Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello
I am going to purcahase a 05 albino ruthven king. I had planned to put him in a 30 gallon long with driftwood,etc.
I house an adult rosy and adult hognose each in his own 30 gallon. Its not that I am fixated on 30 gallons heehee but I like to give them room and since I dont breed why not they enjoy it.
However I read that kings actually do better in smaller tanks till bigger ? If so I guess will use a 10 gallon tank till he is a few months old.
Any input on this?
Thanks
Fleck

10 gal is fine for the first year I would say. Right now, as a hatchling, it may be too big. 30 gal is plenty for an adult ruthveni

Greg

There is alot of information that has been followed blindly by alot of herpers, including myself. One of which is that kings do better in smaller cages. This fits well with shoeboxes being touted as the best caging for a juvenile snake.

The fact is, some baby snakes will thrive in a larger cage, and some seem to do better when in a smaller cage. I'm not sure if the "small cages for kings" idea came about from us stuffing kings in small cages and trying to justify it or from real experience. Probably some of both. Some individuals do better in small cages, some don't need it.

Just to let you know, I kept a juvenile Ariz mtn king in a 3ft cage! Yes, a huge cage compared to that tiny snake. And it fed. And it grew. The cage had overhead heat and rocks for the snake to hide amongst. That snake didn't need a small cage. Didn't need such a big cage either. I was just curious. Blew me away. Maybe the rules aren't based on the reality of the snake, just reality in the keepers' minds.

Of course, on the flip side, I've had baby thayeri that would only seem to eat if kept in a little deli cup. Of course at that time I didn't try a large cage because I was dead-set on little plastic boxes being the only good way to keep a reptile.

I think a 10 gal would be fine, or even a 5 gal. This way the cage isn't so big that you can't keep tabs on the snake. You may find that you'll need to feed the baby snake in a deli cup, or you may find that the snake needs no help at all. Baby ruthveni seem to enjoy a damp hide spot (sphagnum moss for example.)

Try and see what happens. Good luck.

Oh, regarding your rosy, how is it doing in that big of a tank? Rosies are one snake that I will stand by and say that small cages are fine for them, maybe even better for them. If yours thrives in a big cage then more power to you.

>>Hello
>> I am going to purcahase a 05 albino ruthven king. I had planned to put him in a 30 gallon long with driftwood,etc.
>> I house an adult rosy and adult hognose each in his own 30 gallon. Its not that I am fixated on 30 gallons heehee but I like to give them room and since I dont breed why not they enjoy it.
>> However I read that kings actually do better in smaller tanks till bigger ? If so I guess will use a 10 gallon tank till he is a few months old.
>> Any input on this?
>> Thanks
>> Fleck

Thanks going to keep him in the 10 for first few months atleast see how he is doing and than might try the 30 as I have it allready.
The Rosy was bought as a small baby in a mixed group of rosy babies that lived in a 20 long (Pet store bought back than I didnt know what I know now would nuy from a breeder instead).
I put him in a 30 long , He mostly hid under the cave hide area but would venture out a bit. He would eat pinkies put in his cave with him . First few weeks all he did was hide.
Now he ventures out and seems to enjoy the room. Never had any problems the hognose now he truly ventures out daily .
I got on thEse board like 2 yrs or so and didnt know about smaller tanks for baby snakes. I am going to get a digital camera soon to take pics.
Granted as a baby both snakes looked like worms in their tanks but yrs later no harm done. I heat from above one side of tank with UTH in same area on low under one of the caves (Esu medium cement caves).
During summer like now only UTH is on on one side of tank and its off actually for the hognose the rosy tho on mid 70 night can sometimes be found there.
Thanks
Fleck