Newbie to BCI. Got a question

Hurricane916 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 02:55 AM

Hi im new here!

Ive been doing my homework for the past year, but still have a question to get cleared up. I belong to two other herp forums. bluetongueskinks.net and faunaclassifieds.com. Ive gotten most of my questions answered but there is still one left.

Ive been keeping reptiles since i was around 8 when my dad bought me my first iguana

. But had to sell it a few years later because he got to big. Around six feet long and had no room

. Every time id go up to a cabin or anything id always be chasin lizards and garter snakes and stuff. Ive always had a fascination with reptiles, my parents dont, but they understand my passion for them and let me keep them.

My second reptile experience was a BP. I loved him to death....Died of impaction in 2001

Monty the Python

My third and current reptile is a Blue Tongue Skink, he is amazing and so much fun to handle. His name is Gordy.

My dad and i recently had a talk about what i really liked to do, and i said reptiles/herpetology. So he has a llowed me to get as many reptiles as i can stuff into my room. Id like to fill it to the brim with reptiles but, dont have that much money, so intern, im taking cash donations

hehe jk. Im also going to be buying leopard geckos over summer to. could ya tell i like doing my reptile stuff in summer?

So, now that ive introduced myself im going to ask my question...

Are BCI picky eaters? cuz my BP was a REALLY FINICKY EATER!

Im most lickley going to be purchasing one in late july early august. Thats when the reptile show around here starts.

The cage im going to be puting him in is going to be a custom built one built by my grandpa and i. Its going to be about 6'L X 20-24"W X 24'T Havent decided on the width yet.

I'll be heating it with flexwatt 11"W heat tape with a thermostat hooked up to it(at about 88 degrees F). But since the cage is going to be made out of wood i cant put it under the tan., is it safe for me to put the heat tape in the cage with a small hole drilled near the base of the cage so the cord can be led out? Keep in mind that the ends of the heat tape will be sealed off and it will be duct taped to the bottom of the cage. So its fine if water gets spilled on it.

Sorry about the long post, thanks for any feedback i get tho, later!

haroldo359 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 03:17 AM

in general, bci are not picky eaters compared to ball pythons. every snake is different, and many factors are involved. but bci are usually pigs.

Rmk1999 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurricane916

Are BCI picky eaters? cuz my BP was a REALLY FINICKY EATER!

Normally they're not, I'm sure certain husbandry conditions affect appetite and feeding response. As long as you stick to a good feeding schedule and the right sized prey you should have no problems at all. At least i havent had any problems. *crossing fingers*

as far as that cage he's building you. I'd take some height out of it. When adults, head room isn't really an issue as much as floor space is, and the taller the cage the more complicated heating and maintaining humidity becomes.

All in all i think you'll really enjoy having a RTB as a pet. they're one of the best looking snakes out there...IMO

Hurricane916 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 03:20 AM

Thanks! yeah, cuz with the just the heat tape for heating i think a shorter tank would be better cuz it would be able to keep the ambient air temp up.

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