tank size

[daftperception]

just wondering what size would you suggest im going to buy a new tank for sage even though he/she doesn't really need it yet i heard 30 gallon is the best but im having a hard time finding a long 30 gallon.

[wolfman38]

I am looking into buying a new tank myself, and leaning towards a 40 breeder. With this tank hopefully this willbe the last one that I will have to buy for Zeus, maybe he want out grow that one.

[steelsack]

I use a 29 tall and don't care for the height as I need to use a larger wattage bulb to maintain proper temps. Thus making humidity levels challenging to achieve. Got it working well, (many of you know all the things I've had to do-you've been there yourselves!) but can't help but wonder if a "normal" height wouldn't be at least slightly easier.
I will no longer purchase a snake enclosure.......I am building my own from now on. Have been working on designing a simple to make enclosure with not a chord or hose or peice of duct tape exposed (god forbid, LOL) Taking my time though, as since I've got Xaero's tank at ideal conditions I'm gonna use it out of principal.
But I'm born to tinker so most likely I'll be boring you all with new cage pics more sooner than later :wink:

[JLC]

But I'm born to tinker so most likely I'll be boring you all with new cage pics more sooner than later

I'll be looking forward to it! I love seeing other people's ideas for cages...especially simple ones...and especially those that can hide all the cords and such that we have to deal with!

[Smynx]

We have Suki and Neph in 30 gallon "Snug Fit Critter Cage" tanks. http://www.all-glass.com/products/cages/ccsnugfit.shtml We purchased them for around $60 at Pet Supplies Plus. Although we have the 36x12x16 size because both snakes like to climb, they also make a 30 gallon breeder which measures 36x18x12. I love the sliding tops on these, even though we have to cover the screens to preserve humidity. I don't think we'll need to get anything larger for Suki, but Neph will certainly outgrow his, and we'll pass it along to one of the babies.

[Marla]

My cousin is using the same type enclosure for her bp, but has been having humidity challenges with it. I think with a more determined owner, though, that it could be made to work.

[Smynx]

The tanks do require a lot of vigilance, and screen tops have to be covered to maintain any acceptable humidity levels. We've handled it by using generously-sized water dishes, regular misting, and we've tried the Repti Flo 250, but we've had trouble getting it to stay in the water dish (Neph loves to knock his around). If our collection grows any more, we'll be switching to the Rubbermaid/Sterlite option. We bought our glass tanks before we knew any better.

[JLC]

If our collection grows any more, we'll be switching to the Rubbermaid/Sterlite option. We bought our glass tanks before we knew any better.

If you get as addicted to collecting snakes as many people do, you can switch over to the rubbermaid stuff for the boids, and then get some other species for the glass tanks that require less humidity. My cape gopher does very well in his glass tank...has perfect sheds with no effort to maintain any specific humidity level. (It's fairly dry, but I don't have a hydrogometer(?) to measure the exact humidity.) Many other gophers and bullsnakes also make great pets and do well in a dry environment.

[Marla]

Judy has a good point, especially if West Virginia has looser laws about snake ownership than Georgia (it must because I understand only Cali has tighter regs). I like the Sterilites, but I am partial to boids and to bp's in particular and can't legally own a lot of colubrids. I did get my cousin to cover the tank and place the digital thermo/hygrometer properly for good readings, but unfortunately I can't be there all the time to supervise her husbandry.

[JLC]

Marla....in Georgia...isn't it that you can't own anything native to GA? If that's the case, you can still own a wide variety of western colubrids, including all the ssp of bullsnakes and gophers. Pine snakes are the only Pituophis native to Georgia. Unless they have regs that also try and keep "foreign" snakes out for fear of them getting loose in the ecosystem??? If that's the case, then you're pretty much FUBAR'd on all fronts.