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I have a california kingsnake approximately 24 inches long right now and with the warm weather he's been more active than I have ever seen him -- always out of his hide roaming around and pushing at the lid. He did this back when he was a hatchling but I suspect now it is for different reasons. He's in a 10 gallon tank right now with a temperature gradient. Should I go ahead and move him up to my 20 gallon now? I know that won't stop him from moving around and pushing at the lid but if it will decrease stress levels then I'll gladly do it.
Thanks

I don't know if it will change the behavior, but a 20 gal long is a better size for a Cal king, and it is easier to maintain a temperature gradient.
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Mark

If you look around, (Salvation army thrift stores, rummage sales, and even curbside on trash day, aquarium tanks are everywhere (without spending the big bucks)

and recently, since my snake population is growing so rapidly, I have started buying these big clear tote boxes with latching lids, drill some air holes, and presto a 20 plus for $10, and the covers latch securely.

my take is to lean toward housing that is at least as wide as the snake is long (Much more for some of my snakes, my Pueblan has a 4 foot wide 2 foot deep "house"

regards,
Wayne

P.S. - the lamp has been moved to the end, and a wire cage placed around it.

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0.0.1 Eastern MilkSnake WC "Carmello" adult super sweet temperment
1.2.3 Storeria dekayi Casper, Xena, Athena, & Kids (30 plus released!)
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1.0.0 Thamnophis pickeringi - Puget Sound Garter "Sky" (adult, Sky blue)
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0.1.0 Storeria occipitomaculata - Red Belly snake (Her children were raised & released)
0.0.1 Amelanistic Corn Snake "CY" Juvinile CB
1.0.0. Pueblan Milk snake "Oreo" adult CB
1.0.0. ASIAN GREEN SNAKE 3' WC Cyclophiops major"Limon"
0.0.1. Savannah Monitor "CHOMPER" Growing fast!
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2.1.0. calico RATS
2.4.?? Mice - Feeder farm - Crickets / fish
More herps than I could ever list out back on the land.

Nice cage. I'm a fan of that approach - bigger cages.

I have found that with corns, pituophis, kings and milks, once started and feeding, they use every bit of a large cage. In my collection, large cages did not seem to affect anything adversely.

Not always true with other types of snakes. Rosies for one. Maybe hognose too, though I haven't tried large cages with hoggies myself, just heard about experiences of other keepers. Probably sandboas too.

A friend has had a Cal king for 23 years, in a 10 gal tank. So maybe cage size is not even an issue. I like to make it one though
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Mark

yeah I think you should a 20 gal long should be just right.