Is an ExoTerra Viv big enough for a Corn?

[kttownsend22]

I've just aquired an almost-new ExoTerra Vivarium from my cousin for 25 dollars... You know, the ones that are glass and open up from the front. I believe it measures 24x18x24". Would this be a suitable size for a corn snake from a baby up through adulthood or should I just buy a slightly less attractive 20 long? I love how the ExoTerra looks, but I wanna look out for the snake too. Thanks in advance!

 

[Nanci]

The ExoTerra has 432 square inches of floor space, the 20L 360. Plus you have 24" of climbing room instead of 12- go for it!

 

[miss_d_meanor]

exoterra

hi i have my corn in an exo tera terrarim, hers measures 24x45x24. she is about 8 months old i believe , and 19 inches long, she loves her terrarium but i would like to know the answer to this too,
they are great to look at and literally draft free and very secure tho i will add please watch the back ground ours was very secure but aalayia still managed to dig a hole in the side of it and squeeze herself behind it!
i have a sneaky feeling i am goingto be told i will have to buy bigger once she is a bit older
hopefully if this is the case exo-terra will have brought one out suitable for corns

i will watch this thread with interest

 

[kttownsend22]

Thanks Nanci!!!

 

[edd.roadrunner]

if you know the size in inches then use this http://www.pcpages.com/fish/us.html
a rough guide is 35 gallons is plenty for an adult.

 

[Plissken]

The last 24" is the height, right? I don't believe a 24x18" floor space is enough. I'd up the length to at least a 30"; preferably a 36".

I just don't feel the snake could stretch out enough, especially once all your hides and so on are in there as well. I personally feel a 20gallon is a bit small for an adult corn anyway.

I guess the exoterra could be okay, but I feel that bigger is better for an animal's lifelong home.

 

[Snake Dave]

I agree with Plissken. My adult Royal has a 55 gallon and so will my Corn when he reaches adulthood.

It will be fine for about a year and a half or maybe a little longer, but after that I don't think it would be very kind. But hey, that's just my opinion.

 

[tyflier]

A 24" X 18" X 24" Exo-Terra is plenty big enough for an adult corn.

Floor space of the named viv is 432 sq. inches. Floor space of a 20long aquarium is 360 sq. inches. That's PLENTY of room in the Exo-Terra. Even an 18 X 18 X 18 Exo-Terra would be very close at 324 sq. inches of floor space...

[edited to add]As well...the square formation allows MUCH more room for decorations without cramping the space. A 20long is only 30" long by 12" wide which means your snake will need to climb over any floor decorations(like hides). With the more square floor space, the snake will have room for hides, water dishes, AND open floor space to crawl through. The mentioned viv is a GREAT viv with plenty of floor space for an adult corn.

One problem with the Exo-Terra vivs...they are not designed to contain snakes. The "locking" mechanism on the front doors is only a thin piece of plastic, which *may not* withstand the pressure that an adult corn can put against it. You would need to use a secondary device(such as a paper clip or other thin piece of wire), which can be insterted horizontally between the two "handles" on the front. I have put this into practice opn my own Exo-Terra vivs, and it works great.

 

[Plissken]

It's just my own preference, but there is still absolutely no way I would put an adult cornsnake in a 24x18 vivarium. I simply don't believe it is enough space or would provide nearly enough exercise.

I am a strong believer that bigger is better and that we should provide as much space as possible for the animals we cage.

Go with the Exo Terra if you prefer - it's entirely your choice. But if you CAN go bigger, why not?

 

[tyflier]

Plissken wrote:

...I am a strong believer that bigger is better and that we should provide as much space as possible for the animals we cage....

24" X 18" X 24" IS bigger than the standard 20long aquarium, which is perfectly acceptable for an adult cornsnake. It provides more floor space AND more vertical space.

It's not really a matter of opinion as much as it is a matter of math. The total square inches of floor space in the named vivarium is greater than that of a 20long aquarium. Plus, since we all know that corns can and will climb if given the opportunity, there is a full two times the amount of vertical space for branches and other climbing apparatus.

Certainly...a 30, 40, 55...whatever...would provide more room. But not everyone can get those sizes. It is always recommended to get a 20long aquarium as the minimum requirement for an adult cornsnake. 24 X 18 provides more floor space for your corn than the minimum recommended enclosure size. Not to be argumentative but...it isn't opinion...it's math.

 

[Nanci]

Well, that's a bargain price for the Exo-Terra even if you move up later.

 

[Plissken]

Plissken wrote:


24" X 18" X 24" IS bigger than the standard 20long aquarium, which is perfectly acceptable for an adult cornsnake. It provides more floor space AND more vertical space.

It's not really a matter of opinion as much as it is a matter of math. The total square inches of floor space in the named vivarium is greater than that of a 20long aquarium. Plus, since we all know that corns can and will climb if given the opportunity, there is a full two times the amount of vertical space for branches and other climbing apparatus.

Certainly...a 30, 40, 55...whatever...would provide more room. But not everyone can get those sizes. It is always recommended to get a 20long aquarium as the minimum requirement for an adult cornsnake. 24 X 18 provides more floor space for your corn than the minimum recommended enclosure size. Not to be argumentative but...it isn't opinion...it's math.

I tend to do it by eye. I have a couple of 24" vivs over here and, standing here and looking at them, I simply would not feel comfortable putting a 4-5ft snake in there. It is not an exact science but it works for me and tbh I think it boils down to what you are comfortable with. Knowing the floor space of the tank doesn't suddenly make it acceptable to me. Sorry.

It is a matter of opinion as far goes as choosing whether the exoterra is acceptable to you or not. Knowing the floor area still does not make me want to keep a snake in there, even though I have no doubt your info is correct and true. If it would make me uncomfortable to do it then what does it matter the exact floor area? I simply prefer an enclosure even larger than the one stated in this thread, and as long as the animal's needs are being met by both enclosures then the owner simply has to choose.

Not trying to be a pain here, just want the OP to see two different points of view and decide for himself. Why don't you buy the exo-terra and if you decide your snake is outgrowing it later, you can always upgrade (and then you'l have a tank for your second snake) :grin01:

 

[Snake Dave]

Also, I might like to add. In the UK, I can get a 55 gallon wood and glass display viv, brand new, that's both spacious and secure, for the same price as the Exo-Terra. Now I know this guy's getting it cheap, so fair enough. Despite your figures, I don't like the idea of, like Plissken said, a 5ft, or 60 inch snake being stuck in a tank that's less than half of its length in terms of width, depth and height. I know Corns aren't the largest of snakes in terms of bulk, but still, it'd be wrapping itself around the outside of the tank twice over (like two out of four sides, sorry that wasn't very clear), so that to me isn't enough.

Oh, and opinion is relevant. In my opinion, a 20 gallon isn't big enough for an adult Corn, no matter who says it is.

 

[Jace]

I love the Exo-Terra stuff, my Amel is in an 18x18x18 right now until she gets bigger. She is about 2 1/2 feet right now. When she outgrows that one she will be moving to one of the new long Exo-Terra's that have just come out I believe, and my snow will get the 18x18x18.

 

[tyflier]

Plissken and Snake Dave-

I understand both points. Here in the us, a 55gallon wood and glass viv runs around $250 or more. I can get a 24 X 18 Exo-Terra for around $125 and a 20long Critter Cage for around $50. The Exo-Terra looks much nicer, IMO, and if the OP can get it cheaper than stated...good deal. Bear in mind that my stated prices are only about 15% over wholesale, which the average individual cannot get.

The only other thing I want to point out is that snakes very rarely stretch out flat, even if they have the room. They almost always curl up, at least to some extent.

What I meant by "it's not a matter of opinion" is simply in the math. The math is accurate, so there is no opinion about whether or not the Exo-Terra is "big enough" in comparison to the recommended enclosure size. It absolutely IS big enough, even bigger, than what it most commonly recommended as floor space for an adult corn. That's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of math. But you are both correct in stating that the choice is a matter of opinion, certainly. But you need to realize that very few people have the space requirements to provide all of their corns with a 55 gallon vivarium...

The only reason I said anything at all is because I saw several people saying that the Exo-Terra "wasn't big enough", when, in fact, the floor space is bigger than the consensus recommendation...which makes that statement false. I did not want the OP making a decision based on what is clearly inaccurate information. Of course, you are both entitled to your opinion that corns should be housed in larger enclosures. But we can only assume that the OP is going off of what is most commonly recommended...a 20long...which makes his viv choice plenty big enough...mathmatically, and according to accepted husbandry practices.

 

[ZoologyMajor]

I have a 18" x 18" x 24" exo terra

I have my corn in a 18" x 18" x 24" exo terra (aka 33 gallons). I did a lot of research on housing requirements before I even got a corn. Over all, my research concluded they require a min of a 20 gal long or enclosure of equal useable area. Also with specific snakes (corns included) there can be a thing as to much space (depends on overall size). The extra space tends to add stress because in their natural habitat it would mean that there is more potential threat from a preditor. Are you going to feel more at home in your backyard or in the middle of a 500 acre forrest? Anyway... the exo terra should be fine. Just make sure to build verticaly as corns love to climb. Adding plenty of climbs allows for plenty of exercise. It is not all about the floor space you have but is about the useable space you have. My corn tends to spend 80% of its time in a climb.

 

[Plissken]

The only other thing I want to point out is that snakes very rarely stretch out flat, even if they have the room. They almost always curl up, at least to some extent.

I would disagree to a certain extent; I have noticed that my boids, in particular, will stretch out and crawl around their tanks. Connor does it less so, however. I do see your point as we are discussing colubrids here.

I have my corn in a 18" x 18" x 24" exo terra (aka 33 gallons). I did a lot of research on housing requirements before I even got a corn. Over all, my research concluded they require a min of a 20 gal long or enclosure of equal useable area. Also with specific snakes (corns included) there can be a thing as to much space (depends on overall size). The extra space tends to add stress because in their natural habitat it would mean that there is more potential threat from a preditor. Are you going to feel more at home in your backyard or in the middle of a 500 acre forrest? Anyway... the exo terra should be fine. Just make sure to build verticaly as corns love to climb. Adding plenty of climbs allows for plenty of exercise. It is not all about the floor space you have but is about the useable space you have. My corn tends to spend 80% of its time in a climb.

It is a strong belief of mine that there is no such thing as too large a tank as long as you provide enough cover. Your snake should have no reason to feel more threatened by predators crawling up and down a bigger tank, as long as he is nicely hidden while he is doing so!

I'm just speaking from a personal POV here, as already explained I do keep my snakes in quite large tanks, babies included, and have not encountered any problems that would make me consider downsizing their enclosures. Honestly, I think it's a myth that the enclosure can be too large. :shrugs:

 

[kttownsend22]

I do agree that bigger is better of course, but I was just figuring that at $25 the ExoTerra was a steal so I bought it. I see though that the square area IS bigger than the accepted minimum, so I've decided to use it for my corn. If I can afford to upgrade at a later date, I may do that; but from what I see on this post it should be perfectly fine until then. Thanks everyone for your posts!

 

[diamondlil]

And will you post pics of the set up once your corn is in it? I love seeing how everyone sets up their snakes!

 

[kttownsend22]

yeah, my birthday is this weekend and I'm getting a digital camera, so I'll put up pics shortly after that