Enclosure "rules of thumb" for growing snakes

[beatlloydy]

Hi all,

I have read a lot about enclosure sizes, including the new DECC draft regulations. I have seen articles indicating a general "rule of thumb" that an enclosure should be approx half the length of the snake stretched out.

Do the small time breeders (who can afford a little space compared to the larger scale breeders) follow this rule of thumb when upgrading juveniles etc?

Just interested in general approach as I have a Darwin who is close to 1 m in length and wondering when I could upgrade him to a full size enclosure (1200 x 600 x 600)..Currently he is in a 450 x 450 x 450 which is definitely getting a little small, tho he is showing no signs of stress. However, I presume he would probably like to stretch out from time to time which he currently cannot do.

Also, in Jan I will be obtaining a few different hatchies and want to follow "best practice" when upgrading them from click clacks (i.e for a spotted I was going to start the on the Sistema 3L and then after a few months (depending on growth) move them to the Sistema 8L.

As these are relatively cheap and I can re-use them if I ever successfully breed so having different sizes should, in theory, eliminate the stress of too large an enclosure.

Interested in others opinions who successfully breed and have experience with different breeds and their growth cycle.

 

[J-A-X]

i've always been a believer in "bigger is better" if you have the space and the finances then go for it, putting your Darwin in his 'adult' enclosure will cause him a little stress initially but if you provide him with plenty of alternate hiding places and try and transfer familiar things with him, (like his curent hide if he hasn't outgrown that,) it won't seen quite so strange for him,
i transfered my girl a few weeks ago and she is only just starting to look comfortable, her next move is the adult enclosure, if she outgrows that one i may need to covert a room for her, :lol:

i can't offer an opinion on the hatchy tubs, i haven't got there yet.....

 

[coz666]

you can let it into its large enclosure now is fine. really you can put them in big enclosures anytime ...... its just nothing to look at.
hatchy tub is fine size. if you go a little larger , you can keep them in there longer, thats all

 

[beney_boy]

ive heard the same rule of thumb. i cant see a problem with the sizes of your click clacks and as long as you upgrade when necessary everything should be fine. im currently in the process of building a 4ft x 4ft x 2ft enclosure to house my coastal for the rest of her life. i always like to re-use rather then throw out so go with the sistema tubs and i think you will do fine.

 

[Daz_McC]

That rule of thumb 'enclosures should be half the length of the snake' may be ok for smaller snakes (e.g. Anteresia) but it starts to break down very quickly for larger snakes. A 2 foot enclosure is more than adequate for the smaller Morelia (e.g. Jungles and Rough-scaled) and a 3 foot enclosure is fine for the larger Morelia (e.g. Coastals and Diamonds). This is well below half their average adult length.

A lot of people say 'bigger is better' for snakes but actually the opposite is true. Snakes like to be squeezed into tight spaces. You really can't put a snake in an enclosure that is too small provided you have the right temps.

 

[justbecausewhy]

I have my female spotted who is fully grown in a 5 foot tank..and I love the way she can stretch out full size without any bends.
Also why is that ppl say a snake will get stressed out if put into a large tank? ....those snakes that are born in the wild dont get stressed out.....you will never see a baby snake in the wild stressing out because its in a large area will you?...it will adjust to the tank just like it would if it was in the wild.
I have my little boy spotted who tuns 1 next month in a 3 foot tank and he loves it ...more freedom, more room and he only comes out at night so during the day he is sleeping.

 

[Jungletrans]

That rule of thumb 'enclosures should be half the length of the snake' may be ok for smaller snakes (e.g. Anteresia) but it starts to break down very quickly for larger snakes. A 2 foot enclosure is more than adequate for the smaller Morelia (e.g. Jungles and Rough-scaled) and a 3 foot enclosure is fine for the larger Morelia (e.g. Coastals and Diamonds). This is well below half their average adult length.

A lot of people say 'bigger is better' for snakes but actually the opposite is true. Snakes like to be squeezed into tight spaces. You really can't put a snake in an enclosure that is too small provided you have the right temps.

Are you serious ? :shock: l should get rid of all my big enclosures and jam them into tubs then ?