Maybe viv's can be TOO roomy...

[Gralena]

Interesting thing I have come to realize...sometimes a bigger viv isn't better. I have had my 07 ghost Cleo in a 20L ever since we got her. She is 24g and about 15inches long. She does come out once in awhile, moreso in the evenings. I had a lot of hides and greenery filling up the space for her. However, this past week I changed her to a 5 gallon (I was thinking just temporarily) because I needed the 20L for a 290g snake coming later this week....and lo and behold Cleo has been out and about all week long. She cruises around everything and is always just hanging out in the open (it also has greenery and her fav hide but she has just ignored them). I'm thinking she must feel safer in the smaller space. Kinda cool actually to see her cute little face more often...

 

[Drizzt80]

That's a good hypothesis . . . here's a couple more . . .

2. She's exploring a new place. Laying down her scent trail and exploring everything that's new. Let's see if her behavior continues, or if she eventually goes back to staying in seclusion.

3. 5 gallon tank may not be large enough to provide an adequate temperature gradient and she's cruising looking for a more comfortable position.

:shrugs: I'm not disagreeing, just posing a couple additional possibilities.

D80

 

[daneale777]

This is really interesting. I'm in the process of building a new sort-of rack system myself, with different sized enclosures in it. I'd be interested to see if your baby continues with this behavior or not. Can you please keep us updated? This is starting to make me think that maybe my little snow, Zen, who is about the same size, might be more comfortable in a smaller enclosure. Food for thought. That's for sure. Thank you.

 

[montanatburg]

Hi,
been that she is still a baby, the 20g tank was to big, and she prob. thought there might be something out there to get her. they like to be in inclosed tight spaces.

 

[Drizzt80]

Folks, we are forgetting that these animals are born and live in the outdoors . . . seriously. They have not been captive raised long enough to erase natural instinct. Their hide creates the natural enclosed space they need to feel secure. The rest of the cage doesn't matter whether it's a 20L or a 40 Breeder. Think about it for 2 seconds.

D80

 

[KJUN]

Interesting thing I have come to realize...sometimes a bigger viv isn't better. I have had my 07 ghost Cleo in a 20L ever since we got her. She is 24g and about 15inches long. She does come out once in awhile, moreso in the evenings. I had a lot of hides and greenery filling up the space for her. However, this past week I changed her to a 5 gallon (I was thinking just temporarily) because I needed the 20L for a 290g snake coming later this week....and lo and behold Cleo has been out and about all week long. She cruises around everything and is always just hanging out in the open (it also has greenery and her fav hide but she has just ignored them). I'm thinking she must feel safer in the smaller space. Kinda cool actually to see her cute little face more often...

Actually, no. The older space was known territory. It had her scent, etc. The new place is unknown territory. it is like she was relocated, she is stressed, and she is looking trying to FIND the "known" place.

Think about wild snakes. They know where hide spots are. They know where hunting spots are. Move them to a new area. They have to TRY and get back "home," and explore the new area looking for new territory. They have to TRY and find new hide spots and hunting spots. Chances are, they are going to get eaten by predators at this time because they ARE moving so much. Not good, but NO PROBLEM in captivity.

So, don't worry about it. She'll settle down again once she knows this is her territory. OR, the temps are wrong and she is LOOKING for a better place to live. Check your temps like a fanatic for a while. Really. If they ARE wrong - andf she is havuing trouble thermoregulating in the smaller cage, you may be heading for trouble. Sooo, no worries or worries? Watch the snake, check the temps, and decide.......

KJ

 

[Gralena]

I'm not worried, I just thought it was interesting. Her temps are still controlled by a thermostat and I am keeping an eye on it, everything seems fine. She still has the correct temps on each side.
In fact, another hatchling of mine (that ultimately passed from regurge problems) always seemed to have trouble in his 20L tank...always seemed to be on the wrong side at the wrong time....Kathy Love had hatched him and she suggested placing him in a smaller viv because she felt that a smaller snake is more secure in it.
I actually was only planning to use this 5g temporarily, but I think the size suits her better for now. She will eventually have to be moved to something larger.

 

[AlbinoRedBoy]

I mean this can be debated ive had 2 balls and 1 corn (currently have corn), And my balls didnt like the big tanks but the corn seems to enjoy and be out and about mos of the time...... i tried putting her in a smaller tank and she hid..... so it depends on the snake in my opinion

 

[daneale777]

I mean this can be debated ive had 2 balls and 1 corn (currently have corn), And my balls didnt like the big tanks but the corn seems to enjoy and be out and about mos of the time...... i tried putting her in a smaller tank and she hid..... so it depends on the snake in my opinion

That makes a lot of sense. I'm just thinking that since I'm building a new enclosure system with several different sized enclosures, that maybe I'll try my '07 snow, Zen, in a smaller one for a while. I have three '07s and for some reason, she is the slowest growing, by far. She's also my favorite. I just think that, after reading this, maybe, just maybe there is the possibility there that she isn't feeling quite right in such a large enclosure. She would eventually be moved to this new "system" anyway, but I think I'll start with an area that is a bit smaller and see what happens. I do have five different corns with five completely different personalities; that's for sure.

 

[Drizzt80]

:headbang:

The lack of common sense, intuition and logic seriously baffles me some days. Politicians and corporate America wonders why the pool of skilled problem solvers is shrinking so dramatically. Must be the public school's fault! :rofl:

Whatever. :shrugs:
D80

 

[Gralena]

:headbang:

The lack of common sense, intuition and logic seriously baffles me some days. Politicians and corporate America wonders why the pool of skilled problem solvers is shrinking so dramatically. Must be the public school's fault! :rofl:

Whatever. :shrugs:
D80

I went to private school. I'm not sure why you are wasting your valuable time posting your opinions on my thread anyway. I wasn't asking for help, merely stating something I found interesting with one of my corn snakes. I'll take the advice of Kathy Love any day. I hope she didn't go to public school though...

 

[Drizzt80]

I'm not sure why you are wasting your valuable time posting your opinions on my thread anyway.

Good point, but I'm sorry, did I offend you by publicly responding to your public posting of your thoughts?? Guess I could go a different direction with this, but I won't other than saying close the thread once you create it if you don't want any comments or reaction. Quite simple really.

I have minor issues with people who unnecessarily anthropomorphise animals. I think it's ridiculous to transfer your own human traits/ideas/beliefs/thoughts/feelings to an animal whose main mode of existence is through instinct. It's the same thought process that runs the peta (and hsus) freaks who think every animals wants to be saved. Ask the Sea Lions in Washington how that went! Hah!

Anyway, go ahead and be content thinking that your snake feels more comfortable in its 5 gallon tank since it's moving around more which goes against the very instinctual nature of the snake . . . which is what I was trying to teach anyone that'd listen. Some get it some don't, I realize that too. It seems that more don't.

D80

 

[Gralena]

:headbang:

The lack of common sense, intuition and logic seriously baffles me some days. Politicians and corporate America wonders why the pool of skilled problem solvers is shrinking so dramatically. Must be the public school's fault! :rofl:

Whatever. :shrugs:
D80

I am not offended by your remarks. I am very open to constructive comments and suggestions on any threads I take part in. I enjoy learning about corn snakes and respect a lot of the senior member's advice. I think blatant, petty remarks like the above say a lot about a person.

Good luck with your corn snake business. I hope you continue to have great success!

 

[Drizzt80]

I think blatant, petty remarks like the above say a lot about a person.

What part was blatantly petty? This part: "lack of common sense, intuition and logic seriously baffles me" or this part: "Must be the public school's fault!" ??

Because the first part is pretty much true (though I suppose it could be labeled opinion) and is exactly what I was addressing with my factual statements . . . but my opinion is based on the fact that I am a public school teacher which makes the second part a rhetorical question condemning how everyone blames "me" already for the world's problems. Sorry you weren't able to read the subtle nuance of my above statement that you were apparently offended by.

D80

 

[Audi Calypso]

What part was blatantly petty? This part: "lack of common sense, intuition and logic seriously baffles me" or this part: "Must be the public school's fault!" ??

Because the first part is pretty much true (though I suppose it could be labeled opinion) and is exactly what I was addressing with my factual statements . . . but my opinion is based on the fact that I am a public school teacher which makes the second part a rhetorical question condemning how everyone blames "me" already for the world's problems. Sorry you weren't able to read the subtle nuance of my above statement that you were apparently offended by.

D80

Off topic, but congrats on being a public school teacher. I am a highschooler in a public school and the stuff you guys have to put up with sometimes...

 

[v_various]

I am a public school teacher

Not everyone knows this, so I can see how she read into your comments the way she did. BTW, I have no idea how you do it. When I do educational events, the school fairs are always the hardest.

Also, I agree with your ideas about the 5 gallon thing.

 

[Jessicat]

I'm not sure why you are wasting your valuable time posting your opinions on my thread anyway.

What did you expect posting something on an open public forum? We're not the type of people to just smile and nod. Trent is an actual senior member. He kinda knows what he's talking about, ya know? Of course Kathy Love does as well, but their opinions are both very valuable considering the amount of experience they both have with keeping, raising, and breeding cornsnakes.

Just because you didn't see your snake cruzing around in it's 20 gal doesn't mean it didn't. Snakes are very private, especially when they are young. I didn't see my first snake actively out and about during daytime hours for at least a year into his life. Young snakes feel more comfortable hidden from you most of the time. Seeing them more may not necessarily be what's best for them.

There's no such thing as a "wrong side" of the tank if you're supplying a proper heat gradient. The snake innately knows where to be in a tank that provides the proper range of heats much better than where a person may think it "aught" to be.

More space is always better!!!!

 

[Jessicat]

**correction to above*
Brent

Whoops, sorry Brent, been listening to NIN a lot lately. Time to get that nice shiny medallion again.. :sidestep:

 

[Drizzt80]

**correction to above*
Brent

Whoops, sorry Brent, been listening to NIN a lot lately. Time to get that nice shiny medallion again.. :sidestep:

I've been called much worse! :eek1: Thanks for the kindly support of my experienced observations.

D80

 

[Murse]

I completely agree with what drizzt said, just not so much the way he said it. Snakes are not humans or dogs, moving around does not equal happiness. And ya, thanks for being a teacher, the good ones are worth their weight in gold (which is worth a lot these days).