Deciding when the snake is big enough to move

[Intravenous]

Ok, I've done a quick search on the forum to look for idel adult corn viv/tank sizes and the largest I came across was 36" by 12". Well, in the future (possibly near, possibly far) I will probably be getting a vivarium with the dimensions:

3 ft long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

I also read that baby snakes like to be kept in smaller containers. My question is how long (or until the snake gets how big) would I have to wait before being able to release a baby snake into this vivarium and until it reaches that size what size tank/box will I have to keep it in and with what accessories and equipment? I read that lots of people keep theirs in 10gallon tanks, but I don't really want to have to set up a whole new tank with all the bits just until the snake gets bigger. Would a plastic tank (of what size?), a heat mat, two small hides and some substrate do until it was big enough?

 

[Lennycorn]

Ok, I've done a quick search on the forum to look for idel adult corn viv/tank sizes and the largest I came across was 36" by 12". Well, in the future (possibly near, possibly far) I will probably be getting a vivarium with the dimensions:

3 ft long, 2 foot wide and 2 foot high.

I also read that baby snakes like to be kept in smaller containers. My question is how long (or until the snake gets how big) would I have to wait before being able to release a baby snake into this vivarium and until it reaches that size what size tank/box will I have to keep it in and with what accessories and equipment? I read that lots of people keep theirs in 10gallon tanks, but I don't really want to have to set up a whole new tank with all the bits just until the snake gets bigger. Would a plastic tank (of what size?), a heat mat, two small hides and some substrate do until it was big enough?

Question 1. Up to two years.
Question 2. What size is the snake now? If a hatchling a 10 will do.

 

[shrimply]

Actually I think it all depends on the snake. If it is a hatchling I would keep it in a small Geo box for a few months until you get to know your snake better. For instance I have a 6 month that I just moved into a 2ft by 15inch Viv but I know that she would adjust perfectly to a 3ft just because of her temperament and how well she adjusts to new things.

Also i plan to put my oldest corn into a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft when I get a dwarf boa and wait till it is big enough to go up into the large viv. 3ft is a good size but they are quite good at coping with larger housing if the correct hides are provided. This only applies to adults though I would never put a young snake into such large housing and deffinatly wouldn't even consider it if I hadn't been able to get to know them.

I think the best thing to do is buy all the equipment for a 20 gallon which is about the right for an adult and then keep your snake inside a geo box acctually inside a main viv. This way you will be able to spend the main amount of money at the start but not totally freak out the baby.

Here was a pic of my set-up for my young one.

I then upgraded her to this

And finally she was housed in the viv

 

[kimbyra]

I have one 10 gallon, but switched to using Lee's Herp Haven Breeder boxes. They are inexpensive and work perfectly for young snakes, and they are stackable. I'll look for a pic and post it. The divider is useless, because a snake can push up on the top and go right over it, but it's the best bang for your buck, and easy to clean/lift, etc. I got some at Petco for around $15, but they are cheaper online at www.petco.com .
I have my one adult in a big, wide and long, 55 gallon aquarium. What a hassle! I really think that 20L is to small.

 

[kimbyra]

Hi again!
They're dimensions are: 17.75"W X 12"D X 7"H
They're the biggest box I've found like that.

 

[Intravenous]

Actually I think it all depends on the snake. If it is a hatchling I would keep it in a small Geo box for a few months until you get to know your snake better. For instance I have a 6 month that I just moved into a 2ft by 15inch Viv but I know that she would adjust perfectly to a 3ft just because of her temperament and how well she adjusts to new things.

Also i plan to put my oldest corn into a 4ft by 2ft by 2ft when I get a dwarf boa and wait till it is big enough to go up into the large viv. 3ft is a good size but they are quite good at coping with larger housing if the correct hides are provided. This only applies to adults though I would never put a young snake into such large housing and deffinatly wouldn't even consider it if I hadn't been able to get to know them.

I think the best thing to do is buy all the equipment for a 20 gallon which is about the right for an adult and then keep your snake inside a geo box acctually inside a main viv. This way you will be able to spend the main amount of money at the start but not totally freak out the baby.

Here was a pic of my set-up for my young one.

I then upgraded her to this

And finally she was housed in the viv

Something like the first image would be ideal, I could easily (and cheaply) set up something similair to house a hatchling and then put it inside the main vivarium, which I will buy all the equipment for in advance and have it set up. It will be a vivarium rather than a tank because I saw a beautiful stack of 3 vivariums (1 6ft, 2 3ft (to maybe one day include two corns and one bearded dragon)) and plan to get it. Is the intermediate size necessary, like what you have, or would it be ok just going from the small to the large (if I felt the snake was ready?)

Also, you say you waited 6months, another poster said up to 2years...I'm going for the minimum time (at which the snake will be comfortable/able to cope) so is this likely to be in the order of months or really up to years?

 

[kimbyra]

They will outgrow shrimply's posted size container pretty quickly; the one I posted is a lot bigger. Also, I use Zoomed mini UTH's on the back/side. Bigger sizes are too big, and their heat is higher and not recommended by the manufacturer to go on plastic or on the bottom.

 

[Intravenous]

They will outgrow shrimply's posted size container pretty quickly; the one I posted is a lot bigger. Also, I use Zoomed mini UTH's on the back/side. Bigger sizes are too big, and their heat is higher and not recommended by the manufacturer to go on plastic or on the bottom.

Well I wasn't meaning her one specifically , I was just pleased that a cheap(ish) plastic container was considered ok. The one I actually get will depend on availability...I'm in the UK and I don't know if petco will deliver here.

How long would a snake be able to stay in that?

 

[shrimply]

It depends on how quickly it grows I wouldn't leave then snake in a container that is less than 2 thirds of its body length. Mine was upgraded to the 2ft at about 6 months so that will give you a rough idea.

 

[Intravenous]

Ok, thank you for all your help .

It depends on how quickly it grows I wouldn't leave then snake in a container that is less than 2 thirds of its body length. Mine was upgraded to the 2ft at about 6 months so that will give you a rough idea.

I'm looking at petco right now and seeing if they do ship to the UK. An estimate was all I was looking for (gives me time to work out how long I have to buy all the equipment for the larger viv if it comes to that ).

Someone (possibly you ) said a 20gallon is too small in their opinion...I'm not sure of the rough dimensions of a 20gallon (we use litres here), but would my 3ft by 2ft be a comfortable size in your (or their if it was someone else :shrugs: ) opinion?

 

[kimbyra]

3ft by 2ft is perfect. My big boy is in a 3ft by 1 1/2 foot, and seems comfortable. :cheers:

 

[shrimply]

Acctualy measurements in the UK gan be given in imperial gallons or litres.

A 2ft by 15 inches by 18 inche is 26 US gallons so roughly 20 Uk gallons. This would fit a fully grown snake but I think slightly larger would be better.