Snakes for 100x40 Tank

[Lilly_97]

Hello,
I'm thing about getting amy first Snake sometime, but i'm not quite sure wich ones are suitable for me?
I was thinking about getting a 100x40x40 cm (i could go up to 60 n height) (LxDXH) enclosure.
Wich Snakes would you recommend for a beginner, that would be suitable?
I'd be quite happy if you could share some of your experience with me :)

[craigafrechette]

My advice: find a species you like, and find a suitable enclosure. I wouldn't choose a species to fit an enclosure. Snakes live 20+ years in captivity, so your choice of species is far more important than choosing the enclosure first.

[Roman]

Hello Lilly,

as Craig already said you would usually choose a snake and get a fitting terrarium for it. If you have only space for a 100 x 40 x 40 (60) enclosure there are still several possible options available. To be honest too many possible snakes to discuss them all.

There is also an official guideline for minimum terrarium sizes which you have to consider. You can find it here --> http://www.bmel.de/cae/servlet/contentblob/383050/publicationFile/22241/HaltungReptilien.pdf, for most terrestrial colubrids it’s 1 x 0,5 x 0,5 of total body size, so if your adult snake is 100 cm long your terrarium should be 100 x 50 x 50 cm. This is “just” a guideline and in general nobody will ever take a closer look into the matter, but if you get yourself in some trouble and an official veterinarian visits your home he will use this guideline to evaluate the proper terrarium size for your snake, so you should not be too far off.

There are several “beginner” snakes, I will add the German name as well
Ball python (Python regius, Koenigspython), in my opinion this enclosure is too small for an adult, but might be OK for one or two years.
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus, Kornnatter), if you go for the 60 cm height it might be OK, but I would still prefer something with more length as well, but for a subadult it would be OK
Russian rat snake (Elaphe schrenckii, Amurnatter), same as cornsnake

Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus, Hakennasennatter)

There are several species of garter snakes (Thamnophis, Strumpfbandnattern) which stay smaller or at least close to 100 cm in total length.

Several (sub-) species of milksnakes stay small as well Arizona mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana Bergkoenigsnatter), California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata Bergkoenigsnatter), Pueblan milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli, Puebla-Dreiecksnatter)

African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus, Afrikanische Hausschlange)

There are many more, but it’s a start…

[kudzu]

My experience with snake species is limited so I cannot give a list of possible snakes for you. Will say with confidence that a cornsnake would be a good choice for a beginner and a smaller specimen would fit in the space you mentioned.

Roman mentioned a Russian rat snake. Mine is wonderful and I would recommend one for a beginner. In fact, I think Russians are better for beginners than cornsnakes except for one thing. These are very active snakes and need more room than a cornsnake. Also, Russians love to climb so they are best in an enclosure that is as tall as it is wide. A 100x40x60 would be too small for an adult. My Russian is still young and is already outgrowing his current 60x60x60 cage. His adult cage with be at least 100x75x100, but larger would be better. Many people are not ready or able to supply a cage that size. If you would be able to supply a larger cage as your snake grows, then a Russian may be a good choice, but only a young Russian would fit in a 100x40x40.

[craigafrechette]

Hello Lilly,

as Craig already said you would usually choose a snake and get a fitting terrarium for it. If you have only space for a 100 x 40 x 40 (60) enclosure there are still several possible options available. To be honest too many possible snakes to discuss them all.

There is also an official guideline for minimum terrarium sizes which you have to consider. You can find it here --> http://www.bmel.de/cae/servlet/contentblob/383050/publicationFile/22241/HaltungReptilien.pdf, for most terrestrial colubrids it’s 1 x 0,5 x 0,5 of total body size, so if your adult snake is 100 cm long your terrarium should be 100 x 50 x 50 cm. This is “just” a guideline and in general nobody will ever take a closer look into the matter, but if you get yourself in some trouble and an official veterinarian visits your home he will use this guideline to evaluate the proper terrarium size for your snake, so you should not be too far off.

There are several “beginner” snakes, I will add the German name as well
Ball python (Python regius, Koenigspython), in my opinion this enclosure is too small for an adult, but might be OK for one or two years.
Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus, Kornnatter), if you go for the 60 cm height it might be OK, but I would still prefer something with more length as well, but for a subadult it would be OK
Russian rat snake (Elaphe schrenckii, Amurnatter), same as cornsnake

Western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus, Hakennasennatter)

There are several species of garter snakes (Thamnophis, Strumpfbandnattern) which stay smaller or at least close to 100 cm in total length.

Several (sub-) species of milksnakes stay small as well Arizona mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana Bergkoenigsnatter), California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata Bergkoenigsnatter), Pueblan milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli, Puebla-Dreiecksnatter)

African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus, Afrikanische Hausschlange)

There are many more, but it’s a start…

Great reply, top to bottom

[kazz]

bunch of garter snakes ))
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4038/4659452478_79c73c865d_o.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSgumbGsJNmz-OV00KyBItv8H6f7O_Bcn--Bc9HQZrbw10oTUIa

[condescomputers]

What about a KSB?

[kudzu]

[Sorry; error]