I've had my corn snake for about a year now. He is around 2 feet long and is currently living inside a 20 gallon long terrarium. Petco is currently doing a 1 Gal = $1 sale and I was thinking about getting a larger tank about 40-55 gallons. Are these too big for a 1-year old corn snake? $55 for 55 gallons is a EXTREMELY great deal.
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Corn Snake in 40 or 55 Gal Terrarium?
- Thread starter jaxie1794
- Start date
greenman
New member
I personally have a 1yr old ghost girl in a 40gal tank. It isnt to big for her, but any bigger and she would be swimming in it! The only thing with a 40gal is the literal size and space it takes up in your home. Im working on a rack system for a few snakes and to be more efficent with space.
40 gal isnt to big, but it is big!
40 gal isnt to big, but it is big!
wstphal
working in the Gulag
A 40G or 50G would be a large enclosure. You could provide all sorts of things to re-create the natural environment, like rocks, tree limbs big enough to support an adult corn, etc, etc. Depending on how much effort you wanted to invest, you could go really crazy in that space and produce something like a small high-end zoo exhibit. So if decorating vivs is something you enjoy, I'd say go for it! Corn snakes like cover, things they can hide in or under, and they are escape artists, so Nanci covered the two key things.
I asked the same question on Yahoo Answers and got this response from a top-contributing member:
"Absolutely NOT a 55 gallon for such a tiny corn snake!!
You see snakes get stressed when exposed to too much space. Then they don't eat and if they do they likely will puke it up which is very dangerous for a snake.
You can buy the tank but please don't put the snake in it. A 20 gallon is PLENTY of space for him, trust me. That tank can hold almost any sized corn snake, even big ones.
Please, please wait until he is at least 4 feet. Stress is dangerous. My corn snake is 2 feet and guess what he's living PERFECTLY in? A 6 gallon tank. So please don't put such a small snake into such a large tank. It's not good for him."
I'm extremely torn... she says absolutely not, and other people think it would make him very happy. Hmm...
"Absolutely NOT a 55 gallon for such a tiny corn snake!!
You see snakes get stressed when exposed to too much space. Then they don't eat and if they do they likely will puke it up which is very dangerous for a snake.
You can buy the tank but please don't put the snake in it. A 20 gallon is PLENTY of space for him, trust me. That tank can hold almost any sized corn snake, even big ones.
Please, please wait until he is at least 4 feet. Stress is dangerous. My corn snake is 2 feet and guess what he's living PERFECTLY in? A 6 gallon tank. So please don't put such a small snake into such a large tank. It's not good for him."
I'm extremely torn... she says absolutely not, and other people think it would make him very happy. Hmm...
Nanci
Alien Lover
Well, let's see. If he was a wild snake, how much space would he have?
Are you feeding him in a separate container? I ask because (you should be) he'll already be in the routine of coming out to eat, so you won't have to worry about him losing his meal in his viv (among other things).
I've put _hatchlings_ directly into 20 longs several times and not had a problem at all. The key to success is providing lots of hides and vines and cover so the snake doesn't feel like he's out in the open, on display.
People that keep their snakes in tiny spaces for who knows what reason like to make believe the animal is fine. It may be _alive_, but is it enjoying its life? Does it have anything to do besides lay there? At a _minimum_ a snake, stretched out, should cover no more than two sides of his viv.
Are you feeding him in a separate container? I ask because (you should be) he'll already be in the routine of coming out to eat, so you won't have to worry about him losing his meal in his viv (among other things).
I've put _hatchlings_ directly into 20 longs several times and not had a problem at all. The key to success is providing lots of hides and vines and cover so the snake doesn't feel like he's out in the open, on display.
People that keep their snakes in tiny spaces for who knows what reason like to make believe the animal is fine. It may be _alive_, but is it enjoying its life? Does it have anything to do besides lay there? At a _minimum_ a snake, stretched out, should cover no more than two sides of his viv.
That is exactly what I thought. If he was in the wild, he would have unlimited space. Yes, I feed him in a separate container.
Thanks, I'll probably buy one more hide and some fake vines along with the terrarium. It's also going to be pretty tall, I guess I'll have to buy one of those giant climbing logs that cost like $40.
Thanks, I'll probably buy one more hide and some fake vines along with the terrarium. It's also going to be pretty tall, I guess I'll have to buy one of those giant climbing logs that cost like $40.
moukin
New member
I've had my corn snake since 8/28 and she was hatched 7/17 if I remember correctly. I put her straight into a 55 gallon terrarium. Here's how it's set up:
She's doing great. She's using the water bowl hides pretty regularly. When I get her out, she's usually under one of them.
She's eaten fine for me the two times I've fed her so far. No regurges that I've noticed, I'm sure I would smell it and the tank just smells like snake.
It is harder to monitor poop of course.
She comes out every night around the same time, explores her tank, climbs up the branches on the back and hangs out on the ledge along the inside of the tank lid.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103672
She's doing great. She's using the water bowl hides pretty regularly. When I get her out, she's usually under one of them.
She's eaten fine for me the two times I've fed her so far. No regurges that I've noticed, I'm sure I would smell it and the tank just smells like snake.
It is harder to monitor poop of course.
She comes out every night around the same time, explores her tank, climbs up the branches on the back and hangs out on the ledge along the inside of the tank lid.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103672
Daniel Carniglia
New member
Just Brougt My self a 40 gallon Breeder tank for $ 40 dollars...at Petco during this sale......just for my new Okeeetee male three year corn snake, he is so relaxed in it! I think it will be great in the long run...many years down the road!
D
