Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been using a 30G breeder tank with a center brace for my turtles but I've since moved them into a pond. Now I want to move my collared lizard into the 30G and I want to build a background for it using polystyrene. The problem is I have only done it for a 20L before and it was easy to build the background and then slip it into the tank. But the 30G breeder has a center brace, so I either need to build it in 2 parts, or break the center brace so I can just slip the background in. Will the tank break if the center brace is taken out? Or is the center brace only if you fill it with water?

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I have removed the plastic cross braces from larger tanks when they were used for reptiles. Even semi-aquatic reptiles that needed less than a full tank of water.

By plastic cross brace I mean the extensions of the plastic extrusions that fit around the rim of the tank.

I have seen tanks with acrylic cross braces welded in. I have never removed one of those.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Yeah I'm talking about the plastic black brace. It's like the top rim of the tank with the black plastic and the black brace attached to it.

You're safe to cut it out then. Just make sure to file the cut edge smooth so you don't cut your arm lifting stuff out of the tank.
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Currently keeping:

6.10 Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Javan, mixed colors)

1.1 Philodryas baroni

1.1 Lampropeltis triangulum multistriata

1.0 Rhodesian Ridgeback