Normally, the rule ‘Bigger is Better’ applies to your reptile’s living area.

The only exception to this rule would be hatchling snakes, they feel much more secure in small areas where they can hide all day.

If a hatchling snake is put in a large vivarium it is much more likely to become stressed and possibly stop eating.

Once the snakes are about 1yr old they can be moved into larger vivariums. As long as there are hides provided across the temperature gradient in the vivarium they should do well.

If you buy a hatchling of one of the larger species please remember that it will grow quickly and need a pretty big area set aside for it’s final vivarium.

Please make sure that you can provide the proper environmental conditions for your animal when it is fully grown before you buy it!

I would also avoid keeping snakes that have different needs (ie. humidity and temperatures) in the same vivarium. It’s always going to be a compromise trying to get the setup right.

If you want to keep more than one snake in your vivarium try to ensure that they are of the same species (except Kingsnakes, they eat snakes as part of their diet in the wild and should be kept individually).

Keeping snakes from different continents is also ill advised.

Over the centuries animals develop natural resistances to indigenous parasites and bacteria. The snake may actually carry these parasites with no ill effect.

The problems begin when you introduce another species from a completely different continent. They have no resistance to these parasites and may become very ill or even die.

This obviously works both ways, resulting in both snakes contaminating each other.

If you really want two completely different species buy, or build, two vivariums set up with the correct environmental conditions.

Baby Lizards can be kept in enclosures that will be large enough to house them when they are fully grown. Provide plenty of cover and branches etc. for climbing.

Spiderlings are best kept in small enclosures where the crickets can’t get away from them, gradually increasing the size of the tub or jar as they grow.

Jim Lind