I started with a 20L tank. In order to get my new BP to feel secure enough eat and keep heat and humidity where they needed to be, I had to cover 3.5 sides with construction paper (taped on, of course), cover 3/4 of the top with plastic wrap and foil, and at that point any pretty factor was GONE. Add in the fact that preferred BP hides are not exactly those pretty half-logs or fancy decorative things but plastic and plain, and you just don't end up with a pretty display. By the time it's all said and done it just... doesn't work for that particular species of snake.
My CalKing baby is in a 10gallon now and it's fine because they MAKE cute little water bowls and decorations for small snakes, and 10 gallons of tank is a lot lighter than 20 and that's a lot lighter than 40. I will probably upgrade him temporarily into the 20L, but mostly... Man, just not worth it. All my resistance about keeping my PETS in a freaking sweater storage box went out the window by the time I was done doctoring the tank and then doing a couple of months worth of full bedding changes. So. Not. Worth. It.
(And forgive the babble. I was just thinking about this earlier today).
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