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Custom cage, need advice

buffysmom Jan 19, 2004 12:27 PM

I have the opportunity to buy a custom built, acrylic cage for my corn. The dimensions are: 16" deep, 34" high & 23.5" wide (a total of 12,672 square inches, a 20 long has about 4,000 square inches). It is fully acrylic w/ 2 large front doors. It can be divided in 1/2, creating 2 smaller cages. I have one baby corn snake, 4 months old.
My question is: Would this be a nice size habitat for him when grown &, if so, should I divide it now, so it's not too much space for a small snake?
Thanks in advance!
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fluffy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

Replies (7)

maizeysdad Jan 19, 2004 03:30 PM

If you have your mesurements correct, it is higher than it is wide. That sounds right for an arboreal snake rather than a ground snake like a corn. Can you turn it sideways? If not, I wouldn't get too enamoured with cubic inches. Square inches (i.e. space usable by the snake) is more relevant to the question of whether the tank is good for a corn or not.

My opinion - worth what you paid for it.

Ken

buffysmom Jan 19, 2004 05:45 PM

OK, considering floor space, a 20L has 348" of floor space, the tank I'm considering has 376", so that's a step up from what I'd otherwise have him in as an adult. Will he use climbing items, like grape vine, if provided? I've seen pics here of people's snakes hanging out in the top edge space of the cage & one of a corn hanging from a thermometer wire.
I'm leaning toward getting it, especially considering the increased floor space over a 20L. Would people recommend dividing it to begin with, as Fluffy is only 4 months old? I hear they can feel insecure in too large a cage... (He's currently in a 10 gal).
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fluffy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

maizeysdad Jan 19, 2004 06:25 PM

sounds awesome. They will climb a bit (snake by snake kind of thing). If your snake is a hatchling, I'd divide it.

Sounds like a great deal.

K

stratchick Jan 19, 2004 08:41 PM

As long as there are ample hides and things to explore on and in (like fake plants, branches) the snake shouldn't feel insecure. They live in much larger spaces in the wild than we would even think of housing them in With the larger enclosures there just tends to be a lot more 'open space' if you don't make the effort to fill it, which makes the animal feel unsafe. They are predators as well as prey, especially the young snakes, and their instincts are to live amoungst areas they can quickly retreat to if needed.

diate Jan 19, 2004 07:31 PM

My 5 mth old is in a 55 gal long fish aquarium. There are many, many places for him to hide, on both the warm and cool sides. The hides are very small so he can feel safe. He seems very happy. He eats like crazy and is always out at night. He is still very shy but he likes to watch us when we are in the room by just sticking his head out. I have vines along the top and a large branch. He loves to sleep in the vines with his body pressed up against the screen top. It worked for this corn, you can always try it undivided and if he seems nervous but the divider in. Good luck.

buffysmom Jan 19, 2004 09:05 PM

I'm gonna give it a shot.
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1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn snake Fluffy
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton, Olivia Newton John & Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

freezermink Jan 19, 2004 10:52 PM

yeah good choice. i'd say go for it. i have branches and what-not for my corn to climb on and everything, and for the first couple months he was in one of his hides all the time. but now you can't find him on the ground. constantly weaving in and out of branches, the top of the tank, etc. i'd say, by your description, that this tank only gives you more options. have fun with it, and lets see some pics when you get it all set up-
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-ryan
fancher@email.com
ultimate frisbee, volkswagens and snakes.

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