Grow to the size of their vivarium?

[beaniebopps]

I recently purchased an adult who was 4 years old and nearly 6 feet long (so definetely fully grown you would think) The man I got him off said he had just shed his skin (and the sloughed skin was in the bin beside the viv)

The vivarium this snake had been living in for the past 3 years was only 2 x 1 x 1 feet, not sufficient for an adult. I got him home, and moved him into a nice big 4 x 2 x 2 foot viv. This was 3 weeks ago and he has just shed again.

An adult shouldn't shed every 3 weeks, and I didn't increase his diet or anything... So does this mean snakes are a little like gold fish and has grown more now that hes in a bigger vivarium?

 

[Velvet]

I stand corrected but I don't think that their growth depends on the size of their vivs...

You haven't mentioned how much and how often he is fed...that may be a factor and also even though adults don't grow that much, they do still periodically shed to stay "clean" and rid themselves of parasites...

 

[beaniebopps]

I didn't think they did either, until this made me think maybe they do. I know even adults shed periodically when they aren't growing but it had only been 3 weeks since his last shed. He was getting weaner rats every 10 days and I haven't increased this.

 

[Velvet]

Maybe he wanted a new set of clothese for his new home?

 

[snakewispera snr]

It could be that the person you got the snake off didn't keep proper records,and the time of slough wasn't accurate just an approximation.
After all the viv wasn't the right size so why should anything else be right.
Keep a record of things now you've got him, and let us know what happens.
MIKE

 

[susang]

It could be that the person you got the snake off didn't keep proper records,and the time of slough wasn't accurate just an approximation.
After all the viv wasn't the right size so why should anything else be right.
Keep a record of things now you've got him, and let us know what happens.
MIKE

I agree you have no idea how long that shed could have been in there. Six feet is large for a corn, did you measure the snake or the shed skin? My adults shed more often in the summer and tapering off at the end of fall.
The original viv 2x1x1 sounds like a twenty long and that is what many people keep adult corns in, bigger is OK too.

 

[Jrgh17]

I'm assuming when you say 2x1x1, you mean feet? This is a perfectly acceptable enclosure for an adult corn. Size has nothing to do with the enclosure.

Honestly, snakes sense several factors that we aren't even aware of (unless they're at the extreme). For instance, snakes are much more sensitive to humidity than we are. If it's not something to worry about, I'd just chalk it up to nuttiness.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

I'm assuming when you say 2x1x1, you mean feet? This is a perfectly acceptable enclosure for an adult corn. Size has nothing to do with the enclosure.

Actually the minimum recommended is a 20 long which is 30"x1'x1'. Not to nit pick. But 2x1x1 would probably be ok for "normal" sized adults. But if he's really 6 ft, then that's way too small IMHO.

 

[v_various]

indeed, 2' x 1' x 1' is only 15 gallons. Kind of small, but who knows. I can't tell when my boys are happy, for all we know they could care less.

Did I ever post this link before? It's so handy!
http://www.firsttankguide.net/calculator.php

 

[beaniebopps]

Thanks everyone for your help, I guess I won't know why he shed at that time, I was only asking to see if anyone else thought that snakes grew to size according to their vivariums.

I've measured the sloughed skin, which I know stretches but it was just over 6 feet so I was approximating him to be just under 6 feet. He's the biggest corn I've seen anyway...

And yes a 2 x 1 x 1 foot vivarium may be suitable for some adults, but I really think a 2 foot wide viv for a 6 foot snake is too small - I reckon at least 1 foot of floor space for every foot of snake.. Jake likes his exercise

 

[Nanci]

Let's see some pictures of Jake! He must be huge if he's the biggest corn you've ever seen! (The biggest corn I've ever seen is that one Marcel poots has- that is a monster!)

Anyway, no, you can't restrict a snake's size by keeping it in a smaller viv. Wouldn't it be handy if things worked that way.

Nanci

 

[beaniebopps]

Hes the biggest corn snake I've actually seen, not pictures of, but in the flesh. I have heard of even bigger ones yes! Heres a picture but I've none with him on anything you can see the scale with... Also, while I've uploading the picture... do you think he is an okeetee or just a normal classic?

 

[beaniebopps]

To help identify... a picture of Jakes belly...