Milksnake Enclosure Setup

[KillerGoose]

So I was originally going to buy a Ball Python but no matter what I did (and I mean I did everything that I was capable of doing) I could reach the right temps. So not that I don't like Ball Pythons any more but I really like the bright colours of Milksnakes. This is my first pet snake and I know people say Milksnakes are jumpy, fast, and nippy but I don't really have a problem with it. I live in the country where my back yard is filled with Garter Snakes that I've handled and I think there pretty damn fast so I'm kinda used to it. I have a 32QT Sterilite tub I was going to use for the Ball Python but now I was thinking about getting a glass enclosure. Because I read Milksnakes are a lot more active than Ball Pythons and If that's true I would want to watch them move around. I also read they like to climb branches so should I get a 12" high or 18" high? But here's one of my main problems: I only want to buy one size so what size should I go with? I also don't know what Milksnake to get? should I get a Pueblan? Honduran? I don't know but I hear some get larger than others so that will be a factor. What do you guys think?

[KillerGoose]

Also what should I use to heat it? I have a Flexwatt heat pad that about 11" by 12" so? My room temperature is around 65F and my house humidity sits at around 50% so? I was thinking of getting an Exo Terra Terrarium but what do you guys use and or recommend? A will also be moving into the Basement soon so it might be even cooler down there I don't really know yet?

[brianm616]

http://www.applegatereptiles.com/art...okcontents.htm

[JoeJ]

glass tanks are not good for keeping snakes in they dont hold heat well enough. a plastic tub or wooden vivarium are the best ways to keep them. to heat a tub you will want to use a heat mat with a thermostat to control temps. a wooden viv can be heated by a ceramic or heat light with a thermostat and a guard around it.

[Mr Oni]

I keep mine in a glass tank. I use heat lamp to keep ambiant and a UTH for the belly.
Not real difficult to keep humidity since they don't need it high like BP's, throw some eco earth in the mix and spray every now and then.
But maybe that's a situation that just works out for me and the snake.
I like my Milk in a glass tank because he like's to burrow and climb around...hard to put neat climbing stuff in a rack.

[Agmcmurphy]

i have an adult cal king that i bought last week and im wondering how big of a tank? right now he is in a ten gallon bless his heart. its still way bigger than the cage he was in at the petstore!

[Pyrate81]

Know how long he is?

I keep my 5+ foot cali in a 40br(breeder). I've seen a lot of suggestions for keeping an adult in a 20L which is too small IMO. I'd say absolute minimum you'll want for an adult cali is a 30br.

[Neal]

Just out of curiosity what did you try to reach the right temps in your BP enclosure?