What should I house my snake in, an aquarium, a Rubbermaid box or a custom enclosure?

That is a tough question and one with many answers. The best answer depends on:
  • What species of snake you're housing.
  • How big it is now.
  • How big it will get.
  • What type of environmental conditions it needs.
  • Your budget.
  • How many snakes you need to house.
  • How much time you have to spend cleaning cages.
  • How much time you are able to commit to maintaining a setup.
  • Whether you want something attractive or convenient.
If you can answer all of those questions, the type of housing that is best for you and your snake should be obvious. To make things easier, I will list the pros and cons of each type of enclosure.

Aquariums and terrariums.

Pros

  • An attractively set up aquarium style enclosure can be a show piece in your living room or den.
  • Smaller aquariums are usually inexpensive and there is a wide variety of ready-made decorations and accessories available.
  • It is possible to meet the needs of many commonly kept species in an aquarium style enclosure.
  • People often have an empty aquarium just sitting around the house waiting to be filled.

Cons

  • For larger species, an aquarium of a suitable size would be very expensive.
  • Snakes are secretive and may become stressed if they are visible all the time.
  • Some species have requirements that would be difficult to meet and maintain in an aquarium style enclosure.
  • It can be difficult to find a suitable top for an aquarium style enclosure.
  • If the glass breaks, it poses a serious threat to the animal and keeper.
  • When keeping a large collection, it can be very time consuming to do a proper cleaning job.
  • If you are keeping a large collection, aquarium style enclosures can be difficult and expensive to arrange in an efficient and attractive way.

Rubbermaid or plastic boxes.

Pros

  • They are inexpensive and come in a variety of styles and sizes.
  • They are ideal for large collections of mid-size snakes being housed in racks.
  • You can ventilate them more or less according to the humidity needs of your snakes.
  • They are stackable and easy to store when they aren't being used.
  • They are usually not perfectly clear which allows your snake some extra security.
  • The rounded corners allow for quick and easy cleaning.

Cons

  • The lids are often inadequate and can easily be popped open.
  • They don't come in sizes large enough to house the medium to large boids.
  • Some people consider them unattractive.
  • Some people find it too hard to see their snakes in them.

Custom built enclosures.

Pros

  • They can be made to match the exact needs of your snake.
  • They can be very attractive and make beautiful and unique pieces of furniture.
  • They can be built to any size.
  • You can build them yourself if you are somewhat handy with tools.
  • Once they are empty you get to buy a new snake to fill it. :)

Cons

  • Once they are empty you need to buy a new snake to fill it. :)
  • They can be very expensive.
  • They can be frustrating and difficult to build.
  • It can take up a lot of space to house a large collection in custom enclosures.

You have a lot of options when considering what type of housing best suits your needs and the requirements of your snake. All three methods can work for certain species under certain conditions. It's a matter of what works best for your animals, your budget and your personal circumstances.


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Last Updated: April 16th