If you like the look of tanks, then why not simply keep the animal in a tub as a baby, and when it is large enough that escape would be difficult, move it into a display tank? Then you could "have your snake and see him too" Get it? Because you'd HAVE him since you kept him in a tub when he was small, and SEE him since he'd get moved to a display tank. "have your cake and eat it too"? *cough* Sorry.