Tank size for juvies

[count dewclaw]

Ok, so my new snakes arrived and they are very young. I had been planning to put them in a 20 gal. long tank, but is this too big for them right now? Would it be better to keep them in a smaller tank until they get a bit bigger? What are other peoples' thoughts on this?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I would say it's not too big, as long as you provide a multitude of hides and cover and what not for them to explore and to hide around. As long as you don't have another snake that could use that size tank (this tends to happen when you own 60 something) go for it! I mean, in the wild, the whole world is their cage, right?!

[count dewclaw]

I thought that might be the case with garters, but I also have crested geckos and they sometimes have trouble if they are kept in a large cage when they are young. I have the 20 gal set up with LOTS of fake plants and a couple of pieces of wood and a water dish they can hide under. So tomorrow I will move them into that tank. Thanks.

[zooplan]

I use cubes of 12" or plasitc boxes for the smallest:
http://www.zooplan.net/images/Aufzucht3.jpg
This is an old set up, but some of the boxes are still in usage

[infernalis]

I keep my wee tots in smaller enclosures for the first few months, graduate them to a 10 gallon for a few more.

Its easier to keep track of the itsy bitsy snakes with a smaller enclosure.

Of course around here, I am constantly "evicting" one tenant to make room for another:eek:

[Stefan-A]

I use three different types of faunariums in sizes from about 10 to 20 litres and one home made 20+ litre glass terrarium. I've tested a few home-made plastic storage box enclosures, in sizes from 15 to 70 litres. I didn't like the plastic boxes that much, you can't take good pictures through them. ;)

I'm always considering making juvie enclosures, but I always realize how good the faunariums are. They could keep the humidity a bit better, though.

[anji1971]

I use my 12 by 12" Exoterra tank for the little guys. It's got lots for them to climb on and hide under, but it's still small enough to find them when it's feeding time.
I'm kind of like Wayne..........I tend to graduate them every so often to a bigger tank.
Figure if I can keep that pattern going, it's only a matter of time before I'll end up with a few empty tanks again just waiting to be filled.....;)

[infernalis]

Here is an assortment of housing options, one extreme to the next!

The blankets cover a large bay window facing the street:eek:

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/stuff/2room.jpg

[count dewclaw]

Thanks for the replies. At the moment they are in a 2.5 gal aquarium with a screen lid. I also have a 5 gal I could use. I was a little worried about monitering their condition in the 20 gal.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Of course around here, I am constantly "evicting" one tenant to make room for another:eek:


me too wayne, me too!:o

[jitami]

LeAnn, have you stuck with the smaller aquarium for your babies?

Given the choice of 20gL or 10G... both empty and with no other snakes waiting to occupy them... which would you(all of you!) choose for two neonates?

I'll post a pic of what I have set up for my babies who should be arriving Tuesday :D After seeing the wee little baby pic today I'm wondering if the 20gL is really too much? Part of me wants to say that they should be fine and can take advantage of the extra room and part of me is wondering if they'll get lost in there! Opinions Please?!?
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/BabyTank1.jpg

btw, I still need to add water, of course. The big brown thing on the right is a nice big sturdy rock for basking and the thing on the left is my new favorite hide. Sly just loves his cup holder! :D

Anyway, I'm starting to get a little nervous and would appreciate all advice!!!

[infernalis]

That setup should be fine, no reason to use something different.:D

[Garter_Gertie]

I'd go with the 10 gal. P & J (yearlings) have bonacious room in a 29 gal. For wee babies, I'd do the 10.

[Snake lover 3-25]

i have all 22 babies in a 20 long...... i think it just fits them:D i have tons of hides but they tend to just congragate to two or three and all squeeze in leaving the others empty lol:D

[jitami]

That's it! I just need more babies to fill the space! :D

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol EXACTLY!!!!!!! how big of a tank do you have??? 10 gal = 11, 40 gal = 44..... and it goes on and on!!!! get a bigger cage AND more babies!!! lol

[jitami]

Ummmm... I have a 55 gallon sitting empty... :D

[GartersRock]

Better get busy!!! ;)

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol there you go!!!!! that'll take...... um.... 60.5 garters!!!!!!!!!!!

[jitami]

I'm shooting for a breeding group of :confused: in year or two for the 55. Once I get that :confused: figured out and a little more experience under my belt it will be full... just a matter of time. :D

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol or you could get 60.5 BABY garters!!!!:D:p

[count dewclaw]

I ended up putting them both into one 5 gal. I separated them at feeding times (so no competition there), but one of them was growing much quicker. So now they each have a 5 gal. I'm waiting to see if that helps the smaller one catch up, but he doesn't seem to be as big of a pig at mealtime. :rolleyes: As the weather gets cooler I may end up putting them into the 20 gal so that I can give them a basking light/heat gradient.

[jitami]

Thanks LeAnn... that's something else I hadn't thought of. We have the A/C running all the time here and the 20 gal would be so much easier to give them a heat gradient. Ok, we'll see how it goes next week, but I'm thinking of sticking with the 20L. Wayne has a sibling and assures me that they'll be running around bouncing off the walls of the 20L. Sounds like fun! :D

[Garter_Gertie]

That's it! I just need more babies to fill the space! :D

I LOVE it! MY kind'a thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Garter_Gertie]

I've a 90 g sitting here empty. Waiting for the day when I have like 10-15 adult garters... Or maybe two adult Hoggies.

That puppy's gonna be sitting empty a llllooooonnnnnnggggggg time!