Enclosure size / Stress / Hatchlings

[Lesa]

I have been reading here that young snakes feel more secure in a smaller enclosure. I have also read that many people keep their snakes in click-clacks for a year or more. I don't want to do that, I want to be able to see what's going on (watching a snake cruise his enclosure is very relaxing!) However I don't want to stress out our new snake. Our first snake was just bunged straight in his large enclosure and never seemed to worry, but he was a bit older. So my questions are:

1) When is an appropriate age/size to put a snake in a larger enclosure - the enclosure is ready so it's not a case of keeping him in a click-clack due to lack of space or $.

2) If I move him and he stresses, moving him back should decrease the stress?????Yes????

3) How do you tell if a snake is stressed?

4) For a small snake (4 months old) how big is too big for an enclosure?

All and any advice would be appreciated.

[chloethepython]

i put my 4 month old s/w carpet python into a 4 foot enclosure with no problems
as long as you have a few hides for it and it is still eating well it should be ok
if it goes of its food its a good idea to put it back in the click clack till it gets a bit bigger

[Lesa]

Well this one is a 4 month old Atherton Tableland Python. I have four hides of various shapes and types, so I'll give it a go.

[Aslan]

Lesa - This question is asked regularly - there is no doubt it is POSSIBLE to raise a young snake in a large enclosure - I reall don't see the point though...

Everyone who tells you to use a large enclosure always adds "if it stresses/goes off it's food put it back into a click-clack" - logically, this tells you that a click-clack is a superior enclosure for a young snake as it has the snakes best interests covered...why you would then keep it in a larger enclosure baffles me...?

Young snakes are generally more susceptible to becoming snappy and/or going off their food than older snakes - so why risk it? All of my reptiles make the move into a nice large enclosure once they mature but I can't understand any reason to risk the wellbeing of a young snake by moving it in sooner...

As I said, it is certainly POSSIBLE however you increase the risk of complications occurring - provided you are aware of this make the decision yourself with it in mind - ultimately the decision, and consequences, are yours to deal with...my suggestion is stick with a click-clack for a while - makes no sense to me to do anything else...

[tarzan]

I always keep my hatchling jungles in click clack or similar for the first 12 months and keep there temp constant 28 to 30 degrees this is mainly to ensure that they feed constantly. If your 4 month old is striking at its meals and isn't shy i don't think you will have a problem with the larger tank. I put the click clack and the snake into its bigger tank with the lid of the click clack half open so that it can leave and return if thats where it feels safe, it is familiar with the scent etc of the click clack, if it gives up on the click clack i remove it.

[Lesa]

Well I popped him in his larger enclosure, made sure it had a nice temperature range and lots of hides. He seems to have settled in well - investigated every hide, chilled out on a couple of branches and ate a meal tonight without a problem. It may help that the enclosure is in the study which is "low traffic" area. I think this has help satisfy his urge to climb. When I got him out before his feed tonight he seemed more relaxed and was content to wrap himself round my wrist and view the world. He also had his first shed (with us) in his new enclosure - all very exciting.

[Auzlizardking]

We make these for Hatchies for that very thing - so you can view your snakes

600 x 450 x 500



$130.00 for the 600 W x 450 D x 400 H

(white only)





800 x 450 x 400

$160.00 for the 800 W x 450 D x 400 H (White only)

[Lesa]

They look good. Mine's about hte same size but a bit taller as he's a climber!