How long in a small home?(plus UTH question)

I know the from the faq as well as my readings that a young corn snake can be kept in a small container ranging from a 6qt sterlite container to a 10gallon all glass tank.
My question is, roughly how long can the snake live in this size home untill it will need to be upgraded? Unfortunatly at my current situation I don't have the room for a 20 gallon, but I realize that my snake will need one eventually. So...how long?

And concerning UTH are they safe to use with the sterlite containers? If not how are you supposed to heat them? I know at work we have an UTH that's meant for those tiny hermit crab enclosures and even says that it's safe with plastic. But are all UTH?

Thanks in advance!

Hi corny Noob.
:-offtopic When did you get your snake. I see your parents gave in. How exciting for you.

I've been reading this board for awhile, but I'm still new my self. (others feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)
UTH can't be used on plastic or at least the instructions say not to.
As for tank size I have mine in a 10 gal now and have been told it will be fine for maybe 2 years depending on how fast it grows. Right now I have mine in a smaller plastic container in the larger tank because she seemed stressed out at first because of the size of the tank.

Sorry if I can't be more help. and once again congrats. :cheers:

Haha I didn't get my snake *yet* but if you look on general chit chat my mom basically told me I could go to a reptile show with her in may and was asking what I would set the snake up in if I got it then.

Currently I don't have acess to another 10 gallon either...well I do but my mom might bite my head off if I buy another one ( :sobstory: ) but I do have plenty of these sterlite containers around which is why I was enquiring since I know other people use them.

Also another complete n00b question! My mom had a crazy idea I don't know if it would ever work I was just wondering, so don't kill me if its nuts XD
What about using a heating pad? As in one that you use when your back is sore? lol please don't shoot me if this is a nuts idea :shrugs:

I would not attempt to use an UNREGULATED uth on a plastic tank, as the temps can get VERY high- however, none of today's Sterilite containers will melt at the 85 degree max that a corn ought to be kept at... you CAN disinfect them with HOT water, which is typically around 110 degrees or higher even. Moral of the story... buy a rheostat (lamp dimmer) or thermostat with your corn.

As for your question, I kept Hokie in his 10 until he reached 18", and then I bought him the 20L, with a locking lid. He could have gone longer in the 10, but I wanted the security of the locking lid, so I figured what the heck!! Good luck!

Also, I have heard about people using human heat pads. They would have to be regulated as well, and I am not sure how well that would work. In all honesty a herp heat pad and a human heat pad cost about the same amount, so I'd go with the one for herps.

Well the only reason I asked about the human heating pad is because I already have one at home so its not like I would by buying another one

I have heard a 10gallon is good for the first year (around 2' long)

Heating pads for human use could be a fire hazard as they are not intended for 24/7 use. I have 2 baby snakes in 10 gal tanks and know they will be good in those for probably atleast another 6 months or longer.

If you don't want to have to switch tank sizes, you could always go with a 20L right away as long as you have alot if hides for the baby to feel safe.

Good luck on getting your new baby and have fun with him/her!

I like to have my snakes in an enclosure that has a perimeter at least twice the length of the snake. Therefore, a standard ten gallon tank, which is 20" long and 10" wide, will comfortably house a snake 30" or shorter.

Well at the moment I'm banned from buying another tank.
But of course I was also banned from getting a snake too in the beginning, so we'll see how that works out.

My snake has been in her 30 gal.since I got her.She has tripled in size,or MORE,,and now when I see her crawling around,the tank looks a bit small.

I keep my adult in a 55gal. I know I wouldn't want her in anything smaller, but 20L seem to be the size most ppl keep them in, or sterilite tubs of similar size.

I'm looking into visionariums for my babies. which are equal to 20L's, will that be big enough to keep my babies for the rest of thier lives? or will I have to graduate to something bigger. SO SORRY FOR HIJACKING YOUR THREAD!

Bad girl! Bad snakemom!

Um so I guess everyone else that uses sterlite containers uses UTH without a hitch? Yes? No? Just trying to get everyone's opinions

One thing we all have to keep in mind (and I'm sure this has been mentioned a million times) is that there is a big difference between what they CAN be put in, and what the ideal size is to make them comfortable...

A fully grown corn snake can "theoretically" fit in a 10 gallon, however we all know that that would be stressful to a snake, not unlike putting a hatchling in a bare 50, or any tank without hides. Sure people can say that they have "successfully" kept their corns in smaller containers, but how well are the snakes doing? Has anyone had their corn tell them the tank was fine? (and if they did, they may be on the wrong forum)

Bottom line; there is an ideal size for enclosures for corns, and it will take someone with a lot more experience and knowledge than me to say exactly what that is. At the end of the day, there is a big difference between keeping a corn alive and having it healthy, stress free, and eating well.

I've heard you can keep a hatchling in a 10 gallon for up to 18 months.

As for using a UTH on a sterlite, I am currently using one with a rheostat attached to it with no problems at all. As long as the tempatures are regulated with a rheostat or a thermostat, as another memeber pointed out, things will be fine.

Also with using a human heating pad, I've heard they're designed to shut off once a certain tempature is reached. And then will turn themselves back on. But that too would have to be regulated. I've been burnt my a heating pad before and it's not fun...

Yes, all the large scale breeders use sterilite or similar containers on uth's. There is absolutely no problem with doing that as long as (I know this has been said before) the uth is regulated.

A ten gallon is what, 1' 8" or so? I'm not sure. A snake can be housed in any given enclosure until the snake is more than twice the length of the encloser (I think it should really be more like 1 and a half times the length). This may be a 18 months, or it may be 2 1/2 years. Remember, they CAN be held in an enclosure that long, but I think a snake should be moved to a 20 gal at a 2 years or 18 months no matter what. That's just me.

Snakemom, a 20 gal is 30" long, so a corn can be kept in one their entire lives. I might say get a 30 gal since you don't have a million snakes (i wish I did!!), just to give them some more exercise room. There is no need for a 30, but more space will allow your snake to move around more, making them more fit and healthier. Holding the snake a lot will do the same thing, so it doesn't matter.

Sorry, i think some of this was said before.