Before I read part three, I will respond. Putting them in small cages, means you the keeper must know something. It must be right. And you know what is right as you have done it forever and its second nature. do it like this and done.

What you said about time(how fast they outgrow a cage) also goes for neonates in larger cages, they still growth extremely fast. Those pics are three month old snakes. By a year, they will be 3 1/2 to four feet. Plenty good or Cal kings.
last year, we raised a pair the L.thayeri, from 9 inches hatchlings, the female reached 37 inches, which is large for thayeri, in one year. Got her at a herp show, was 37 inches by the same show the following year. The male 33 inches, which is great for a male.
With larger cages, you provide what you have with smaller cages, same choices and more. And that is the fun part for me. I do not have to understand why they do this or that. As long as they are progressing same or better then your setup and doing whatever they want. Climb, dig, explore, hunt etc.
The point I hope to make is, with larger cages, a keeper can create a greater range of conditions and allow the animal who is EXPERT at being that animal, to do its ACTUAL thing.
We obtained some sand boas in mid oct. They were aprox 5-6 inch newborns. Raised in the same 10 gallon tanks, the female is now, 4 months later, 22 inches. It never got lost and I did not have to understand anything except to keep throwing food it it. Whats fun about sand boas is, they ambush feed, so as soon as you see one In ambush position, feed it. which is nearly daily.

Maybe on part 3, we can talk about defense behavior, as your right, they get nasty, for good reason. They are threatened. finish after part 3

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