What kind of reptile would do well in a 13 gallon tank?

[Praireboyfarmer]

Yesterday I found a 13 gallon terrarium for 39.99 (Normally 99.99) and so I bought it. I was going to put a snake in it until reality slapped me with the fact it really would be too small and snake would just quickly outgrow it.

I'm on the fence about whether or not to take it back and get my money back but I just can't see keeping it if I can't really put anything I'm interested in in it, but the price was really good, the cage is really high quality, and I figure I could probably find some use for it eventually.

So what kind of creature would comfortably live it's life in a cage of that size?

[Minkness]

Male garter or male hognose are the 1st that come to my mind. It's also a good starter size for most babies. My MBK is in a 10 gallon right now and she'll probably stay in it for roughly a yearish before I up her to a 20 gallon long. My male hognose is in a kritter keeper that has the floor space of a 5 gallon tank, and I see him staying in that for a while as well before being moved into a 10 gallon.

[jarich]

Where are you from that a 13 gallon tank would normally cost $99?! Thats crazy. Id say take it back and get your money back. Then wait until they have the 'dollar a gallon' sale. Most chain pet stores have that sale a couple times a year.

[Minkness]

I agree that the price seemed steep, but OP said terrarium, not tank, so he may have purchased a specialty enclosure. A 10 gallon equivalent with front opening doors by ZooMed Is $50+ at repticon. Same one at a pet store is $75+. So it depends on what it was OP actually purchased. That's the difference between a terrarium and a fish tank, and pet stores only do the $1 a gallon sale on fish tanks.

[jarich]

Ah, yes, I see now. I saw tank in the title and then must have skimmed over the 'terrarium' bit. Makes more sense

[jossh27]

I thought the same thing, jarich.

Pacman frog or equivalent would be fine in that too. They don't move around much

[Aaron_S]

Firebelly toads.

[Minkness]

Lol Aaron. Toads aren't snakes ;p

[Aaron_S]

Lol Aaron. Toads aren't snakes ;p

I only read the thread title.

[Minkness]

Fair enough. I was just teasing anyway.

[jossh27]

The op asked what kind of creature would be able to live its entire life in a tank that size... Good suggestion Aaron

[Minkness]

All I have to say to that is...Tuché

Lol

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[Albert Clark]

I raised all of my ball pythons in 10 gallon tanks from baby to adult over the past 10 years. Only recently did I switch them into tubs and a rack system. All healthy and two are gravid now. Depends on how you set up the enclosure and how meticulous you are about cleaning. The two that are gravid actually bred in 10 gallon tanks also. Was it ideal? Probably not , but it worked for me and my collection. When you really think about how a ball python lives it is understandable they don't require much space at all. They are mostly inhabitants of termite mounds and rodent burrows and enjoy living in tight spaces. :blink:

[amousley1]

You could keep a baby/juvenile sand boa in a 13 gallon for quite a while.

[bcr229]

A Savu python could live in it for quite a while. I have an 18 month old male that is still doing just fine in a six quart tub.

[eminart]

It really depends on the dimensions. What is the floor space?

[jarich]

I raised all of my ball pythons in 10 gallon tanks from baby to adult over the past 10 years. Only recently did I switch them into tubs and a rack system. All healthy and two are gravid now. Depends on how you set up the enclosure and how meticulous you are about cleaning. The two that are gravid actually bred in 10 gallon tanks also. Was it ideal? Probably not , but it worked for me and my collection. When you really think about how a ball python lives it is understandable they don't require much space at all. They are mostly inhabitants of termite mounds and rodent burrows and enjoy living in tight spaces. :blink:

there is a very big difference between what you can get away with and what is best for the animal. A ten gallon tank for a ball is hardly justifiable as best for the animal, or even reasonable what could be considered healthy in my opinion.

[jjhill001]

What are the dimensions?

[reptiledude987]

African house snakes would do fine.

[ARCH3R]

A male hognose would never outgrow it, you just might have to wait a year to put him in there or buy an adult.

[reptiledude987]

A male hognose would never outgrow it, you just might have to wait a year to put him in there or buy an adult.
Why do you say wait a year? Is that too big for a baby? I have my new hatchling hoggie in a 2'x2'x1'. is that too big?

[Minkness]

I think it depends more on the hognose. I understand that some stress out in larger enclosures, but my little guy LOVES to cruise around so while he'll be fine in a 10, I will most likely provide him a 20 long here in just a few months.

[Albert Clark]

there is a very big difference between what you can get away with and what is best for the animal. A ten gallon tank for a ball is hardly justifiable as best for the animal, or even reasonable what could be considered healthy in my opinion.

Both of these guys were raised and reared in a ten gallon tank. They started breeding in a 10 gallon tank but in March they moved into a rack. :shocked: Totally healthy bc I was meticulous.

[Bloutitt]

I suggest a Kenyan! 13 Gal will be perfect for it for a while, especially if it is a male!

[Aaron_S]

To be fair. Ball pythons just breed. They'd breed in bad husbandry too.

[jossh27]

To be fair. Ball pythons just breed. They'd breed in bad husbandry too.

What size do you keep yours in?

[Aaron_S]

What size do you keep yours in?

Tubs bro. Tanks are less than ideal for breeding purposes.

[Albert Clark]

Tubs bro. Tanks are for chump breeders.

CHUMP BREEDERS?????? What makes you think you can sling insults at people you don't even know!!!!!! YOU HAVE SOME NERVE PLAYBOY!!!!!!! WHY AM I A CHUMP BC I DECIDED TO RAISE MY COLLECTION THE WAY I WANT TO! Ball pythons wont eat, stay healthy, or breed unless their environment was and is correct. Every new person pretty much start their collection with tanks so don't get it twisted! WHEN YOU ARE WRONG YOU ARE WRONG. NOBODY HERE NEEDS TO BE CALLED DEROGATORY NAMES. Keep the name calling for your pets! :angry: :angry: :angry:

[Albert Clark]

To be fair. Ball pythons just breed. They'd breed in bad husbandry too.

YOU don't know a thing about my husbandry unless I tell you! Stop being a totalitarian and be objective to other people and their methods. Stop assuming things without the knowledge of the facts. Poor husbandry will not get you anything except a sick animal in enough time. All my animals thrived where they were bc I knew how to provide the correct environment in a tight space. ALL MY ANIMALS ARE HEALTHY AND HAVE BEEN HEALTHY FOR QUITE SOME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! :yes: :yes: :yes:

[Aaron_S]

CHUMP BREEDERS?????? What makes you think you can sling insults at people you don't even know!!!!!! YOU HAVE SOME NERVE PLAYBOY!!!!!!! WHY AM I A CHUMP BC I DECIDED TO RAISE MY COLLECTION THE WAY I WANT TO! Ball pythons wont eat, stay healthy, or breed unless their environment was and is correct. Every new person pretty much start their collection with tanks so don't get it twisted! WHEN YOU ARE WRONG YOU ARE WRONG. NOBODY HERE NEEDS TO BE CALLED DEROGATORY NAMES. Keep the name calling for your pets! :angry: :angry: :angry:

Simmer down lol. I don't care how you keep your collection or how you have them breed. Tanks are simply not ideal for breeding. I never said it was bad to keep them in a tank.

YOU don't know a thing about my husbandry unless I tell you! Stop being a totalitarian and be objective to other people and their methods. Stop assuming things without the knowledge of the facts. Poor husbandry will not get you anything except a sick animal in enough time. All my animals thrived where they were bc I knew how to provide the correct environment in a tight space. ALL MY ANIMALS ARE HEALTHY AND HAVE BEEN HEALTHY FOR QUITE SOME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!! :yes: :yes: :yes:

I never said anything about your husbandry. I was making a statement that ball pythons simply breed. You do know that when they were being imported in the masses that people would frequently open the bags and adults being shipped together would be locked/breeding right? This is a fact. Did you know this fact? Maybe you should stop assuming about what knowledge people have?

[Albert Clark]

I said in my op that it probably was not the "ideal" space for them. I made it work bc I had to and it did. When the pp said it wasn't healthy for them, that is when I went on the defensive and countered with my ability to keep my animals healthy in spite of the limited space. I interpreted your statement about "bad husbandry" as a direct attack on the way I conduct my husbandry. The "facts" as they pertain to my husbandry or anyone's who uses tanks to house their animals. The "CHUMP BREEDERS" statement was below the belt.

[Aaron_S]

I said in my op that it probably was not the "ideal" space for them. I made it work bc I had to and it did. When the pp said it wasn't healthy for them, that is when I went on the defensive and countered with my ability to keep my animals healthy in spite of the limited space. I interpreted your statement about "bad husbandry" as a direct attack on the way I conduct my husbandry. The "facts" as they pertain to my husbandry or anyone's who uses tanks to house their animals. The "CHUMP BREEDERS" statement was below the belt.

That's your own feelings taking it personally. I made no such "attack" against you. Sorry to say but my posts here or life in general does not revolve around "Albert Clark" and how he keeps his snakes.

I simply don't care how you do it. Animals healthy? Yes? Cool then I don't care. I don't believe tanks are ideal for breeding purposes regardless of your reasons. That's my personal opinion.

[Albert Clark]

That's your own feelings taking it personally. I made no such "attack" against you. Sorry to say but my posts here or life in general does not revolve around "Albert Clark" and how he keeps his snakes.

I simply don't care how you do it. Animals healthy? Yes? Cool then I don't care. I don't believe tanks are ideal for breeding purposes regardless of your reasons. That's my personal opinion.

If that is truly the case , keep the derogatory statements at home. We all respond to posts here and when a quote is highlighted and a response is made it usually refers back to the person being quoted. Any how it is obvious you "don't care" about certain things that you should. That is where you are wrong. My life is "my life". I don't need your validation on what revolves around my life. Get off your cloud and be a objective moderator who cares!:yes: YOUR OPINION?????????

[Aaron_S]

If that is truly the case , keep the derogatory statements at home. We all respond to posts here and when a quote is highlighted and a response is made it usually refers back to the person being quoted. Any how it is obvious you "don't care" about certain things that you should. That is where you are wrong. My life is "my life". I don't need your validation on what revolves around my life. Get off your cloud and be a objective moderator who cares!:yes: YOUR OPINION?????????

Conversation is over. You won't get it as you make statements then contradict them in the next one.