• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Habitat size: Is there such a thing as too big?

Vince

Vince

& stood awhile in thought
Hi all,

Building my first habitat. Will be for a hatchling. Store owner gave his idea of optimal size, which is 120cm x 50cm X 50cm (4 ft x 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft).

From searching the forum, this sounds too large for a hatchling, but perfect for an adult. I will make several hiding places, warmer areas, cooler areas etc.

If too large, I could just fill it with 'stuff': Branches, hidy-holes etc to make it less agorophobic for the hatchling.

What say you?
 
You can keep a hatchling in that so long as you make him feel very secure. Also, it may be hard to find your snake in a tank that size when you wish to get him out for feeding, etc. However, that size is perfect for an adult.

The other thing I would add is that you should be careful putting a very small snake in a vivarium with sliding glass doors at the front. A hatchling can easily get out between the doors.
 
Plissken said:
The other thing I would add is that you should be careful putting a very small snake in a vivarium with sliding glass doors at the front. A hatchling can easily get out between the doors.
Click to expand...

Are you some kind of mind reader :) ???

I am putting in sliding doors, but they are very close together (about 3mm/0.11 inch). If necessary, I will slide a plastic edge protector over one of the panes of glass, which will bring the gap down to 1mm or so...
 
Vince said:
Are you some kind of mind reader :) ???

I am putting in sliding doors, but they are very close together (about 3mm/0.11 inch). If necessary, I will slide a plastic edge protector over one of the panes of glass, which will bring the gap down to 1mm or so...
Click to expand...

I think I may be! :)
Just for reference, I believe a hatchling can get out of a gap 1/8 of an inch. Don't underestimate their powers of escape!
 
They vary. Some love the extra space, some get very stressed and won't eat.

If you can be totally sure the habitat you're building is secure (I'd recommend you use those slide binders for sure), give it a go and see if your hatchling is happy in there. If it doesn't settle, be prepared to put it into a smaller box (a faunarium or geoflat would be ideal). You can use the same heating, just put the small box in the large habitat.
 
janew said:
They vary. Some love the extra space, some get very stressed and won't eat. [snip] be prepared to put it into a smaller box (a faunarium or geoflat would be ideal). You can use the same heating, just put the small box in the large habitat.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice all, thanks. Lots of Brits on this forum I see. Interestingly enough, I think I will have more problems regulating heat in South Africa than you do in England, even though we have the warmer climate. To do with the fact that our houses are not really built for cold, and so at night it can get pretty chilly inside...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top