| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Aaronw999 |
Posted - 30/05/2012 : 22:24:28
Hello, I recently just purchased my new Rainbow Boa Izzy. Im not sure of the specific kind and was wondering if someone could help me determine what she is!! I felt like it was a brazillian at first then started to second guess myself because of how dark she is. She is almost 6ft long, and I was told she is 7yrs old.
After getting her home and having her out I noticed I could hear her breathing.. I came to a conclusion that it is a possible RI?? I cant hear it every single time she breathes, but I hear it more then I should. My setup has a hotspot temp of roughly 84 degrees, varying in the day depending on how much sun is coming through my window. The hygrometer is currently reading 80% .. What can I do if this is a RI?
If someone could answer any of my questions it would be greatly appreciated!
I will post some pictures in a second!
Thank you :) |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| IncurableFlirt |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 18:17:04
Yikes. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to agree wholeheartedly with CDN Blood and Snakesitter on this one. That is definitely NOT the best setup for your RB. Even if it is melamine, it is wood based and will slowly suck the moisture out of your enclosure, regardless of the "plastic covering". If you really care for your RB and want to help with the possible RI, I'd take Snakesitter's suggestion and buy yourself a plastic RUB (really useful box) of adequate size, drill a few small holes for air exchange and set it up in there until you can get it a better enclosure. Your hygrometer (unless that's your temp gage) looks to be one of the simple dial types, which are known to be less accurate in giving you an idea of the moisture (I know first hand, had one for over half a year until someone mentioned it to me and when I got a digital, I got a HUGE hydro amount difference and adjusted accordingly). Though the digitals are more expensive, they are well worth the extra money just for the accuracy alone. ;) If I had to make a guess, I'd say your new friend is a BRB, but then again, I haven't seen many Peruvians, so Snakesitter could be right here too. :D Anyway, there's my two cents and I hope your RB makes a good recovery and sheds well (since I do believe it is in shed atm, just like CDN said). |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 16:58:07
Glad to hear that, Aaron. There have unfortunately been cases where the new owner has not been quite so aware of the animal's needs as you seem to be...glad to hear the above is only temporary, too. Good luck! |
| Aaronw999 |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 02:02:41
The humidity is quite constant too.. It is not jumping around at all. |
| Aaronw999 |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 02:01:03
Thanks. And I know the conditions needed. No that is not a wire top, and its not normal wood. Its called melamine board which has a plastic coating over it. No real wood is showing in the tank. The top is a pexi glass top with a whole the same size as my heat light with a metal grate over it. My humidity is currently at 80 and my temp is at 80 with the light off because its night here now. The tank holds humidity very well, she hasnt been in there a week yet. This is also a temporary set up for about a month or so. |
| Snakesitter |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 00:42:44
As my knowledgeable but diplomatic friend pointed out ;-), you need to pay some fast attention to your enclosure. Wooden vivs are *terrible* for rainbows because of the species' humidity needs. Adults need at least 80% in their vivs at all times. That is usually provided through four tools: a huge water bowl (big enough for the snake to soak in, and placed partly over the heat), a moist hide (packed with damp moss), a water-retaining substrate (which is occasionally misted), and -- this is crucial -- limited air exchange with the outside room. The large wire-covered hole you have right now in your top will allow all that precious moisture to leak right now, leaving your snake high and dry again. BTW, what are you heating with? If a heat bulb, please consider something else -- heat bulbs dry the air.
That said, because you were smart to post right away, you still have time to fix this. I would recommend getting a large plastic tub to use as a *temporary* home while you fix or replace your current enclosure. Use undercage heating for it. Keep the temp below 83F and the humidity over 80%. And then you should be fine!
BTW, beautiful rainbow. I believe it to be either a Brazilian or a Peruvian (which was its own subspecies, but is now a locality of Brazilian...though that may change again).
Good luck! |
| CDN_Blood |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 00:11:14
Is that wire mesh with the tape on it in image 3 meant to be the lid?
Your Brazilian Rainbow boa is dark because it's in a moult, which any snake keeper should be able to recognize.
That setup you have it in is wholly and utterly inadequate. You're going to lose that snake if the improper conditions don't take it's life first.
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