are they really big enough?

[Artistry Exotics]

I'm getting to the point where I have to buy racks for my snakes. They're all in tanks at the moment, and I'm pretty much out of room. I have my Leopard Geckos in RBI racks and am incredibly happy with them, so I'm looking at getting RBI racks for the snakes as well. I know that racks would free up a bunch of space.

The RBI Iris CB 70 says it's made for larger snakes... but the tubs just seem so small to me. I felt the same way about my gecko's tubs too though... Right now the only adult snakes that I'd have going in these racks are one adult ball python and one adult corn snake. When I got the ball python, he was in a 20 gallon long and that just seemed so small for him, but I've read here that people think a 20 gallon long is ok for an adult BP. I upgraded him to a 50 gallon, and he seems to really like it - he's more active and there's more room to have the appropriate number of hides and a large water dish. I couldn't fit two hides and a water dish in the 20 L. Same thing with the corn snake - he was in a 10 gallon and just looked so cramped. Even my little Desert Horned Lizard is in a 40 gallon breeder tank because I've read they appreciate the extra space...

I've thought about getting the 2 x 4 cages instead, but that would just be so expensive. Right now I have four ball pythons, two corn snakes, and two Nicaraguan Boas (they stay about the same size as BPs), so I wanted to get a rack(s) that will hold all of them for life. Of course I also have to be prepared for new additions.

Speaking of which, what size caging would be recommended for Colombian Red Tails? I've read that 6 foot cages like Boaphile Plastics make are good, but again... just seems so small for a 8-10 foot snake...

Thoughts?

[tbowman]

You could comfortably house a male boa in a 4x2 boaphile. I know a guy who kept his 13' Burm in a 6' boaphile. My 8.5' Burm is in a 6x3 visioin cage. He will live there for the rest of his life.

[Wild Bill]

The cb-70 tubs are perfect for adult ball pythons. Ball pythons like smaller confined spaces. Adult boas do fine in the 2' X 4' cages.

[euphuistical]

This is a classic case of a reptile owner thinking what would be best fir him instead of what's best for his reptile (not insulting, this is very common and people need the education).

As has been said ball pythons like small tight dark spaces with the right humidity and temps. Huge open areas would stress a BP out.

[Mindibun]

I have to disagree to some extent.

Firstly, he/she is obviously not more concerned with what's best for the keeper since (if that were the case) he/she would just buy the smallest, cheapest racks and be done with it. But they're worried about the well being of their animals.

Secondly, yes ball pythons like small dark spaces. But that does NOT mean you couldn't feasibly have a large tank (say 40gal breeder for example) with lots of hides and decor. The result is more room for the snake to cruise around in at night, but still plenty of dark cozy spaces for them to hide in during the day.

I realize that the accepted norm is "make it as small as possible." But from what I've seen with my own snakes and some others, I think we need to think outside that teeny tiny box from time to time. Granted, this will depend on the individual snake as well. Some appreciate more room, some are frightened by it.

[_Venom_]

This is a classic case of a reptile owner thinking what would be best fir him instead of what's best for his reptile (not insulting, this is very common and people need the education).

As has been said ball pythons like small tight dark spaces with the right humidity and temps. Huge open areas would stress a BP out.

The care for these animals is not set in stone.

[Artistry Exotics]

Thank you for the input everyone. For the time being, I'm going to go ahead and order one CB 70 rack. At least I know that it will fit the sub-adults, and clear up the space I need. I worry that I may be anthropomorphizing them about the cage space, so we'll see how it works. If the snakes do well, I'll get a few more as money allows.