Picking the Right Reptile Tank
When choosing a reptile tank it is essential that you understand what type of reptile you are looking to house as well as where within your living quarters you will place the aquarium. The size of the tank will vary greatly depending on the reptile and your available space. Furthermore, some reptiles require specific things such as heating rocks and swimming areas for survival. Each of these things and the specific requirement of the reptile you are seeking to house should be taken into consideration when picking a tank or cage. Throughout this article we will examine the basics of picking a reptile tank for your new pet.
As mentioned above, the tank you pick depends on the reptile you are wishing to obtain. Although some reptiles do great in tanks that are relatively small in size, others require larger living areas for survival. Furthermore, some require a habitat so large that a cage may be necessary instead of a tank. The best recommendation is that for every foot your animal will become at complete maturation, you will need at least three feet of space in the aquarium or cage. Therefore, if you expect your reptile to be two feet long, it will need six feet of living space. As you can see, some will need a much larger space than a reptile tank can provide, which is where reptile cages come into play.
The second thing you need to determine after tank size is the material in which the tank is made out of – glass or acrylic. If you are housing a reptile that needs to maintain a warmer atmosphere (as with most reptiles), it is better to err on the side of safety and get an acrylic aquarium. These are easier to keep heated in comparison to your typical glass aquarium that is used for aquatic species.
Make sure that whenever you are housing reptiles that you only have one species within each reptile tank or cage. Having more than one makes it very difficult to meet the requirements (temperature, food, decorations, etc.) of each species. Furthermore, these species may become aggressive with one another making their living environment miserable. Also note that even some of the same species will wish to be alone and not placed within the same tank or cage as others; this is why researching the reptile you wish to have is extremely important.
In adding decorations to your tank, as well as essentials to help maintain the right temperature, make sure you take into consideration the reptile’s natural habitat. Since most reptiles require both a warm spot (to be met by items such as a warming rock or under-aquarium heater) as well as a cool area (which lacks the heating elements and houses the water dish), make sure these specifications are met. Again, by looking at their natural habitat you must determine what you must purchase to meet their needs. Climbers should be provided with equipment that promotes this activity while swimmers should be provided with a separate swimming area. On a side note, be sure to always keep the aquarium very clean and always use gloves to prevent the spreading of bacteria.
In conclusion, the type of reptile tank, including the size, will vary greatly depending on the animal you are seeking to house. Some reptiles require extremely large living quarters, while others can get by with a relatively small space. Be sure to research the reptile thoroughly before purchasing a reptile tank to make sure you are getting everything needed to make this habitat as similar to its natural environment as possible.