Lets talk about enclosure size for snakes!
There is a lot of debate about whether large enclosures cause stress for snakes, especially with larger species. The fact is that snakes DO like small spaces. But does this mean that they should be in small enclosures? No, it doesn't. Small, covered places can give snakes and many other animals a sense of safety and security. This is why we provide many of our small animals with various hides. Large enclosure sizes do not take away from this if hides are provided! Large, open areas with no hides WILL cause stress, not the size of the enclosure itself. Here is a study done on corn snakes and their enclosure size:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159121002227?casa_token=ffFzA_quzzkAAAAA:8P30oIJsQKOskGE2_vw45qqZQzr3_CrfUC02aePGn5EnH5ncLtJk7DjxIPlyiu7-Tz7zwUQwHs8 This study found that when given the opportunity, these snakes were more likely to stretch out and use large spaces. When given an option, the test subjects would also choose larger enclosures. So how do you determine what size enclosure to house a snake in? A good rule of thumb is for the tank to be as long as the snake is. However, every species is different. Some will require extra space for climbing or moving, especially with large species.
