>>I've got a Leucistic Texas Rat Snake, betweeen 18mo and 2 years old, about 24" long. She's currently in a 15G (24x12x12). I've got a 55G (48x12x24) that I'd like to use and have a few questions.
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>>She seems pretty comfortable in the 15G, A couple of hides, a couple of branches. She's out and exploring a lot and watching all the time. The enclosure is in the family room and she definitely pays attention to who is in the room and what they are doing. She's very easy to handle, never bitten, no striking or hissing only the occassional tail rattle when you first go to pick her up. (I'm not going to get into the TX Rats being mean meme, at least this one is no more agressive than our CA King or Sinaloan).
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>>So, my questions:
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>>How big does she need to be to feel comfortable in the 55G? I've been told that moving her to an enclosure that's "too big" will make her feel exposed and insecure. Any truth to this? Or, if there are plenty of hides and not a lot of "open space" could I move her to the larger enclosure now?


Some will feel comfortable in a larger container at a smaller size then others....24 inches is kind of small for an 18 month to 2 year old leucy...
I think as long as she is used to the traffic like you said and you provide her with hides she should adapt to the larger tank without problems...whenever you are ready to switch her...when you do, leave her alone for a week or so just to allow her to acclimate.
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>>Second, the 15G has only an undertank heat pad. Should I do both an undertank heat pad and some form of overhead light/emitter for the 55G?


I doubt you will need an over-head heat emitter and a UTH
I would go with the UTH and just had maybe a low wattage overhead light or flourescent light for viewing.


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>>I'm assuming that a pad of 7x11 11x11 or so -- so that about 1/4 of the enclosure would be directly heated -- would be about the right size for the 55G?

The 11 x 11 would just about cover 1/4 of the bottom which should do well.


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>>If I do both an undertank heat pad and an overhead light/emitter, should I put them both on the same end? That way there is a hot end and a cool end and let her regulate by moving from end to end.
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>>For the heating, I'll be getting whatever I need so advice is welcome.


The same end would be better so there is a temp gradiant but you don't want to go too hot...If you do choose to use a heat emitter make sure to get a good temp gun keep a close eye on the temps...don't want roasted leucy.
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>>I've got a fairly large branch that goes from the bottom of one end to the top of the other end. I'm assuming that it would make the most sense to setup the tank so that the bottom of the branch is at the cool end and the top of the branch is at the warm end (above the heat pad and below the light/emitter). Same theory, she can control how close she can get to the light/emitter and thermoregulate.

That would work well


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>>Anything else I should be thinking about?

What size are you feeding her?
If she is as old as you said you MAY be able to up her feeder size a little..if she's on fuzzies move up to hoppers if she's on hoppers maybe try two. just seems a little small for that age.
heck they're probably close to 12 inches when they are born. I know my bairdis are anyway.
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>>Thanks in advance for any answers, advice or thoughts.
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hope this will help
I've never kept Texas rats so I am just going by typical rat snake care.
maybe someone more experienced with texas (leucys) rats will chime in if they feel I've missled you.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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