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3ft or 4ft vivarium?

W

wolfGirl

New member
I've had my cornsnake for over half a year now and he has grown since the first time I bought him home. Although he looks big enough to now live in a 3ft vivarium, I was wondering if it was okay to get a 4ft instead as I know he will get bigger. I've heard that too big of a cage could give snakes stress or other symptoms, so I'm left unsure. Please help.

Thank you!
 
3 ft by what? or 4 ft by what?

Honestly, a 36 inch x 18 inch x 18 inch is an ideal size for a corn snake. You can get by with slightly smaller or larger.

Corn snakes like to climb, so whatever size you get, make sure it's a tall one. (more than 12 inches).
 
Your snake will not be stressed out by a larger vivarium provided that there are lots of hiding places and easy access to water and heat. I really recommend fake leafy vines as ground cover if you want to put your smaller snake in a larger enclosure. They love hiding in them and it allows them to move around while they think that they're hidden.
 
Why does your cornsnake need a huge viv like that? That's to big for a corn snake in my opinion, 20 gallon tank is plenty.
 
20 gallons is pretty generic. There are 20 gallon longs, 20 gallon talls, etc.

The actual size is more important than the number of gallons a tank holds.

The general rule of thumb is, the tank should measure so that 1 long side plus 1 short side is the length of the snake.

So if you expect your snake to one day be 5 feet long, then your tank should measure something like 4 feet x 1 foot, or 3 feet x 2 feet, or 2-1/2 feet x 2-1/2 feet.

There are folks that will say "A 20 gallon tank is all you need for a corn snake." But that really doesn't tell you anything.

And although it might hold the snake, there is not nearly enough room for the snake to stretch out and move about.

Also corn snakes like to climb, so a taller tank (16 inches or more) is generally recommended.

I might be able to sleep on a 3 foot wide bed in a 6 foot by 4 foot prison cell, but I really like my king sized bed in my 18 foot by 13 foot bed room.

Just because it's a snake doesn't mean it has to be crammed into a tight little space. They don't live like that in the wild.
 
Well first you're not a snake and secondly the snake is in captivity; not the wild. Do you think breeders with thousands of snakes keep all their adult corns in five foot long Viv's? Not at all, they keep them in snake racks. I have 18 of them living just fine and perfectly healthy in racks on newspaper, not in a huge viv. I have a 47x48x20 custom carved and built viv, guess what? They hide in one spot and are scared to come out. As far as being able to move about and "stretch", that's where interacting with your snake comes into play. Just my point of view though, but I also do have 18 and buying more from Tom Thompson tomorrow. Super pumped!!
 
BLKfly said:
Well first you're not a snake and secondly the snake is in captivity; not the wild. Do you think breeders with thousands of snakes keep all their adult corns in five foot long Viv's? Not at all, they keep them in snake racks.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's true. It doesn't mean it's best for the snake or the snake likes it. It means that it's the most economical method for the breeder. Also, most breeders eventually sell the snake(s) to somebody that will house it properly. Breeders are in it for the money. Pet Keepers are more concerned with the animal.

BLKfly said:
...... I have 18 of them living just fine and perfectly healthy in racks on newspaper, not in a huge viv. I have a 47x48x20 custom carved and built viv, guess what? They hide in one spot and are scared to come out.
Click to expand...

How do you know they are scared to come out? Maybe that one spot is just the most comfortable. And when you say "Them" are you saying you have several snakes in one cage? If so, you'd better count them daily.

Look, keep your snakes in a coffee can if you want. But I offer people a different opinion and suggestion. And if they like your way or my way, they are free to choose.

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95298 <Basic housing and care of corn snakes>

BLKfly said:
.....As far as being able to move about and "stretch", that's where interacting with your snake comes into play. Just my point of view though, but I also do have 18 and buying more from Tom Thompson tomorrow. Super pumped!!
Click to expand...

Do you seriously think breeders with hundreds or thousands of snakes take them out and interact with them daily. I'm a realist and know better than that. Most of those snakes are shoved into tiny bins and the only time they come out is for a 5 minute cleaning or a mating session. Whereas a person with a "Pet Snake" is going to treat it like a pet. Breeders do not have pets, they have investments that they hope to some day sell to somebody like you or me.
 
I never said they took them out to play with them; I didn't think I'd have to spell it out... But that's where you as an owner and care provider for the herptile should take it out and interact with it... Btw I would never keep more than 1 snake in a viv. Like I said I keep them in custom racks on newspaper. My viv is huge, it needs 3 heat lamps because the the damn heat won't reach the floor enough lol and a 3ft waterfall. Tons of things to climb, and I say they because I've put 3 in there; not at the same time ;) they just didn't like it, idk what to tell you. I even turned off the water fall. I showed many of people my viv because I was proud of it, before I got into owning many snakes I thought as many people do. When i showed it to breeders they started looking at me like I was on crack because I built that for a corn. I didn't care, finally a year later it was ready to be snakeifyed :) and to my displeasure those damn breeders were right. Its just to big :( so if they are just really comfortable in one spot..... Again what's the point to have a huge viv? Maybe it will work for you, I'm not trying to be a dream crusher; just letting you know my personal experience on the matter. It looks f*cking awesome though :D lol.
 
And idk what breeder maybe Steve lol makes real money selling corn snakes. Most of them do it because they love the hobby and their snakes. All of my snakes get played with and taken out at least 4x a week; because we love them and want to interact with them. I can't wait to start breeding, and I would keep them all if I could but realistically you have to sell some in order to pay for the hobby you love.
 
nobody said anything about a "Huge viv." Those are your words.

You seem to be insinuating that anyone who keeps a snake in something bigger than what you approve of is keeping it in a huge viv. A 10 foot long 120 gallon tank would be a huge viv for a corn snake. A 30 or 40 gallon tank is not.

And that's all I'm going to say on the matter. You're welcome to have the last words.
 
BLKfly...

Your huge viv was improperly and inadequately set up. This is coming from someone who is both versed personally and professionally in keeping herps in various enclosure sizes. I had a sociology professor in college that kept his corns in 125 gallon aquaria. Those snakes used every inch.

Furthermore, your attitude comes off highly pompous and arrogant, bordering cocky -- it definitely has not come off insightful towards the discussion. Might I suggest going back to grade school to exercise some critical thinking outside the rubbermaid/IRIS box?
 
I'm sorry for being "cocky" for sharing my experience on the matter. I just don't believe you need a 4ft viv for a corn snake. I thought we were having a good debate on should you or should you not have a big viv. 3ft to 4ft sounds big to me. No need to get butt hurt and attack someone's intelligence. From breeders and snake owners I know, they think its pointless. You still never gave any good points to having a big viv. Oh wait its not big its only 4 freaking ft small?
Big viv pros, more snake room. More??? Well everything I guess
Big viv con's, more places for snake to hide, so now you have to take things out until you find it. Not convenient but maybe the snake likes more places to hide.. So could be a pro. Your snake could be intimidated and scared. Could cause them to regurgitate? Good luck finding poop lol, controlled heat and humidity could be a little harder to control in a bigger viv for some people. More to clean, at first its not a big deal, but after a while it can get annoying to some people.
Keep it simple in my opinion, agian that's MY opinion. I would like to be proved wrong, its called learning... So without becoming angry what are your pros and con's on the matter.
 
O yea if your keeping multiple corns in one viv, you need it big because they could eat one another. Many people believe you just shouldn't risk it, but if it worked that's awesome.
 
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