabilities are those?

The capabilities to research, and take advice from those who know a damn lot more than myself about certain things? Yeah, those are both there for sure. The capability to spell 'capabilities' is there too.

Like I said, if you've got the snakes best interest at heart, you'd appreciate the advice given... Obviously, you'd rather get into a silly immature pissing contest. ;)

You can't defend your actions or attitude, so you take pot shots at something I worked hard on... I hope you feel big. :rolleyes:

I feel sorry for everything in your care.

[lws]

Haha, you still did'nt point out the advice I did'nt take?


I was simply unhappy the way the 'advice' was given.


I like the way you try to make me out to be some kind of animal murderer simply because I tried to do the best for a snake, I keep and breed dogs, I also breed budgerigars and cockatiels, I'm confident all of my animals are cared for to the highest standards, so don't give me that ****.

[HeatherRose]

I didn't call you an animal murderer, I just think your attitude at the 'way' (as far as I can see the advice you were given was given in a totally reasonable manner) the info was given sucked. And all the immaturity displayed was kind of silly, is all.

[lws]

You still havent pointed out where I rejected advice?

[HeatherRose]

And you still haven't justified your immature and desperate shot at my site... but ok.

You never mentioned taking the advice, just bitched about how it was given, until just now when you posted 'I never even use that bulb anymore'.

It's a learning process, we're all learning, but I think we should all be grateful if someone decides to steer us on the right track like Jeff did.

Regardless of how we speak or think, we're all here for our love of animals.

[lws]

You seem to think I'm here to kill my animal, atleast that's how you come over.


Let me be clear, I made my original post some 2 - 3 weeks ago, having read as many care sheets as google could find I decided to post on here for some tips, the first guy told me about the bulb and the next day it was gone, I don't use it any more. I'm now maintaning perfect conditions, and have been since 2 days after my post, then I post a follow up post saying I havent noticed him deffecating much, and all I get is advice and abuse on a problem I've already fixed!!


Can you atleast see my point?

[HeatherRose]

Dude, no one's abusing you. We're just trying to help your snake.

[lws]

Well if you're trying to help my snake why is'nt he deffecating?

[twistd]

it could be a couple of reasons why hes not taking a dump, usually when they haven't taken a dump in a while its because they're constipated, it all depends on how often they're eating and it's metabolism. A young snake that's growing may dump as often as every 4 to 6 weeks. So how big are the mice or rats that you're feeding him, and how often? also some snakes won't take a dump until 1 or 2 feedings, so how many has it been?

if you want you can take a large container and fill it with about a 1/4" to 3/8" with luke warm water,,that will always get the snake going

[Jeff_Favelle]

I'm now sustaining the correct temperatures and humidity, don't talk to me as if I'm some kind of kid

My post was NOT in a reply to YOU Mr. Friendly (aka Little Mary Sunshine). In fact, if you actually READ my post, it quoted the person I was replying to. Hmmmm...... maybe I should have talked to you like a kid, then you would have understood instead of lashing out at everyone.

Sweet Jesus. This thread rocks. I'm outtie.

P.S. Rainbows love sand and screen lids and ice water.

Cheers. ;)

[lws]

I would'nt like to guess his age but he's only young as he still retains alot of his pattern. He is eating one small fuzzy every 6 - 8 days. He has been fed 5 times so far.

[ravensgait]

Well that was some confusing info.

OK here's what I'd do with a new RB, I'd set the warm side in the low to mid 80s (temp measured on the floor of the cage) the cool side in the lower to mid 70s. Watch the animal if it spends most of it's time on the warm side then raise the temp, lower them if it stays on the cool side all the time. RBs like to have hides place one at each end with a water bowl on the cool side. Undertank heat is IMO the best way to go and you can mount the pad on the side if you want. Lights are not needed and as someone pointed out they dry the air. If you have humidity problems then place another small bowl of water near the heat pad.

The animal will tell you what it likes if you watch it. RBs are not hard to keep, I don't know how big yours is but feed it rodents that are about the size of the middle or largest circumference of your snake you can go a little larger if you want to. feed once a week for a youngster and when it's grown adjust to keep it in good weight.