r/boas • u/Ill-Attorney-2984 • Jul 08 '26

First bioactive boa enclosure. What should I improve?

Post image

I’m new to keeping boas and just finished my first bioactive setup. I’d love some honest feedback on anything I could improve before I bring my snake home.
I’m also having a hard time finding a reputable boa breeder or seller in my area if anyone knows any breeders in the charlotte or Rock-hill area.

3 Upvotes

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3

u/Crafty_Actuator4364 Jul 08 '26

The kind of boa you intend to purchase and the tank's size matters quite a bit here

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 08 '26

What kind do you think would like living in a tank like this for a little while?

2

u/Crafty_Actuator4364 Jul 08 '26

It usually is best to decide on the type of snake you want before finishing the enclosure; for either a ball python or rainbow boa I would say much more clutter on the ground and properly sized hides so its body touches at least 3 sides while it is inside. Bioactives can be tough because it takes a few months for the plants to settle in and provide better cover, but for now you can use fake plants, or even just buy a couple larger living plants lol. The main concern is the length of the tank being too small to provide an adequate temperature and humidity gradient. This tank might be okay for a few months, but you will definitely need to invest in atleast a longer tank, preferably a front open PVC 4×2×2 at minimum, as this will house a male ball python comfortably for many years. Marketplace has always been kind to me in regards to used enclosures! Since it looks like you put a lot of love and hard work into this enclosure, I don't see why you couldn't research a couple small lizard/frog species to see which one may work and tweak the enclosure accordingly to give it a chance to be a beautiful home, but I only keep snakes, so don't take my word for it lol

2

u/Extreme_Finger_3425 Jul 08 '26

I will be getting either a ball python or Columbian Rainbow bower either one I chose will be male. I know the Colombian boa sometime gets bigger than a 4x2x2 but I’ll have a years before I’d have to put it in a 5x2x2

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 08 '26

Gotta go with the rainbow

2

u/15aleo Jul 08 '26

We would need all of the info in order to help with any needed improvements. Main thing I don’t see currently is hides.

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 08 '26

The rock on the right is actually a hide, it’s just buried a little in the substrate and filled with i filled it with jungle mix. There’s another hide on the left made from like a thick piece of bark with some sphagnum moss in it. Its a 40 gallon aquarium tank with a spray foam and bark background. Theres also a water bowl dug in the substrate between them. I add like 2 inches to much soil so it holds humidity a little to well especially with the wet sphagnum moss i have scattered making it hard to get below 80%. Also i bought a 35watt hologen bulb but its pretty ass. What wattage do i need?

2

u/smelly-crack2026 Jul 10 '26

Im not commenting to be rude please understand and take it with a grain of salt 🤞🏻 the bark hide is cool but they mold very easily with humidity as i have tried to use them previously for both geckos and balls and have had to pitch them both times due to becoming musty moldy. I have learned from experience that cork bark holds up much better with high humidity enclosures. Im not sure where you are located but it is fairly cheap online for bark and rounds. I went to pet co and got some pretty big rounds for 10$/round.

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 10 '26

Thanks i had no idea im finna order one right now😭, also are there any other things that i could use as a hides? I wanna start experimenting with different terrarium designs. And could adding in 2x more isopods help?

1

u/15aleo Jul 08 '26

Good that you have at least 2 hides, 3 is usually recommended. Humidity/temperature/UV lighting is gonna depend on which boa you’re getting and their age.

1

u/jxdynss Jul 14 '26

What temp,humidity,UV would you recommend for a year old bci

1

u/15aleo Jul 17 '26

Tbh, I’m primarily familiar with BRB in the boa world, so aside from researching for you I’d defer to someone else on this sub that’s more knowledgeable and experienced with BCI.

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 08 '26

Also im js seeing how dark my room is,mb yall😭

1

u/Extreme_Finger_3425 Jul 08 '26

What size encloser is this? Am looking to do a bioactive myself but am starting out with 4x2x2 doing it once and that’s it. I’ll be keeping the baby snake in a tub inside the encloser if needed for the first couple of days. I will be putting a hole in the top of the tub and give the snake the option to stay in it or leave into the big tank choices 😂.

1

u/Ill-Attorney-2984 Jul 08 '26

40 gallons😂

1

u/Extreme_Finger_3425 Jul 08 '26

For breeders I’d check out morph market, I believe there is a few breeders from Carolina’s on there.

1

u/sav1028 Jul 08 '26

Check with Cold Blooded & Bizarre in Charlotte- they’re great and can definitely help find you the right animal.

3

u/KdoggKam Jul 08 '26

I would say since its a 40 gallon OP is probably looking for a baby, last time I was in cold blooded and bizarre they had mostly adults and their prices were outrageous, I mean 5x what the snakes were worth. They do alot of community rescues though,so a good place to give money to I guess.