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raynefyre

Taste the Rainbow
My corns are past 100 grams and at least 2 - 2.5 feet long. They will both 09's. My female, Aly, is in a 15 gallon tank and my male, Charlie, is a little smaller so he's in my 10 gallon tank. Just curious, when do you upgrade the size cage they are in? I plan on getting about 4 more hatchlings this year so I'm considering building/buying a rack. Any ideas or suggestions?
 
My rule of thumb is add the length plus the width of the cage and it should at least equal the length of the snake. If the snake is bigger than that you need a bigger cage. The need for a rack depends on the number of snakes you have and how much floor space you want to devote to snakes.
 
Bigger is always better though, except for hatchlings, who need to feel secure. The more space the snake has, the more exercise it can get and the more it can explore, which I figure is probably good for them. I know they don't socialize like mammals, so the experiments done with rats in deprived and enriched environments probably don't apply, but I like to think they do. More and bigger makes a happier snake in my mind, not that it needs to be fancy or anything...just...interesting?

I'm rambling and its 2am. I'll shut up now.
 
Wade's rule of thumb is what I use too, at least in general. If you're in a pinch for space and you have a climber (as indeed most corns are) you can increase the usable area of the viv by adding branches, vines, hammocks, etc. Hot glue + discount store vines = happy corn snakes!
 
Bigger is always better though, except for hatchlings, who need to feel secure. The more space the snake has, the more exercise it can get and the more it can explore, which I figure is probably good for them. I know they don't socialize like mammals, so the experiments done with rats in deprived and enriched environments probably don't apply, but I like to think they do. More and bigger makes a happier snake in my mind, not that it needs to be fancy or anything...just...interesting?

I'm rambling and its 2am. I'll shut up now.

I have two 09's one of them in a 30 gal. long and one in a 55 gal.(my other 30 gal. broke due to moving back to NM) is this fine?
 
The 30 gallons fine but the 55 is spaced out, I'll see if I can post some pics.

Heavens, your snakes are lucky!

As long as they have good opportunities for thermoregulating they're fine in those tanks. Yes, lots of hides are often appreciated. Good husbandry requires at least one warm hide and one cool hide. More is bonus.

I'm not discouraging anyone from having a well-decorated viv with plenty of hide choices, but a lot of people seem to forget that corn snakes live in the great outdoors - which is a whole lot bigger than the biggest viv. Do yours eat well and behave normally? Relax and enjoy.
 
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