"Basking area"?

[Striker1220]

Alot of people say the boa temputure should remain from 84-90, with a "basking area" of 90-95.

I got a 10 gallon for him now seeing as hes 18 inches. Im putting him in the 70gallon in about 6-8 months, sucks for such a short time I blew money on this lol. Just the water bowl and the half log and a tiny treated branch.

My question is this, During the day I keep it around 86-88 for the guy, and at night about 80-82. I got 2 bulbs, the black light neon and the regular, the black one is less wattage for night time.

Thing is, in a tank small as a 10-20 gallon, how the heck am I suppose to change 5-6 degrees of temperture from one part to another? 88 is the tanks temp., yet 94 basking area is needed?

[boidfanatic]

This is where a heat pad, or under tank heater would come in handy. The stick on heat pads are all I use for heat in my tanks (except for my ball python, which I use a small heat pad and a low wattage lamp). They give a nice warm spot in one area. I have a Bci in a 55long and I use 2 heat pads, one on each end, so he has a slow decrease in temp. to the center of the tank, down to about 80. You have to watch the pads though because w/o a rheostat or thermostat they will get pretty hot.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[Striker1220]

Yeah i heard alot of bad stuff about the pads, quite frankly I dont want to use them period, the lights are easier to me. Does the snake need a basking area now? In about 8 months when hes a year and 8 months (Hes 8-9 months now) im going to put him in the 70 gallon for 1-2 years, THEN i might get the pad, but on the 70 ill need 2 rows of lights instead of one. But I mean I only read about this basking area online, never in stores have I heard of them having certain areas in the tanks that are warmer then the other half, the heat pad seems the only way to make it hotter on one side then the other..

[Brandon28]

What are you using for heat? I assume you are using a bulb, so the direct heat under the bulb should provide the basking temps, while the surrounding air is heated indirectly from the same source. Covering the top of the tank to capture this heat will help (humidity is easier to maintain this way, as well).

Although I will not say that bulbs (still assuming that we're discussing bulbs) are bad, I'm sure you'll find that most keepers prefer belly heat for the basking spot. This will stabilize the temps and keep the lamp from drying the cage out.

[Xeikeness]

Heat pads, in conjunction with a DIMMER, Rheostat or Thermostat, are fantastic. And you can get them as small as 4" square.

Heat rocks, however, are terrible apparatus' in my experience. Just be careful with the heat pads and they'll work great. They're all I use for my cages. And I've got 30 snakes.

[boidfanatic]

The only con to using heat pads is that they do get too hot w/o an aid. I found that my heat pads bare on the glass under my tank hit around 110degrees, so what I've done is put down a reptimat and then put in cypress mulch to provide space between the snake and glass. The area above the mat hits right around 100 and at the top of the cypress is 92-95, so it is safe for the snake and I don't have to use a dimmer, rheostat, or thermostat. The main reason, I believe, of having a basking area or warmer spot is so the snake has a place to go that aids in digestion. Mine use the hottest spots in the cage for 3-4 days after feeding then start spending more time away from where the heat pad or pads are.

[Striker1220]

Brandon, Im using bulbs, its a holder that has 2 under one rack, a black light looking one for day and night and the white one just for day time. I sit it ontop of the cage cover of the 10 gallon. Wont the water bowl help keep it nice and not dry?

[Brandon28]

Originally Posted by Striker1220

Brandon, Im using bulbs, its a holder that has 2 under one rack, a black light looking one for day and night and the white one just for day time. I sit it ontop of the cage cover of the 10 gallon. Wont the water bowl help keep it nice and not dry?

You should ask yourself this question, then answer it. What is the humidity in the cage? The caresheets will tell you where the levels ought to be. You should do what is necessary to maintain those levels. Ask all the questions it takes.

[Arra]

I still use heat lamps as well until I get everything switched over to mats/flexwatt. While most of my snakes are now in sterlite containers (I prefer them for heat/humidity and also locking lids which are snazzy) I still use one 55gal for a BP, and formerly used a lot of tanks.

I always covered the screen lid completely with tape and then used a razor to cut out an exact sized circle for the dome lamp, either one or more holes depending on the size of the tank and the amount of lamps needed (2 for the 55gal) Its more work to keep the humidity up in the larger 55+ tanks but misting and keeping fake foliage beneath the lamps to collect water worked out really well.

For my sweaterbox sterlite my baby BCI is in I switch the lid around depending on the humidity level I need. On the one side it keeps the humidity spot on for the average day and when he needs an extra boost to help with shed I flip it over so its above the water dish and it keeps it at an even 70%. Make sure you can monitor your humidity level and if the water bowl under the lamp isn't cutting it, keep a spray bottle handy. Like I said it's harder for tanks but it can be done as long as you have the time to do it.

If you don't, Sterlites are cheap, and so are soldering irons (which I use to make ventilation holes and cut out the circle for the heat lamp then melt a screen over it)

As for the basking area if you can elevate a little brush, an outdoor rock (cleaned) or form some sort of elevated area it would do the trick, though I bet as Brandon said there's a nice gradient already from one corner to the other. The sterlite I house my boa in is a lot shorter than a 10 but more spacious and he likes to curl up on the ledges the inside handle forms, on top of his wooden log or underneath the newspaper depending on what temperature he feels he's up for at the time.

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.