Planning for the future

[nazanova]

So I've been thinking and I think I need to start planning my Corn Snake Plutos adult enclosure. I'm very uneducated when it comes to the required dimensions for an adult Corns enclosure so I thought I would ask you guys. He's only 2 months old and already a foot, his mum and dad are both 6ft so I'm expecting he will grow to be the same seen as he is quite large already. I think I'm going to go for RUB tanks as they're cheap, easy to clean/maintain and I heard you don't really need those expensive wooden vivariums because really they are just for display and to look pretty. I've included some pictures of the different measurements of tanks they sell here in the UK just incase it'd be easier for you guys to just tell me which one I should go for.

[franks]

The consensus rule of thumb for minimum cage requirements it 1 square foot of floor space for 1 linear foot of snake length. So a 6 foot corn snake according to this would need a 3'x2' enclosure or something akin. My personal belief is get the biggest enclosure you can afford space for and heat.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by franks

The consensus rule of thumb for minimum cage requirements it 1 square foot of floor space for 1 linear foot of snake length. So a 6 foot corn snake according to this would need a 3'x2' enclosure or something akin. My personal belief is get the biggest enclosure you can afford space for and heat.

Finally someone got back to me lol. Thanks for the advice I'll keep it noted for when I do get his final enclosure, I will try to buy the biggest one I can afford but I just like to have a good idea of what the bare minimum should be. Also I plan on getting a baby ball python and I would like to buy it one enclosure where it will live for the rest of it's life (obviously as a baby I'd make sure there's lots of cover so it doesn't get stressed) so would those measurements kind of apply for a BP also? Thanks again .

[Mikoh4792]

For both snakes I'd go with 3x2 as the minimum. But I think minimums should only apply to people who breed lots of snakes. The average keeper and hobbyist should go as big as they can, especially if only two snakes are being cared for. Ideally I'd give each snake a 4x2x2.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

For both snakes I'd go with 3x2 as the minimum. But I think minimums should only apply to people who breed lots of snakes. The average keeper and hobbyist should go as big as they can, especially if only two snakes are being cared for. Ideally I'd give each snake a 4x2x2.

Ok so do you think I should forget about the RUB tanks then? Thanks.

[Lankyrob]

Can we see pics of the six foot corns?

[IW17]

No doubt. A six foot corn is huge! That being said go as big as you can. Although two feet of height for a ball python might be much. There not huge climbers. Mine are in 4x2x1 and definitely use the floor space.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by IW17

No doubt. A six foot corn is huge! That being said go as big as you can. Although two feet of height for a ball python might be much. There not huge climbers. Mine are in 4x2x1 and definitely use the floor space.

It's really not that much if you look at 2 feet of height compared to the wild. That's how tall rocks, logs, small hills...etc are and not really something I would consider "Arboreal".

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by nazanova

Ok so do you think I should forget about the RUB tanks then? Thanks.

No, rubs are fine. It doesn't matter what you use. What matters is the size of what you use. A 3 foot rub is better than a 2 foot enclosure.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Can we see pics of the six foot corns?

They were the breeders snakes. But when I went to get my lil buddy I did see them and hold the mum and they were indeed quite long lol.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by IW17

No doubt. A six foot corn is huge! That being said go as big as you can. Although two feet of height for a ball python might be much. There not huge climbers. Mine are in 4x2x1 and definitely use the floor space.

Haha indeed! That's what I'm planning for just in case. Yeah I'm mainly looking for length more then height but obviously I'd have enough height for my current corn and my future snakes to stretch up if they want to.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

No, rubs are fine. It doesn't matter what you use. What matters is the size of what you use. A 3 foot rub is better than a 2 foot enclosure.

Ok thanks for the help I'll definitely look for any kind of enclosure that has the measurements you've suggested

[Roman]

If you would life here in Germany, the answer for the minimum size would be 1 x 0.5 x 1 of the total length of an adult animal, so for a 6 ft cornsnake the dimensions should be 6 ft x 3 ft x 6 ft according to the official guidelines which were issued 1997 by the government in accordance with some animal rights groups and some reptile experts (among others).

Granted, the supposed dimensions are generous to say the least, On the other hand, in my experience an active snake like your cornsnake will be more active if it gets more room, in a small enclosure it will most probably only stay at the same place (where should it go to anyway), but in a larger enclosure it will move around, climb the branches up and down…

So in my opinion something like 5 x 2 x 4 would do fine (add another feed in depth if you can, your snake might feel more secure if it can stay away from you).

You have only one snake right now, a second when you get your ball python. Why do you want to keep them on minimum conditions? Why hide them? Go for a display enclosure, place it in your living room. Create something you really enjoy to watch – every time you see it it should make you smile. Not something barley adequate to just house your snake but something interesting to look at. Create a piece of a north American woodland or maybe a small section of a barn where your snake is a part of the whole picture. Be creative. If you do it right (and you have more than enough time to do it right and to save enough money to be able to do it) you don’t need your TV any longer and you have to use a big stick to get visitors back to your dinner table instead of watching your enclosure all the time.

Roman

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Roman

If you would life here in Germany, the answer for the minimum size would be 1 x 0.5 x 1 of the total length of an adult animal, so for a 6 ft cornsnake the dimensions should be 6 ft x 3 ft x 6 ft according to the official guidelines which were issued 1997 by the government in accordance with some animal rights groups and some reptile experts (among others).

Granted, the supposed dimensions are generous to say the least, On the other hand, in my experience an active snake like your cornsnake will be more active if it gets more room, in a small enclosure it will most probably only stay at the same place (where should it go to anyway), but in a larger enclosure it will move around, climb the branches up and down…

So in my opinion something like 5 x 2 x 4 would do fine (add another feed in depth if you can, your snake might feel more secure if it can stay away from you).

You have only one snake right now, a second when you get your ball python. Why do you want to keep them on minimum conditions? Why hide them? Go for a display enclosure, place it in your living room. Create something you really enjoy to watch – every time you see it it should make you smile. Not something barley adequate to just house your snake but something interesting to look at. Create a piece of a north American woodland or maybe a small section of a barn where your snake is a part of the whole picture. Be creative. If you do it right (and you have more than enough time to do it right and to save enough money to be able to do it) you don’t need your TV any longer and you have to use a big stick to get visitors back to your dinner table instead of watching your enclosure all the time.

Roman

Wow lots of advice there lol! Very true what you said. I only plan on having 4 snakes so if that's the case maybe a nice display vivarium would be nice? Thanks for the in depth info definitely making me think

[nazanova]

I've just looked into the big vivariums and they're not as expensive as I thought, think I've just swapped all my ideas and planning around lol.