Medium Colubrid Cage Size Thoughts

[Learning Everyday]

So i've been thinking about the size cage one could get away with for an adult corn or comparable sized snake. It is more convenient for me to have wider cages than longer cages but i need a cage that has front opening doors. My theory is that a 18x18x12 exo terra terraium would be an acceptable size for one. My reasoning is that a cage with those dimensions is about a 17 gallon (1.5' X 1.5' x 1' = 2.25 then 2.25 x 7.48= 16.83). I've read that 20 gallon cages are ideal. This seems pretty close if not a bit small but my thoughts on that is when looking at cages for large snakes they are usualy in cages that are 1/2 their body length or smaller. Compared to a 18x18 being wider and giving a bit more room than 1/2 body length going both ways. the way i see it is that a cage that size would be just fine. Any thoughts? I need someone to bounce this off of.

[Mike41793]

I'm not positive but I think 32qt tubs are what a lot of people keep adult corns in and they're 17"x23.5", I believe

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[Learning Everyday]

Thanks. Another idea I had was to build a little shelf in there that was like a hide inside of the cage that is low to the ground and covers at least 3/4 the cage floor. that would essentialy be doubling the space in it's respective area. That would add a bit of space and I would take them out for exercise often just like I do now.

[jclaiborne]

I don't like giving my animals the "minimum" size cage they require. Especially snakes that move around a lot. My corn was always on the move, I had him in a 3x2x2ft cage and it still felt small for him.

[Pyrate81]

An 18x18 would be fine for a small colubrid which would reach about 3-4 feet like an eastern milk or eastern king, IMO. For an adult corn which should reach the 4.5-6 foot range as an adult, I'd go bigger. Minimum I'd suggest is something equivalent to 24x24.

Personally, I give my snakes a lot more room than the "minimum" because I like to watch my snakes interact with their environment, roam, stretch, bask, move things around, sniff the the light, etc; so they receive bigger accomodations. Most of my snakes were recently moved into 36x24 pvc enclosures so they have room to stretch, climb, and burrow. Three of those snakes are 5 feet or will attain 5 feet in length. I've heard numerous people say snakes the size of a corn, large milk, or california king snake which reach around 5 feet in length is fine for its entire life in a 20L which I don't understand as the snake takes up half the tank when coiled up.

I also try to follow an enclosure guideline(not rule) of LxW of enclosure = snake's length.

[Shera]

That would probably be fine for a male western hognose as well. They are really neat snakes with a ton of personality

[Learning Everyday]

A 20 liter?? Wow that is extremely small! Thanks.

[Pyrate81]

A 20 liter?? Wow that is extremely small! Thanks.

20L stands for 20 long not liter.

[GoingPostal]

I'm following along, I just got a divided 3 x 2 boaphile cage that I am planning to grow out some pythons in before moving them to larger cages then I'm going to move my western hog into one side and was considering what would go well in the other side. Cage size recommendations vary so greatly. One side of my cage is equal to a 20 long.