Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just recently I upgraded my corn snakes cage from a 10 gal to a 20 gal long. Now my question is I have an uninhabited tank that is of decent size. I'm looking to get another pet for it, but I have not decided on what, I want somthing that is generally cheap to maintain, won't grow out of the vivarium, and a dope pet. I was thinking along the lines of like a scorpion or a tarantualla, but my moms isn't really having that - if you have any ideas or reccomendations I would appreciate it. Thanks

Well, you didn't say if you were interested in another snake or not, but if so you could go with a male Kenyan Sand Boa, Hognose or Rubber Boa.

The only other invertebrate (other than tarantula and scorpion) that I can think of is millipedes or hissing cockroaches. I'm not sure, but there are possibly some species of frogs - however, just like tarantualas and scorpions they are usually better as 'hands off' pets. There's always fish! LOL
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

my question is though would like a hog nose, or the sand boa that you speak of grow longer then the 10 gal tank, and this same thing applies to the tarantula/scorpion, would I be able to get away with buying one of the following and keeping it 4 its lifetime in that cage or will i need to upgrade, thanks for your input.

-Greg

A male Kenyan Sand Boa or Rough Scaled Sand Boa will get to about 14-18 inches. I have a KSB and plan to get a Rough Scaled soon. Females get around 32 inches so they would need larger. These species however do stay buried quite a bit, but they are pretty cool in my opinion. Kenyan Sand Boas are easier to find and very docile. Rough Scaled Sand Boas have a reputation for being difficult feeders.

A Western Hognose averages 16-25 inches. I'm considering this species as they seem really cool as well. I personally would only put a male in a 10 gallon since they stay smaller.

Rubber Boas average 21 inches for males and 26 inches for females. Either sex would be fine, but these seem to be hard to come by in the US - Canada seems to have more available.

So all of these could live their entire lifetime in a 10 gallon (20lx10wx12h).

Rosy Boas range from 24-42 inches with the males being smaller. I've heard some say a 10-20 gallon would suffice. A 10 gallon might be more for a male. Some say a 10 gallon with these guys might be pushing it.

African Millepedes can get to about 12 inches (but 10 is probably more common). You could keep a pair in a 10 gallon. They like to bury themselves a lot. They eat fruits and vegetables and need a humid environment with soil to dig in. You can handle these guys, but wouldn't want to overdue it. They can let off a noxious smelling substance when frightened that may cause a mild irritant to some - it's meant to taste bad to predators. I handle some regularly (I volunteer at our zoo) and no one has ever witnessed them do this - I'm guessing because they are frequently handled?

Emperor Scorpions (one of the more common in the pet trade) can be kept in a 10 gallon. They are better left unhandled and require a diet of insects. They also don't seem to move a whole lot.

For most tarantulas that cage size would be more than adequate for their lifetime - the don't move around much and are best left unhandled as they are very fragile (if they jump or are dropped on the ground will shatter like glass). They too require a diet of insects.

Guess it all depends on what kind of pet you're looking for. I know the feeling of 'empty tank syndrome'!
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

What about a scarlet kingsnake you can decorate the tank with branches,dry leaves over the substrate,etc it would be nice or some tiny frogs lke mantellas and you could plant the terrarium.
Bianca

Oh yeah - I forgot about scarlet kingsnakes. They average 14-20 inches and would work too.
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

You could get a leopard gecko - that's what I did with my old empty 10 gallon.

i agree there easy to maintain and an adult only needs that amount of space. Good luck, u kno u could jus settle with ur pets now and give tha tank to me
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Pink is a manly color

www.lizardaction.com

lol

There were lots of good suggestions, but my advise is to put the unused tank away for a while. While it's out of site, do some research; read some books, browse the net etc... Don't think about what might fit your space, but what you might like to have, what you can afford, what your mom will allow etc... Don't forget that many pets live for many years; are you taking all of your pets to college with you? Are you going to live with mom forever, or move out to your own place? Landlords don't always care for snakes and other herps. Learn about the animals you are considering, and get to know their requirements befor choosing. You don't want to be surprised when you learn that your new hognose won't give up his steady diet of toads. You may end up needing more supplies, and spending more money than you would have just buying another 20 gal. and getting the animal you really wanted. Choosing a pet based on a piece of equipment that you already have is a backwards way of doing things.

Here are some things you could do with an empty 10 gal:

1. Use it to hold previous resident (corn snake) while you clean the 20 gal. tank.

2. Design a living terrarium without animals in it, but with lots of plants and moss and fun stuff. Maybe later use it for animals (see #7).

3. Store other stuff in it.

4. Sell it at a yard sale, or to a friend. Make $5 (or more) to save up for that green tree python you've always wanted.

5. Set it up to raise mice to feed your corn snake.

6. Simply, save it.

7. Set it up for native herps, and when spring rolls around see what's in your own back yard. Catch a few, observe them, and then return them to the yard before summer is up.

Pleasant herping,

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Zoodude

"Just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they aren't after me."