Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I desperately need help in buying a new cage for my corn snake. I want to get one that will give him lots of room and be big enough to last his whole life. He is a year old now and in small plastic cage. I had a 40gal but the sliding top is too loose - he'll escape. I had a cage all picked out from Advance Reptile Design but no one will return my phone calls there. Can anyone recommend a good website or cage brand to get? I don't have a lot of money - so nothing too expensive.... Also what size to you recommend? I know 20gal long is standard.

I would just use the 40gal tank but build your own lid since the one on it now is lose. I built my own lid for a 35 gal long tank using some 1"x1" posts adn aluminum screen. Just cut the posts to fit exactly on the top of the tank (if it has the little recessed ledge in the frame, cut to fit into there, a much snugger fit). Once the frame is assembled, cut the screen to fit , leaving about an inch extra. I used a stable gun to stable all around, keeping the stables within an inch of eachother and making sure the screen is as tight as possible. You can then use a glue gun or silicon caulking to seal the space between the screen and wood for a tighter seal (and less likely for snakes to squeeze out) but I didn't bother and haven't had my corn escape. I wanted to be able to push in a thermometer probe through the screen, between stables and keep it tight so didn't do the other sealing.

This would cost maybe $5 in materials or a bit more if you want left overs to do the next cage.

How did you make it lock on the tank?
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2.2 Corns (2 striped and 1 okeetee and 1 blizzard)
1.1 Graybanded
2.1 Banana Cal Kings
1.1 Leopard Geckos (High yellow and Jungle)

>>I desperately need help in buying a new cage for my corn snake. I want to get one that will give him lots of room and be big enough to last his whole life. He is a year old now and in small plastic cage. I had a 40gal but the sliding top is too loose - he'll escape. I had a cage all picked out from Advance Reptile Design but no one will return my phone calls there. Can anyone recommend a good website or cage brand to get? I don't have a lot of money - so nothing too expensive.... Also what size to you recommend? I know 20gal long is standard.

Why don't you just buy a new top for your 40 gallon and fix that up.
That would be a lot cheaper then buying a tank.
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

one of the various sizes of Rubbermaid "snaplock" containers from Walmart? I've used various sizes of these for years without a problem just don't put any small hatchlings in there as they might be able to squeek between the lid and the top of the bin (but maybe not, I've never tried). They're cheap, easily washable, stackable and lightweight unlike a glass aquarium. Just drill or melt ventilation holes in the sides and you're all set.
Nate

Thanks for your sugestions. For building a new top - I have no power tools whatsoever and live in a small apartment - no basement. So I'm afraid that is out of the question. I have ordered a new top from the same store I bought my 40 gal tank, but - it doesn't matter - all the lids are too loose for a snake eventhough they advertise that they are cages specifically desinged for snakes.
I actually bought a sterilite locking plastic bin at Target yesterday with the hopes of at least using it temporarily. However, when I pull hard on the sides of it, i can lift it up enough for a snake to wiggle through. So I'm not so sure. I lost one corn already to that 40 gal through escaping and I don't want to loose another.