Size of tank??

[nhaislip]

Ok I have a recently acquired corn snake and she is 13 inches long. I have her in a 5 1/2 gallon aquarium right now because I really didn't think she should be put in a 10 gallon aquarium right now. She has a good bit of room to move around in on the ground floor, as well as over half of the aquarium has hides for her. I also have two hanging vines that she readily climbs and I get her out almost every day for 20 minutes or so for exercise. Is this 5 1/2 gallon tank big enough? When should I move her to the 10 gallon? Thanks all

 

[jaric]

A full grown corn will need at minumum a 20 gallon long tank. I use a 40 gallon breeder for mine.

I don't think its possible to have "too big" a tank but it is possible to have one that is too small. Instead of setting up the 10 gallon, you really ought to just get a 20 gallon long and set that up.

Just make sure you have plenty of hides and things will be fine in the big tank.

 

[Susan]

The 5 1/2 gallon tank you are using will do just fine for your snake for awhile. Too much room (and open space) can stress a hatchling out. Once your snake looks a bit cramped in the smaller tank (and that may not be for another year depending upon the growth rate), then you can move up to a 20 gallon long for the rest of it's life. A 10 gallon will also be outgrown, but an older and bigger snake won't feel as stressed out in the much larger tank.

 

[RyanR]

personaly i would go from the 5 1/2 gallon right to the 20 gallon,

theres no sence having that inbetween stage, since that 5 1/2 gallon COULD last up to a year, why not put it in its permenant housing after that? it will be well established by that time,

 

[slim08]

I see no reason not to go right to the big one, if you have the space and cash. I have my hatchling in a 35in x 18in x 18in viv and he's fine. I have loads of hides in there and he eats and sheds regularly with no issues. There is really no evidence that he is stressed out by it. I can tell by the way he moves the substrate that he's exploring the entire tank at night, as well.

Just my two cents.

 

[BeckyG]

I'd go straight into the adult size tank, as well. I started three of my hatchlings directly into their 40 gallon permanent homes, and none of them are stressed or bad eaters. I started another one in a 10 gallon, then moved her up. We had to go through another entire acclimatization period--for that particular snake it was about 2 months long.

 

[CoralSnowCorn]

I had my first hachling in a 55 or 60 gallon tank and she liked it. She ate with no problems, shed good, and was all over the tank. Then Igot a 20 long and put her in it on account of space and my parents wanted there fish tank back for fish. Still not problems, she has never missed a feeding.

 

[nhaislip]

Thanks all

 

[jaric]

The 5 1/2 gallon tank you are using will do just fine for your snake for awhile. Too much room (and open space) can stress a hatchling out. Once your snake looks a bit cramped in the smaller tank (and that may not be for another year depending upon the growth rate), then you can move up to a 20 gallon long for the rest of it's life. A 10 gallon will also be outgrown, but an older and bigger snake won't feel as stressed out in the much larger tank.

This is something I have heard by a few people, but from what I have read, as long as there are alot of hiding spaces the extra room shouldn't have any adverse effects on the hatchling.