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:

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

[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

[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

me too wayne, me too!