Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys,

I have been doing my research and I have one question for now.. I read somewhere that a new snake (baby) could become stressed if their enclosure is too big. Is this true?

I currently have a 29 gallon tank which I will be using for the new snake when he/she comes home. Will this work?

Thanks!

P.S any tips you have for new snake owners like myself please dont hesitate to tell me.

Yes, they can become stressed if they are placed in a big open enclosure, and some individuals can certainly stress more than others would. They are naturally "hard-wired" and programmed to hide when they aren't foraging for food to help ensure they will survive predation and other dangers that threaten their well-being. Even you will likely be seen as a huge threatening "monster" until it gradually sees that you and your giant hand are not a threat to it. It would be similar to us being parachuted into the open exposed terrain of Iraq. We would be HIGHLY stressed and wouldn't feel secure at ALL until good hiding cover was found for self-preservation..LOL!

Hatchlings are generally best kept in smaller (shoebox sized)containers that have ample very low, tight hiding places for them to feel secure. This will help them feel MUCH more secure which will in turn allow them to behave much as they would naturally with their feeding response, etc...

When the snake gets a bit larger and gets more size going, and more familiar with you and the environment, They generally adapt very well to moving up in their enclosure size.

cheers, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Hey Doug, as you know I am pretty new at this too. I will tell you what I have done with my new babies and you can tell me if it is sufficient or not. This might help MayFlower26 decide how he/she wants to do it.

I use a 30 long tank, with aspen substrate, with heat pad on one side. I use two hides. One hide on the hot side with dry moss, setting half way on the heater, to give multiple heat area's, inside or out. One hide on the cool side with wet moss. Hot side 87 to 89 Cool side 71 to 74 Maybe cooler in the wet moss. I figure it give them plenty of places to hide at the temp of there choosing. Also they get acclimated to the space they will be in when they get bigger. What do you think, Doug?

DAVY

I think that works just great if they seem okay with it initially. The important thing you are doing is allowing them to have tight cover to hide and moisture and heat to use as they naturally see fit to properly digsest their meals as well as to conserve energy in the cooler area. It sounds like a very GOOD setup in my opinion..

Thanks for sharing your setup, I think it is excellent and they definitely WILL thrive well for you.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I agree baby snakes seem to do better in smaller enclosiers untill they get used to their way of life and develope a good appetite. However, when ever you finally decide to put him in the larger tank, please make sure the top is escape proof. I can't tell you how many people I know who have had their snakes escape from Aquariums! The lids often sold in pet stores as reptile tops, are not snake proof. You must inspect the entire perimeter of the top and there can be absolutely no play. Snakes can squeeze thru the smallest of cracks, and can lift heavy weights placed on the top. I usually make my own tops whenever I use Glass tanks, but you can secure most loose lids with weatherproofing insulation. It must be almost airtight. Good luck!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Amen to that. I put one of my snakes in a container to be feed. The large rodent container you get at the pet store, plastic top that snaps on, with a place you punch out for a water bottle. Has the flap in the middle you can pop open, with the two plastic handle on top.

The tip of the snakes tale was just above the floor of the container going up the wall. The majority of his body was on the top, upside down. Only using three pressure points, the wall, the door in the middle on top, and the lip on the water bottle hole. It was like he was suspended in mid air. Did not have my camera ready. Crap.

Davy

EXCELLENT additional advice!....you are spot-on with every bit of that. The number of escape stories we have all heard of over the years from some of the bad fitting standard aquarium lids is endless..LOL!

The foam insulating strips is a great idea, and I have used that years ago myself. The stuff comes in a little role and is adhesive-backed, so it is easy as pie to apply and makes a great gapless seal.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Chances are, with the right temp range and moisture, most baby kings will not care what the cage size is. I've never seen cage size a concern for kingsnakes like Cal kings and Florida kings. In fact, I have an old polaroid of a baby king in a 40 gal tank when I was young. Snake did just fine.

BUT, it may be much easier to setup a plastic shoebox with 1/4 of the surface area over a heat pad initially. Get the snake so it is consistently feeding without issue. After that, you can move it to whatever you want.

You can also start it out in the 29 gal and see what happens. Provide a moist hide partially over the heat pad. Easiest way for a moist hide is a BPA-free Glad storage container with a hole cut in the side or a corner cut out of the lid, then place damp paper towels in there or damp sphagnum moss. Dehydration is the worst enemy of baby kings, so a damp area that is heated is a must.

Very true Mark,...

Getula are not known to be nearly as bad about nervousness and needing as tight quarters as milks are as youngsters, but I just threw it out there anyway.....

I agree, as long as the other requirments are met, they should do just fine in a larger enclosure too.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

While most kings won't care too much about the large enclosier, I have noticed that a problem feeder will stress out less, and be more likely to eat in a smaller tub. Just an observation from years of breeding. I'm sure Doug has noticed the same, though he is right Milk snakes are more shy on average.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Hi!

You got many good replies, but what species of kingsnake will you get?
yours
Michael

I'm not too sure what species I will get, I'm going in to decide this week I just wanted to make sure I had all my facts straight before going in!

Thanks to everyone for your help!!!