Stressing out the snakes...

[alan12013]

2 questions:

I've read basic husbandry books as well as online research regarding this topic but I still don't have an opinion of my own on the matter and it's bothering me. My problem is that I want to provide what I believe to be the best living conditions for my animals. My rack system that I currently use would be able to house several more units and actually house them better if I could switch to a 32qt (I think it's 32?). My standard is and possibly will be 41qt sterilites set up like the one pictured. I use UTHs that are regulated and am working on heat cable. I know that this is a large size however I've read nothing to state that a snake that grows up in that environment or larger will be stressed. From what I can tell there is a feeding aspect to this where the snakes might feel more secure in a smaller enclosure and will eat better IF they are not eating in a larger enclosure. My snakes all eat fine and that's the only stress indicator that I would be able to pick up on. I just want them to have a good temperature gradient and be able to stretch out when they want which is why I chose 41qt as my standard. This leads to my second question...

How stressful is it to switch enclosures? My first priority would be to get Miss Jane (my ghost female) into a sterilite that I can manage better then her current tank. She is 2 years old and her tank is all she has ever lived in. I can keep her in that tank if needed but for many reasons I think it would be best to put her into a sterilite. If my thinking on enclosure size is incorrect and I decide to step one size down then how stressful would it be to move my other 2 females into the smaller enclosures? Lastly, I'm having problems trying to get my ambient temps below 86 degrees. The hot spot is easy but even my cool side tends to get hot. The reptile room is generally warm and humid as I have chameleons in all screen cages in there as well that need regular misting.

[John1982]

Sometimes I need a bit more hatchling space and will upgrade a holdback to an adult(41qt) tub when they are barely more than a hatchling themselves - they do fine. It's hard to smother an animal with extra space. If she don't acclimate, well, then we can work on figuring out why.

[decensored]

I don't pay too much attention to my ambients as long as they don't fall into the 70's. Keeping an 86 degree ambient temp is difficult, even in a racking system. As long as it's around 80 degrees you're fine.

As long as your animal is eating well and thermoregulating I wouldn't worry. Whether they are happier in a tank or a bin... my honest opinion. I don't think they give a scaly little squirt, as long as their needs are met. I know the pro's and cons of both, but ultimately it doesn't matter as long as they're healthy.

Switching their enclosures will stress them out temporarily, but so will changing their substrate LOL. They'll acclimate and be fine within a couple of days.

[alan12013]

Awesome thank you! Sounds like I can move her into the tub then. Maybe for now I'll house my females in a 41 and the males in a 32, after all they're males if they don't like it they can suck it up.

[ElliotNess]

Alan all of my females wil be in 41qt and males 32. The reason is when its time to get the tub a rocking the 41 has adequate space. As far as stressed your snakes brother that I have is in a 32 currently. He is fine. When he wants privacy he has his hide which he crawls on top of and wedges himself between it and the ceiling. They will make due..

[J.P.]

bigger tubs/bins are ok. what's important is to provide snug fit hides, it's their security blanket, not the actual enclosures they are in.