View Full Version : 55 gallon tank possibilities
matt99fish
07-05-03, 03:59 AM
First post here and I wanted to know what everyone thought I should do with a 55 gallon acrilic tank. I know basically nothing about snakes, lizards, newts, and whatever else you want to recomend. If you had any ideas and/or good links for some general information on anything I would appreciate it. Thanks
-Fish
I think a nice male emerald tree boa would be awesome in such a cage.
http://www.cites.org/gallery/speciespics/emerald_tree_boa.jpg
Zoe
Darlene
07-05-03, 06:31 PM
I'm a nut for the absolutely beautiful corn snakes! They are so easy to look after & so much fun. A wonderful beginner snake. Here are some links :
http://members.aol.com/guttata319/Hawkherp/morfs.html
http://www.serpenco.com
http://www.corn-utopia.com
http://www.houseofmaok.homestead.com
http://serpwidgets.com/cornsnakes/morphs/morphs.html
Good luck!!
You'll get mixed up opinions here. However, MY opinion ( surely the one that is right all the time ;) ) would say, build a nice planted vivarium with some beautiful looking darts in it. Looks appealing, doesn't cost much moey for the animals ( as much as, lets say the emerald tree boa ) and the frogs are really nice looking and diurnal :)
Just my two cents :)
Bartman
07-05-03, 06:36 PM
If you like lizards i would tell you to get a uromastyx. Im pretty sure in a tank that big you could fit 2 of them..but one of the smaller species...like the uromastyx maliensis (dont know about the exact spelling on maliensis but i think thats right;) ) they are very hardy lizards, easy to handle and not a lot of maintenance but they require a uv, and heat lamp but they dont even drink water! and they only eat vegetables so it takes away the hassle of crazy crix. i have 2 mali uromastyx my self and they are the best lizards EVER..in my opinion
good luck though...
I wouldn't recommend putting any lizards in an acrylic tank. They will scratch the crap out of it with their nails. I also woudln't recommend a tree boa/python unless you have experience working with boas/pythons. These are for experienced keepers. Although I'm partial to snakes myself, I like Dozers suggestion of a nicely planted amphibian setup :) How much work are you willing to put into maintaining a setup? Are you looking for animals that you can handle? We could probably give you some better suggestions with a few more specifics.
drewlowe
07-05-03, 06:54 PM
I like zoe and dozers ideas cause i want both of those things. LOL
But i would have to say leopard geckos just cause they are my favorite lizards or snakes would have to be a corn snake. hehe.
Yeah, I missed the part about not knwoing snakes. Maybe an Amaazon tree Boa then? Equally cool and come in way more colours :D
snakemann87
07-05-03, 06:58 PM
I DEFINATELY wouldnt get an emerald. as he said he knows NOTHING aobut snake, lizards or the sort. why would he go get an emerald off the bat?? Most people dont even own them cause their price and difficulty. I would first research what kinds of snakes and lizards you are interested in then ask. There are TONs of possibilitys. A nice adult beardie, a uro. OR a nice community tank of lizards. A corn snake, ball python, I could go onn and ooooooon and ooooon.
fanmaninacan
07-05-03, 07:18 PM
Hey
Lizard-A couple of leopard Geckos
-Bearded dragon_But as zoe said-Will scratch it up
-Blue tounge skink
-1 mali Uro--But would scratch it up
Snakes- Amazon Tree boa...But there not to friendly
Corn Snake- Cool colors-Great pets/small
Ball Python--I love em..LOL
Rat snake/king snake
For a snake I would go with a pair of balls, For lizards I would go for a couple of leopard Geckos.
N bartman..2 uros wont go good in a 55g.....UBigger is needed for 2.
T.P
What are the dimensions of this cage?
Auddi01
07-05-03, 07:51 PM
If you are wanting lizards, defenately go with Leopard Geckos, if you are wanting a snake defenately go with a Corn snake
The reason i say this is that they are considered beginner reptiles, and are pretty easy to maintain and with that size vivarium you would have plently of room for either of those.
Check out the caresheets on this website, there are caresheets for LOTS of herps....CLICK HERE (http://cancherps.tripod.com/)
A single beardie in a 55 would probably be border line for size... It could suffice but I dont recommend it.. Lizards can live in the worst of conditions (we see this daily in pet stores) however they flourish in prime optimal conditions. And for the record, a beardie would never get its nails into acrylic. I would say only some varanids, and teids would cause damage to acrylic. And those are ruled out due to size limitations for a 55 gal.
matt99fish
07-05-03, 08:36 PM
thanks for the replies everyone. Some one asked for some more specific information, here it is: I do want to be able to handle the animals, I am willing to do a fair amount of maintenance and whatever other work, the tank is 48x13x18, my dad hates the idea of poison frogs, and I'm a kid with not too much money. hope I didnt forget anything. thanks again
-Fish
I'd go with the geckos. With a tank that size you could put in a nice group of leos.
matt99fish
07-05-03, 08:49 PM
correction: 48 long 20 high 13 deep
Ah you could definitely put a corn snake in there! They make great pets... cute, inexpensive, tame, good feeders, easy to find, some in all sorts of colours!
Zoe
If you want to handle you pet, then amphibians are defintiely out of the question. As for the poison dart frogs, your dad has no reason to be nervous about them, captive bred darts have no poison, they get their poison from what they eat in the wild ;) I am gonna have to go with the above statement of perhaps a cornsnake, milksnake, kingsnake, spotted python, children's python, rosy boa, or sandboa. The milks and kings are loads more active and can be a bit skittish sometimes, they don't usually bite, but they do musk.
hhmmm empty tank syndrome. That is a nice size tank, you could do a lot with it.
What kind of expense are you looking to put into a pet? how much do you want to spend monthly on it's care and feeding? Do you want to get something that needs a uv light and uv bulbs? Do you (or your parents) have a problem with feeding rodents or bugs? Or keeping bugs in your home?
Do you want a pet you can handle a lot?
Do you want something with plants in it or a more desert setup.
Do you want something that has to have a water area in their tank? Or high humidity?
I think it would probably be best to make a list of things that you and your parents are willing (and able) to deal with and then check out all the care sheets you can find to see what is best for you.
Good luck.
matt99fish
07-06-03, 01:49 AM
okay so "what kind of expense are you looking to put into a pet?"
up to a few hundred for the entire setup hopefully way less.
how much do you want to spend monthly on it's care and feeding?
I make 10 dollars a week allowance so about 30 a month
Do you want to get something that needs a uv light and uv bulbs?
no preferance
Do you (or your parents) have a problem with feeding rodents or bugs? Or keeping bugs in your home?
no problem at all
Do you want a pet you can handle a lot?
Definatly
Do you want something with plants in it or a more desert setup.
either but I would rather have plants
Do you want something that has to have a water area in their tank? Or high humidity?
no preferance
geckoguy157
07-06-03, 02:27 AM
i say make an all natuarl tank im just finishing my one its 4 feet long by 2 tall by one foot deep and it has a ruiing river sytem waterfalls a lilte pond abd evreything lol i dont know what to put in it yet
If you get a corn/king/milk snake, this is the cost you're looking at:
say 60$ (possibly less) for the animal, 5$ for substrate, 10$ for a heat pad or basking lamp, 20$ for hides and branches and a water bowl, and 5$ for a regular 40W bulb for light. Allow an extra 30$ for other expenses. Not very expensive.
It'll cost a few dollars a week to feed... between 50 cents and 2$ a week depending on size. Plus paper towel and water.
They don't need UV light.
You can definitely handle a corn snake. Kings and milks tend to be more skittish but can be tamed.
You can give corns a nice set up with plants and bark mulch. Not desertic.
They don't need too high humidity, just spray a couple times a week. No biggie.
Zoe
HerpFan
07-06-03, 03:16 PM
I would get a ball python,read the caresheets,there on the home page,but do LOTS of re search before you go out and get a herp...
matt99fish
07-06-03, 04:45 PM
three more things. I was looking at pictures of corns (thats most likely what I'll get if I decide on a snake) and the volcano corn looked really cool. Is this any different than other corns? two, someone mentioned a community tank of lizards. what could this include and is there something i can make or buy to keep them from scratching the tank? last, I also have a 15 glass tank I might set up in addition to the 55. I'm guessing I couldnt have a snake in there but are there and small lizards I could put in there. thanks
I'd go with crested geckos. They're cute and fairly easy to care for.
If you want something you can handle, leopard geckos and fat tailed geckos are hardy (with proper care) and become quite tame. Bearded dragons are great but an adult would find it a little narrow being only 12" wide. Corn snakes would also be a good bet and they come in many different color morphs. It would also make a terrific planted terrarium. Already having the tank is a good start but depending on what you decide on there will be additional expenses such as heat lights, full spectrum UV bulbs, possibly an under tank heater, etc. That brings up another point, I think under tank heaters would be OK with an acrylic tank but I"m not positive. Does anyone have any info on that? The most important thing is to do lots of research. Read books, visit web sites, and find a good pet store with clean enclosures and knowledgable staff. Hope this helps. Have fun deciding:-)
Bryce Masuk
07-07-03, 02:03 AM
I would sell the tank if I could and build a 4X2X2 melimine tank
then you have Soooo many options
clawed lizards will scratch acrillic it may not be deep but its deep enough to make 1000's of little white scratches
If you cant sell the tank and want a snake you could get a Corn, King, Ball python ,Hog nose, childrens/spotted python, milksnake
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head
matt99fish
07-07-03, 09:12 PM
I was just looking at some sites and saw that both the russian and kenyan sand boas are small. could I put 1 or two of these in a 15 gallon? If so, which is better, are they easy to care for, and can you handle them often? thanks again
Yes a volcano corn is the same as regular corns. Corns come in billion different colour and pattern mutations... volcano is jsut the name of one of them. Click <a href="http://www.cornsnake.net/new/cornprice.php3">here</a> for a bunch of different morphs. As for your question on sand boas... kenyans are probably the best tempered of the two. Sandboas are great pets, they don't get large and tolerate handling very well. They are very easy to take care of as long as they are feeding well. I wouldn't recommend keeping two snakes together however, especially a 15 gallon is too small. You can keep one in a 15 gallon. Housing multiple snakes however, even ina large enclosure, isn't a good choice IMHO. Snakes are solitary animals and only come together in the wild for breeding. They egt stressed out by the company of others, as well as if one animal gets sick the other may too. In addition, it becomes difficult to monitor the animals, if one regurgitates its food overnight, how will you kow who it came from? and so forth...
matt99fish
07-08-03, 05:24 PM
thanks. If I decide to get 2 sand boas for two different cages, is it possible that I could mate them or is that not possible? Also, is it expensive to build a snake cage or tank? I want to use my 55 for fish but I also want a corn or ball python. Really tough decision.
XxRachxX
07-08-03, 05:42 PM
use it for fish!!!! you can have lots of different kinds and theyre far more active! well.. constantly!!
if you were going to put a snake in there i would try and get one whos fully grown.... i mean a hatchling corn wouldnt be able to live in a 48" tank.... u'd never see it! if you have rescue centers near you, go take a look, if something tickles your fancy find out if you have what it takes and go for it!
good luck! hope you make the right decision!
matt99fish
07-08-03, 09:48 PM
I think I will use the 55 for fish. I was reading that both corns and balls could go into a 20 gallon. If I made two 20 could I have both of these or two of the same type and possibly breed them? obviously I'm still a begginer but 20 seemed a little small for both so I would be willing to go to about 30 gallons. If not I can get the sand boa but I saw a nice python at the pet store by me for a reasonable price.
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