Hi ALL! I have a question please. I currently have 9 Leos on a rack system with heat tape and we went to a reptile expo about a month ago and got two baby Columbian Red Tail Boas. We currently have them in a 29 gallon tank, they were from the same litter! We are using UTH's and a red heat bulb, on the warm side it is staying about 87 with just the UTH's and 95-97 with the UTH's and Overtank Bulb. Would it be a good idea to get a light dimmer for the overtank bulb? It is about 72-75 on the cool side. The substrate is half papertowels - over UTH's, and half repticarpet on cool side. There are three hides in there with them, along with a water bowl. Also, can I use cocoa-fiber or papertowels to place in like butter containers to serve as a humid hide, like i do with my Leo's? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hello
To help keep humidity in the tank you will have to cover most of th screen lid with a plexiglass cover(you can get it cut to size at Lowes or Home Depot) just leave a cutout for the light fixture. Your warm end temps with both the heaters on is alittle high,I shoot for 90. What is your cool end temp, mine are about 78-80. The coconut husk is a good moisture holder but sealing the top is a must to keep the moisture. Hope this helps. John

Thank you for the response! The cool side is about 75-80 I would say, not home right now so I couldn't tell you for sure but that sounds about right! I will try to write down all the temps this evening. So can I use tupperware containers for humid hides?

Yes you can, just make sure they are dark like a cave to make the babies feel secure! And check for mold growth daily, John.

Also baby boas love to climb, set up a nice branch extending from the cool side up to the light. They will climb up/down to thermoregulate.

Thank you for the response! The cool side is about 75-80 I would say, not home right now so I couldn't tell you for sure but that sounds about right! I will try to write down all the temps this evening. So can I use tupperware containers for humid hides?

You really need to put a good thermometer on BOTH sides directly on the substrate were the snakes will be. You cannot just guess what the temps are in your room and assume that is what they are in the tank with that blazing heat lamp and UTH going on in the tank. And especially if you seal it up some more to keep in the humidity. This will change the temps inside the tank DRASTICALLY!, so you really need to KNOW what the temps are on both sides.

I am simply telling you this so your snakes don't get "cooked" like I have seen so many people do in the past.


~Doug

Thank you! I do have thermostats on both sides on the papertowlels and repticarpet and when I got home last night I read them. on the warm side is 92 and on the cool side is 78-80, and humidity is 75-80%. I greatly appreciate all of you help.

Thank you! I do have thermostats on both sides on the papertowlels and repticarpet and when I got home last night I read them. on the warm side is 92 and on the cool side is 78-80, and humidity is 75-80%. I greatly appreciate all of you help.

Those temps should work good, the high humidity is good for tropical Boas too!.. :rockon:


~Doug

If you use moistened sphagnum moss instead of cocoa coir in your Tupperware hides, you won't have a mold issue. Sphagnum moss is naturally slightly acidic and will keep mold growth at bay for a long time.

Hey man, I would run the light during the day, unplug the UTH. At night turn off all lamps and plug in UTH.
Hot side shoot for 90 cool side anywhere from 75-80.
Hope this helps!

If you use moistened sphagnum moss instead of cocoa coir in your Tupperware hides, you won't have a mold issue. Sphagnum moss is naturally slightly acidic and will keep mold growth at bay for a long time.

PURE Cypress mulch holds humidity well and is naturally mold resistant! Thats what I use for my moist sides..