New Here: 55 gal tank, to big?

Hi all!
My first impression was that a snake should have a tank that he should be able to stretch out in completely, so I figured no, way to expensive. However, my girlfriends dad just lost his snake and is willing to give me his old tank. It is a 55 galon long tank with a built in under tank heater on one side. SOUNDS PERFECT RIGHT? but then I did more research and found that corns don't really need that much room and a 20 gallon is good. Should I not get a corn? maybe something a little bigger? I was looking at ball pythons but I want something that likes to be handled and is regularly active and corn snakes really fit the bill. Also, I could just let him feel like a king in his his huge tank, or split the tank down the middle and get two snakes.

Any suggestions?

55 is fine.. just make sure there are lots of hides, so it doesn't feel too open and exposed....or he'll prolly just stay in one little hide all the time....

ok well, in that case, I have a tarantula, chilean rose hair named Oz, ( i love her) and I bought a log for her, then realized it was muuuch to big and bought her a teeney cave log. So I already have a half log that can be used on one side of the tank, and I can put an empty tissue box or something on the other side. Would that be enough? I'm planning on having those two hides, a rock for shedding, a water dish, and maybe a stick or two for climbing. I don't think I'll need any other heat source then that built in under tank heater.... also, should I keep him in a small plastic shoe box for the first month or so? since I will be getting a baby I think...

That is gonna be one happy corn with a big home like that...I wish I could give my snakes a bigger tank..but for now they have to settle for the 20 Long...::sigh::

Some people do put their baby corns in a smaller enclosure for say a month of two..Others put them right into the tank...If you do put him into the tank just make sure to have like maybe 2 more small hides for him to hide around in..You might also want to make sure you put enough substrate in there for him to burrow in..That should coax him to come out some...For my snake when I first got her...she was so shy of coming out I bought her a background to cover one side of the tank..That actually seemed to help a bit..don't know why but it did..she started coming out a bit more...well good luck to you :0)

Here's what you do buy a piece of plexiglass divide it down the middle. Make sure you can access both sides and the lids are secure. Put the heat source in the middle. Then get two corn snakes.:dancer:

Thanks, I'm gunna get a shoebox ready for my snake today and maybe get it tomorrow or the next day.

The thing is, I can't really take care of two.... I'm going away to college in august and my mom and brother are going to have to take care of it during the week and I'll be back on weekends.

How often should I feed the snake? and how often once there adults?

Well the only thing is if you split it length wise you don't give the snakes very much room at all given that a 55 gallon is mostly hight, and if you split it width wise it's not even as much floor space as a 20gallon long. See I've thought about this heh.

The only thing is I really wouldn't put a hatchling in there, I didn't put my corn into her 55 gallon untill she was almost 3 feet. You'll lose a baby snake in something that large.

So the set up already had a UTH that's great, does it also have something to regulate it with and digital thermometers? These are other things you need.

Also I'm assuming then that if you're gonna go out and get a snake ASAP that you're probally going to get it from Petco. While I'm not completely discouraging that I'm not encouraging it either, and don't just buy the snake cause you have it and don't want to wait for one that looks better (and by that I mean healthier) All too often the snakes from petco are non feeding, with parasites and mites.

On Feb. 23rd there is a reptile show in PA...if you want you can wait until the show to get your snake..this way you have time to get everything all setup and do a little more learning on their care..Plus corns from shows are usually healthier then ones from pet stores and have less a chance of being non feeders or having mites..Plus you get a much better variety to choose from and at really good prices..Well just thought I would mention it..

Ok so Feb 23rd in Hamburg PA at the food area at 2pm. At least I know Maize will be there ocnsidering its Maize's idea. I love snakes and this show sounds awesome. I definetly can't wait, but I would much rather have a healthy snake and wait then a mite infested non eater from petco right now. My bearded dragon (mushu, I love him) had mites and I had to take him to a vet and spent a fortune on meds. So I'll see you at the snake show!