I would stick to 18" high personally as that seems to be the sweet spot for easy heating and enough height. I plan to pick up a AP T-13 for Vicky and probably will switch Rosey over to one as well. As for size, 4x2x18" is fine. Rosey is 6' and in a 4x2x14" at the moment and she is fine in there. I do take her out a lot whenever she wants to wander around though. All snakes are different. Rosey doesn't climb that much where as Vicky loves to climb.