Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My wife and I have been wanting a gila for several years and have never put our minds together to get one. My number one reason for not doing so already is that I have a collection of arboreal vipers that need my attention. I breed mainly African species (Atheris) and they keep me busy. I have been downsizing my collection over the past couple of years and the wife is thinking that it is time for a gila. And I'm going to argue with her??!! Gilas give me woodies. I have Dr. Seward's book, but have been out of the loop since he released it a couple of years ago. I am not looking to breed them, just want a good pet for right now. I want to make an extreme tank to not only show the animal off, but make an ideal habitat. I would appreciate any input. I have several friends who keep them in merely adaquate 20 gallon tanks, so let me know how I should acclimate my animals, as well. Thanks for your free knowledge. I can trade you for free knowledge on arboreal species

Derek Morgan

You'll love gilas...they are one of my favorites and I currently have 1.1 (one from Dr. Seward and a female from Hank Molt...both outstanding specimens). I personally think a 20 gallon tank is far too small; even for a lazy species like gilas. We keep our gilas in 4' neodesha cages and will soon be moving them to cages that measure 5' wide x 3' deep x 2' high. We go simple: aspen substrate, water bowl shallow but large enough to allow the gila to soak in - make sure the bowl isn't more than 3", cork bark tube for hide area and a rock to bask under the heat lamp...simple but very effective. If you want to go naturalistic just beware that gilas LOVE to dig and will tear apart just about anything that is not cemented into place. I would recommend fiberglass rock work forming basking areas and retreats with perhaps some plastic plants mounted in HEAVY bases...that could look pretty neat.

GOod luck,
Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

I know that I will love the gila. I just need to free myself up from the burden of a large collection and take the time to enjoy some species that I have always wanted to keep. At this point I would like to have fewer critters and keep them in super nice cages. I would also love to add a black head python into my collection. Maybe a death adder, too...just some stuff that I would keep for fun without the stress of their breeding potentials and such. Thanks for your comments.

My best.

Derek Morgan