Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What size container is recommedned to house kingsnake hatchlings to prevent escape until I can sell them or until they are larger. I have a number of V18 tubs in racks I use for my ball python hatchlings, but I don't think these are right for kingsnake hatchlings.

Any and all advice is welcomed.

Thanks,
James

Small containers for juvis is better. They need to feel secure until they get some size on them. if they do not feel secure they might not feed as they should. Also they need heat in the right place and if a large shoebox is used they tend to get lost and go off feed if they choose the cold side over security. Personally i would never put a juvi in a shoebox because they just don't feed and grow as quick as the ones in a smaller container.

I find the small clasp type tupperware units that Target sells (or Walmart)to be perfect for kigsnakes until they get on hoppers. Just make sure to place one end touching a heat source.

Personally i use the baby racks from reptile basics. but i do like these clasp units as well.

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Yes, it will do better in a small container. But make sure you closely monitor your heat source INSIDE the small container that you supply on the one end too. The heat source needs to be monitored at the very floor surface of the container, not in the upper portion with a cheap stick-on thermometer like pet shops sell. The opposite cooler side should have a thermogradient in the mid-upper 70's. Your surrounding ambient air room temp sets the entire stage for how you go about doing this. For example.....If you put a heat source that heats the one side in a very tiny enclosure to say 90 degrees, and the outside ambient temperature in the room is already fairly warm, then it MUST be adjusted very differently than a room that is kept much colder to offset the difference. they MUST be able to get away to a cooler side as needed when not digesting to conserve energy and body mass.

Also, if there are not enough ventilation holes in these tiny containers, it will also retain the heat in the entire container much more than one that had more surface area or many more holes as well. Make sure all this is checked out and tweaked accordingly with a temp probe/thermostat/rheostat or temp gun well BEFORE you put the snake into this enclosure. The snake has to be allowed to properly digest in the mid-upper 80's as needed, but also has to be able to get away as it needs to. If you had a ridiculously long 10 foot long enclosure, then you could theoretically have one end at freezing temps, and the opposit end at 125 degrees, and the snake would always choose a place somewhere between these two extreme temps as needed. In a tiny container, this is far more crucial to know exactly what's going on with either side. Everyone's location, room temps and housing situation can be very different, so this has to be accounted for and adjusted as needed.

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I've had good results using gladware plastic containers with my hatchling kings and corns in the past. I use the short square containers until they've eaten 3-4 f/t pinkies either off tongs or right after the pinkie is dropped in front of them. If the snake is still shy and only eating overnight or only taking brained pinks, then i'll leave them in the small container a little longer.

After the glad container I move them to shoe boxes or critter keeper type cages available at most pet stores.

I've heated both types of cages 2 ways and the babies have thrived in both conditions. One way is the common heat tape method and i've also heated the entire room by blocking off the ac to my snake room in the summer letting the room reach 88ish during the warmest part of the day and cooling down to 68-72 at night with the room staying around 75-78 the majority of the time. In both the snakes have done great and grown at similar rate eating the same amount of food. Obviously the room heating method will differ depending on what part of the country you're in/how warm your room gets so it won't work for everyone.
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1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Dumerils Boas
1.1 Black Milk Snakes
2.3 California King Snakes
1.1 Nelsons Milk Snakes
2.2 Corn Snakes

Guys - thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

James

I use Sterilite 6-qt. latching boxes. For water dishes I use the plastic scoups from drink mixes. I use the cardboard inserts from toliet paper or paper towel for hides.