New Boa constrictor

[gazza89]

Hiya i have just brought a boa constrictor and was wandering if the set up is right.

It is currently 3ft.

I have it on aspen wood shavings, with a couple of hides one in each end. there is a log for climbing. and i am planning on getting some fake plants.

The is a red heat light on a thermosat set at 85degrees and there is a normal tube light to light up the tank. I do not have a heat mat as the shop that i brought it from said that the heat light will be exceptable heating for it and the normal light also gives off heat.

Any help would be appriciated.

Thanks

[bladeblaster]

First up I wouldn't use aspen for a Boa constrictor as they do require some humidity and the aspen will go mouldy and soggy in no time. Personally I use newspaper as substrate for all my boas, but if you want a natural look then Bark would be much better than aspen.

Secondly, are you verifying your temperatures with a digital thermometer, or using the dial on the thermostat? You need a decent digital thermometer in both ends to verify the temp as the thermostat dial is only a very rough guide.

Thirdly do you have the bulbs guarded so that the snake cannot get at them? You have 2 very serious potential dangers, burning and smashing of bulbs, I have seen the results of injuries from both, and its not pretty.

Fourthly I would prob up the basking temp to nearer 90* to start with and see how you get on from there. If the snake doesn;t use the hot end then drop it a little, if it uses the hot end a lot up it a little.

Finally I didn;t hear any mention of a water bowl, a good sized water bowl is required for a Boa contrictor, especially when young.

[gazza89]

thanks for the reply.

I am actually using bark at the mintue but was planning to change to aspen over the weekend but wont now lol what sort of bark would you recommend.

the dial on the thermosat is set at 85 degrees, i have two thermometers (non digital) one in the warm and one in the cold end. warm end reading 85-90 and the one in the colded end is reading 70-75.

The heat light is guarded as it is lower down but the tube is not. I will buy a guard tomorrow now as i havent got time to make it to the shop tonight.

And i have a water bowl in there but it isnt a very large one, will i need to get one so that the snake can go into it.

[dragunov.762]

your set up sounds close to mine. i have my temp up to 90 and she spends most of her time buried on the hot end. i also use a water bowl meant for a mastiff (no joke this bowl is huge) she is only about 2 1/2 long maybe a little closer to 3 but the water bowl gives her enough room to soak and then some if she wants. i also use aspen with a 3 foot screen top cage. i don't have a problem with humidity (it is very humid in ohio) and my aspen has never molded but if you live in a drier environment than bark would be the way to go because you can add more water to it before it will degrade. (i also change my bedding fairly frequently so it doesn't get a chance to mold). my RTB loves her plants and i would buy as many as your budget will allow, or till the cage is densely planted, which ever comes first.