enclosure questions

[stephanbakir]

The big one in blue looks almost like a spider,but my understanding is that spider is a dominant geen and you cannot get hets so I'll leave that to one of our BP gods that lurk the forums. second one looks like a pretty normal.

[paulholcomb]

the big one, my male, just shed 2 weeks ago.......the little female shed last week

[Dehlida]

Hey Paul,
Both are normal however the male I'm starting to think more and more was an import that is sold and looks pretty normal- however may carry some sort of reduced pattern gene, it's unsure and would take a lot of breeding. Female never really looked yellow-belly to us, and she doesn't have the green eyes of a pastel. We think she's also just a very pretty normal who could end up throwing some nice babies later down the line- but her genetics are up in the air as well.

A lot of normals carry all sorts of genes in them somewhere- breed enough "normals" to eachother and who knows what can pop out- as shown with these guys.

-Glad to see that male is eating well, how many rats is that 4 now? LOL nice job!

[stephanbakir]

Is he due for another shed or is it just lighting? he looks like hes in blue.

[Dehlida]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Is he due for another shed or is it just lighting? he looks like hes in blue.

The color is actually normal looking in person as the photo is. He shed a couple weeks ago while in my care before I Paul got him.

[paulholcomb]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Is he due for another shed or is it just lighting? he looks like hes in blue.

this is his normal coloring.....which to me is really cool

[stephanbakir]

It is cool!

[LLinz]

How do I know if its oak??

[LLinz]

Ooook, hmmm I hope I can find a nice solid oak dresser that is big enough for my crazy-active, branch conquoring royal!!

[paulholcomb]

Oak is a much heavier and a stronger wood. If you find a piece you're interested in, look underneath it and see if you can easily scratch the wood or make a dimple into it. Pine will easily make a dent with a key or coin as it's much softer! Also look for the knots/eyes in the wood.......if it has a lot throughout the board it's a sign that it could be pine. Pine is not usually used in fine furniture because it is not as pretty so your chances of finding something heavy that looks good and smooth is probably oak over pine. Check the top surface as well because pine will be scratched more often than Oak will be!

[paulholcomb]

if you look at the top board on the outside of my enclosure, that is pine..........it's very scratched up, has some big knots that aren't smooth, and is a very light board. It was used in the bunkbed as an extra side board for the top bed. I used it on the top of my enclosure so that my snakes wouldn't have direct exposture to it.

[paulholcomb]

I may not have all the answers about BPs but I have done some extensive research as of late about them and I have read numerous times that wild specimens have been found with numerous snakes in the same burrows. I reallize that they are solitary animals for the most part but they do house together in nature!

I am a new person in this forum and I accept that I will be treated as a new person for some time.......please be careful that you aren't too quick to judge new people as they aren't always ignorant to what they're doing.

I wish to extend my apologies to the original poster in this thread for being caught up in jacking this thread and that it's gotten off topic about me. I'm sorry.....

[citysnakes]

Originally Posted by paulholcomb

I may not have all the answers about BPs but I have done some extensive research as of late about them and I have read numerous times that wild specimens have been found with numerous snakes in the same burrows. I reallize that they are solitary animals for the most part but they do house together in nature!

the wild is one thing, captivity is another. when wild, solitary animals are found together they are more likely competing than searching for companionship. in the wild they can fight or flee, in captivity inappropriate social housing elicits a constant stress response that cannot be escaped from and over time will negatively affect one or both animals.

captive animals are limited to the environment that is provided to them so you may have text book temps and humidity but there is more to consider than just that. a suppressed immune system caused by the constant stress of inappropriate social housing is just as bad as improper temperatures for example, so its definitely something to consider.

by the way, i know you didnt ask but 76F cool end is to cool of an end...

that being said, i never judged you as i never judge anyone. you dont know me, yet i was judged as a judger by you... i simply offered advice to a person who, as was stated by yourself, is a noob.

glad youre doing your research.

keep it up.

[LLinz]

Ok thanks, now I have a good idea of what to look for

[mrherpdotca]

There is a product that the box stores sell called FRP panels. (Fiberglass reinforced plastic) They are used all the time in commercial washrooms and kitchens. They are non porous and very hygenic/east to clean.
I used that product to line the inside of my cages. I used cheap plywood (exterior grade fir) to build the box then lined the inside with FRP.
Ask the lumber guys at home depot and you will see what I mean.

cheers,

Chris