Which size would be best?

[Enora]

Out of curiosity, and since I haven't purchased the wood yet, would a 3 foot, 3 and a half foot, or 4 foot vivarium be better for a corn snake when it grows up? And what about height? 15 inches or 18 inches inside height? I am having the hardest time deciding which size to do.
No matter which of the above sizes I do, they are going to be 2 foot deep.
Probably going to line them with linoleum, cause I can get some really pretty ones nearby. Using aqueon aquarium silicone. That combo worked beautifully for the one I've made so far.

[Jim Smith]

Most folks will tell you that a bit larger is always better for the snake, especially when it is an adult. If you have the room, then I'd go for the 48x24x15 inches. You could go to the 18 inches tall, but if you do the 15, you may be able to make yet another one and stack them. Just a thought...

[Doug 351]

I'm sorry, I can't help myself......

Size doesn't matter!!!

Seriously, the only disadvantage to a large viv, is excessive expense to change bedding or regulate temperature.

Otherwise, bigger is better.

[toddnbecka]

One reason I went with 4'x2'x15" is so I could stack two of them on top of a 4'x2'x2' plywood viv. I built simple frame bases out of pvc pipe and fittings to raise the stacks off the floor, and still have enough space on top for a couple sterilite tubs for smaller snakes. Really, a few inches height doesn't make much difference, horizontal space is more useful. I have shelves and/or branches in my larger vivs, but unless you're keeping arboreal animals shorter heights are easier to heat/maintain temp.

[jjhill001]

Originally Posted by Enora

Out of curiosity, and since I haven't purchased the wood yet, would a 3 foot, 3 and a half foot, or 4 foot vivarium be better for a corn snake when it grows up? And what about height? 15 inches or 18 inches inside height? I am having the hardest time deciding which size to do.
No matter which of the above sizes I do, they are going to be 2 foot deep.
Probably going to line them with linoleum, cause I can get some really pretty ones nearby. Using aqueon aquarium silicone. That combo worked beautifully for the one I've made so far.

Depends on how much you're planning on decorating it. If your just gonna have aspen bedding with one warm hide, one cool side and a water bowl I wouldn't bother going above 12 inches high to be honest

I'm using a glass terrarium 36inx18inx18in for my build for my baird's female. I've got a photo of the foam background I built a few threads down or so. I wanted to give more "usable space" to my snake.

I wanted my snake to be able to use as much of the terrarium as possible while still offering decent floor space. I think I was able to do this with my design.

It seems like kind of a waste when I see folks with a huge enclosure but then outside of a few things on the ground 80-90% of the volume of the tank is air.

By having shelves and such things to climb upon I was able to, by my measurements take the 36x18 which is a 4.5 sq ft usable footprint and expand it to 6.44 sq ft of total usable area and that doesn't include the straight vertical portions that are also usable by my snake.

Any climbable/usable decor increases the total usable space, branches, rocks, bark etc.

I think that 36 inches x 18 inches floor space should be considered the new minimum for North American rat snakes species. It used to be that the minimum for basically any mammal eating North American colubrid outside of the big bull snakes was a 20 gallon which I believe to be 30x12x12. 30x12 is 2.5 sq ft, it doesn't seem like much, but 6 extra inches long and 6 more inches wide almost doubles the floor space.

If I were to do it again I would have built my own cage to have more control over the parameters and specifications. I think that given my ambition with my project (it was my first time trying something involving backgrounds and I just went full on ham with it) I would have wanted the cage to be 20 inches wide so I could have done more 3D things without it looking cluttered and also 20 inches high so I could have a little bit more space between the highest part of the decor and the top of the enclosure.

I saw your idea on lining it with linoleum, for the benefit of your enclosure I would seal the whole inside with Pond Armor. The DIY Fishkeeper guy on youtube used it to build a 400 and something gallon aquarium out of wood for a big fish and the Kamp Kennan guy used it to line a cement pond for his outdoor water monitor lizard. The stuff is expensive but if it can be used to build a fully aquatic aquarium and something for an animal with claws I would definitely believe in its ability to the improve the durability of your enclosure (largest flaw with wooden enclosures are their tendency to rot) and also it looks pretty easy to wipe off.

Sorry I got a little wordy there lol good luck with your build.

[Enora]

thank you for the information jjhill001. I will definately look into pond armor. I'm trying not to let myself rush to much so it gets done right