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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.

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).

So, my questions:

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?

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'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?

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.

For the heating, I'll be getting whatever I need so advice is welcome.

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.

Anything else I should be thinking about?

Thanks in advance for any answers, advice or thoughts.

Mike

Too many questions in one post?

Stupid questions?

Wrong forum?

Just don't like me?

>>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.
>>
>>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).
>>
>>So, my questions:
>>
>>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.
>>
>>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.

>>
>>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.

>>
>>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.
>>
>>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.
>>

>>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

>>
>>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.
>>

>>Thanks in advance for any answers, advice or thoughts.
>>
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

_____

Thanks for the feedback.

>>>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.

I'm not sure about her age. Guy I got her from wasn't the breeder and he didn't have a lot of details. He said she was late 2009/early 2010 but didn't seem too sure. She's about as thick as a Sharpie in the middle.

Right now I'm feeding her 2 fuzzies a week -- at the same time if that matters. I've only got a few more fuzzies left. When I run out I was going to move up to the next size.

>>Thanks for the feedback.
>>
>>>>>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.
>>
>>I'm not sure about her age. Guy I got her from wasn't the breeder and he didn't have a lot of details. He said she was late 2009/early 2010 but didn't seem too sure. She's about as thick as a Sharpie in the middle.
>>
>>Right now I'm feeding her 2 fuzzies a week -- at the same time if that matters. I've only got a few more fuzzies left. When I run out I was going to move up to the next size.

sounds good.
I think she's going to be a happy little leucy....I know I know snakes can't really be happy but she will definitely have everything she needs.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Hopefully so. Thanks again.

Was just thinking about what I was going to need to get and realized I've got another problem. The 55G is a frameless tank. There isn't anything to clip a screen top too. I'm gonna have to do some more thinking about this. Seems like there is always something ...

>>Hopefully so. Thanks again.
>>
>>Was just thinking about what I was going to need to get and realized I've got another problem. The 55G is a frameless tank. There isn't anything to clip a screen top too. I'm gonna have to do some more thinking about this. Seems like there is always something ...

make the top out of plywood.
I've made several aquarium tops out of plywood. cut it to the lenght and width of the outside of the tank. cut two 1 x 1's that will snuggly fit inside the width of the tank and fasten one on each end of the underside of the top plate. add handles to the top side. cut cutouts for lights, if used, and for air flow. staple fiber screen (not metal screen) to the underside of the cutouts using tightly spaced staples. Don't want to leave any gaps for the snake to work its nose under.
with the 1 x 1's it provides a nice tight fit, the handles obviously help to open it and the cutouts alow for air flow and lighting if desired. it can even be stained if allowed long enough to dry completely. I would not go with anything less then 1/2" plywood. I personally use 3/4..even if the fit isn't perfect they can't work it up....been using lids like this for years. I have several 55 gallon, a 75 gallon and a 125 gallon tank that I used separaters in to house two snakes each and for these I even made separate lids for each side. I also have several 20 gallon tanks using plywood lids.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Sounds like a plan.

So just the snug fit and weight of the wood keep it in place?

>>Sounds like a plan.
>>
>>So just the snug fit and weight of the wood keep it in place?

yep...never had one push one off. from 2 ft yearling corns to 5 1/2 ft black rats.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes...No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

I did it. She's in her feed box now pigging out, but I just got finished setting up the 55G. It's BIG. I've gotten used to sitting next to a 15G and the 55G is HUGE compared to it.

I added about 3 new hides, a bigger water bowl and a big branch that goes from bottom right to the top left. 11x11 heat pad underneath the left end. A lot of the stuff is "home grown" but anything that didn't come from a pet shop has been scrubbed, microwaved and frozen so should clean.

I moved her old aspen as well as all her old hides and such over to the new to hopefully make it smell more like home.

I'll see if I can figure out how to post pics.

Thanks again for the input.