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

Praireboyfarmer · 05-02-15, 11:08 AM

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** · 05-02-15, 11:18 AM

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 · 05-02-15, 01:01 PM

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** · 05-02-15, 01:17 PM

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 · 05-02-15, 08:04 PM

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

jossh27 · 05-03-15, 08:11 AM

I thought the same thing, jarich.

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

**Aaron_S** · 05-03-15, 08:20 AM

Firebelly toads.

**Minkness** · 05-03-15, 08:21 AM

Lol Aaron. Toads aren't snakes ;p

**Aaron_S** · 05-03-15, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

Lol Aaron. Toads aren't snakes ;p

I only read the thread title.

**Minkness** · 05-03-15, 08:31 AM

Fair enough. I was just teasing anyway.

jossh27 · 05-03-15, 08:33 AM

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

**Minkness** · 05-03-15, 09:34 AM

All I have to say to that is...Tuché

Lol

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Albert Clark · 05-03-15, 02:00 PM

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.

jarich · 05-03-15, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

Albert Clark · 05-06-15, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarich

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.

Totally healthy bc I was meticulous.