Width vs. length in snake enclosures

[Ryodraco]

I'm considering having a custom cage built to one day house a bullsnake. Now I know the minimum recommended size for a typical colubrid snake enclosure is for half the perimeter to equal the length of the snake, but one thing I haven't been able to find info on is where is it better to place that length?

That is for a active, mostly-terrestrial snake like a bullsnake would it be better to keep the cage as long as possible even if it meant sacrificing width (or depth, or whichever term is proper) for it? Or should I just invest in the largest enclosure I can?

Sizes in inches that I have been considering include:

60 long x 18 high x 24 wide (ideal for being the biggest I can fit but much more expensive than the other sizes)

48x18x24 (about the minimum for a six foot snake)

52x18x20 (moving the inches around for greater length vs. width)

[KORBIN5895]

There are a few things you need to keep in mind.

A six foot bull snake will fit into that 4'x18"x2' enclosure easier than a six foot boa. Also keep in mind that all building materials are usually sold in 12" increments and if you go with a 52" long enclosure that you will have a lot of waste and it will cost you more.

[Ryodraco]

I see, that is good to know. Question now is how worthwhile the extra room in the 60 inch enclosure would be.

Also was my thread moved? I don't believe I posted it here as I was posting no pictures. I thought I put it in the general enclosure area.:hmm: Perhaps I made a mistake, and if so I request the thread be moved to the appropriate forum.

[KORBIN5895]

Personally for such a small bodies snake I wouldn't worry about width as much.

[Ryodraco]

Personally for such a small bodies snake I wouldn't worry about width as much.
So you think the 48x18x24 would provide enough space, even if the snake eventually grew to 7 feet? They've been known to get up to 8 feet but of course that is unlikely. I'm just worried about going with the minimum rather than the max that I can fit as from what I've read bullsnakes appreciate space.

[smy_749]

Have you ever seen a 7 foot slender bodied snake curled up? You would be suprised how much space they DONT take up. Even a 7 foot retic is not as big as it sounds. If you can go bigger, by all means go for it.

[Ryodraco]

Have you ever seen a 7 foot slender bodied snake curled up? You would be suprised how much space they DONT take up. Even a 7 foot retic is not as big as it sounds. If you can go bigger, by all means go for it.
Yes it is amazing how much smaller they appear curled up, I just don't want to make the mistake of getting too small a enclosure.

[Sherman]

You can keep an adult bullsnake in a 4x2 easy and still have space...

[StudentoReptile]

I say make it as large as you desire, have space for, and can afford. You have more room to decorate and as long as there are plenty of snug, shelter areas for the snake to hide, he'll be fine. This is a large, relatively-active colubrid that hunts, not a motionless blob like a ball python that is an ambush predator.