What type of home is best for a snake?

Question

I know that I am asking allot of qestions about this subject but I need to know your opinions. What is a better home for a snake. A clear plastic bin or a glass reptile terrarium? Also, can I use Reti Bark for a Leopard Gecko? I am still not sure which one I will be getting. It is an extemely hard decision for me.Now I'm also thinking about a hamster and guinea pig.

Answer 1

Housing

For hatchling corn snakes the best type of housing is a small plastic container up to about 18" x 12" in size and need not be any more than about 6 - 7" high. The box should have a number of small ventilation holes and will be large enough for the first year of the snake's life. The floor of the cage can be covered with bark chipping's or corncob granules. But it is generally more hygienic and better for hatchlings to be kept on newspaper or kitchen towel. The snake should be provided with a small drinking bowl and some shelter, such as a commercial snake hide or a short piece of dark plastic tubing. The hide needs to be small enough that the hatchling is a tight fit and can feel the sides around it. Young snakes have numerous natural enemies

and if kept in an open environment will prove difficult or impossible to get feeding and may well become ill or die. Many people have great success keeping hatchlings in plastic boxes that are considerably smaller than the size mentioned above. But obviously the size has to be increased sooner as the snake grows. Keeping hatchling snakes in vivariums that are too large often causes stress to the snake, as they feel exposed and vulnerable.

It is much better to stick to the smaller recommended housing sizes until the snake is around a year old. Hatchling corn snakes are very thin and very good escape artists. It is important to make sure their housing has a securely fitting lid and that the ventilation holes are of a fine mesh, too small for the snake to squeeze through. Fortunately there are a number of good secure housing units such as the "Desert dens" available commercially that are fine for housing small snakes. Larger snakes of a year or more in age can be kept in wooden vivariums with sliding glass doors at the front Glass fish tanks with a ventilated and securely fitted lid on top can also be used.

Adult Corn snakes are surprisingly strong and great care must be taken to ensure the lid is too heavy to be pushed off, or else very securely clipped on. A vivarium of 36" x 18" x 18" is large enough for one adult corn snake while a pair would be better kept in a 48" long vivarium. The housing should be furnished with some strong branches for the snakes to climb up and to help rub their skin on when they are shedding. A water bowl large enough for the Corn snake to fully immerse itself in should also be provided and this will prove beneficial to the snake when it needs to shed its old skin.

Answer 2

Glass tanks are nicer to look at.  No, do not use anything loose such as bark or sand for leos...they have a high incidence of eating the substrate and becoming impacted.  Use non-adhesive shelf liner or repticarpet instead.

Answer 3

glass is better...

Answer 4

ok... first you need to choose which one you want and then learn as much as you can about caring for that animal. Its food, housing demands, care demands , attention demands.

Housing ANY reptile is a serious matter. I would use nothing more then the largest reccommended tank for the animal you are buying. Be prepared to upgrade (if you are getting a snake) I would the reptile carpets. You can clean them with hot water let them dry and use them again!!! with the bark you can not. As or a tank or a home, you should use atleast a 10 gallon with a top for ONE gecko.  And for the snake, mine is inside a 20 gallon tank that i got from the pet store. it has a sliding/locking top on it with screen. i have a light and a water dish large enough for him to get inside and get his whole body inside. (good for soaking) I use the reptile carpet for the bottom. he has a lil home in there but he wants nothing to do with it. I am getting him a log and a bigger shelter, i think he might like it better.

Answer 5

glass aqurium and use sand. no repti bark.