New BRBs

[Hilikme]

Hi everyone,

I just brought home a pair of BRBs from a semi-local family who couldn't have them anymore, last Friday. They are both doing very well as far as I can tell -- quite active in the evenings, ate their first meal here tuesday night with no issues, quite docile yet curious when I have had to handle them, etc..

I had a couple questions though, if anyone can help.

1. First big question, these guys came in their enclosure, a good set up, but living together. The previous family has housed them this way for as long as they've had the two (unrelated pair). They've always been fed separately though. I've read some places that communal housing is alright with rainbows as long as everyone's healthy, is this true?

2. I haven't measured them just yet as I'm trying not to do anything that might stress them out so soon, but the measurements I was given is that the female is just over 30 inches (at 10 - 11 months), and the male is just under 40 inches at 14 - 15 months. Does this sound like appropriate sizes for their ages? I kind of expected the female to be larger than she is.

3. Last one for now! When the snakes were dropped off, they mentioned that the male was just starting to go into shed a couple days earlier. He has yet to shed yet and I'm wondering what's a normal time frame for BRBs to shed and if the stress from the move might be delaying it?

It'll be one week that I've had them, tomorrow, and I'm already so attached, they're wonderful little snakes!

 

[Hilikme]

I should add regarding the shedding question -- RH is good, I give the tank a good spritzing when it drops to 70% and daytime temps are about 75 - 87. He's spending most of his time in the humid hide with the moss, but I haven't seen him in the water at all. Anything else I should do for him or just wait it out?

 

[gsrept]

if he is using the hide he will be fine what type of enclosure are you using, and i would seperate them if this is financialy possible i never like to house snakes together one main reason it is hard to keep track of which animal defecated and also more prone to pass sickness to each other if one gets ill. also how are you feeding them what size and how often?

 

[Hilikme]

It's a glass tank currently (I know not the greatest... I'm trying to decide on what I'm going to upgrade them into -- a homemade enclosure or just buy a plastic one -- either will be divided if housing them together is really not good for them.

The previous owners were feeding them hopper sized mice once a week I believe, but I think they could be taking small mice.

 

[gsrept]

they will take mice with no problem i wuld however swap them to xsrats. i would go with a RBI plastics cage priced fairly reasonable and a really great company to work with there service is great.good luck and happy herping.

 

[Hilikme]

Thanks! I'll move them up and check out getting some rats to switch them too.

So does their current lengths for their ages sound alright to you?

Oh wow -- checked out the RBI cages, very very nice... unfortunately I'm located in middle-of-nowhere Canada. I wonder if there's a Canadian shop that provides similar products...

 

[gsrept]

there lengths sound pretty good, post some pics i love brbs use to breed them but got away from them to persue other interests. i would talk to RBI i don't see why they would not be able to ship to canada may cost extra but i would give them a call.

 

[Hilikme]

slugs

 

[Hilikme]

Woops, okay I was typing in another window and for some reason it went in here... anyways!

Thanks again, I probably will give them a call then.

The male (I need to pick names soon) shed perfectly friday night/saturday morning! Very happy about that. I'm going to get pictures a.s.a.p. just need to dig out my camera.

What did you move onto after breeding BRBs?

 

[gsrept]

I did greentree pythons, uros, bluetailed monitors, high end geckos and a few other odds and ends, was just getting to crazy. Now i strictly do balls and columbian boas but would not mind getting another BRB again they are really great snakes can be tricky with the humidity but once you get that down pretty easy to breed and care for. All the best of luck any issues you can email me any time would be happy to help out. Happy herping.

 

[Hilikme]

So I finally got some photos taken, and in the sunlight to boot.

Here are three of the female:

 

[Hilikme]

Attached:

 

[Hilikme]

Here's three of the male:

 

[gsrept]

They look nice, feed them xsmall rats they are a little bigger than a adult mouse they can handle that no problem

 

[Hilikme]

Yeah, I offered an adult mouse to both, the male took his no problem (if very very slowly) and the female refused hers... But I'm sure she'll have no problem when she decides she's hungry enough for it. Still have to track down the xsmall rats though!

 

[gsrept]

try swapping to frozen thawed also easier to get feeders and you can buy in bulk. my brb would take frozen no problem it may take a little bit to swap them but worth it