There are very few known 'facts' with these animals because they are understudied, however the limited information allows for animal rights nuts to start proposing every animal needs impractically large enclosures so that they can accomplish their goal of phasing out people's pets. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on June 29, 2019: maria: It's my page and I'll respond as I see fit. Be careful when purchasing insects as some such as tarantulas and scorpions can be venomous so will need to be handled with care and thought about with care, particularly if you have children or other pets. That's why I don't have six bettas right now. To the author, the only one I saw that was a totally bad recommendation was the seahorse in a 5 gal. also no fish other than neon tetras and maby some of the smaller guppies should be kept in anything smaller than a 10 gallon. Todays hobbyists are also saying hamsters need 10 foot enclosures. Many species of freshwater fish are said to do well in larger tanks, and this is a standard size for beginners. I spent months of research before I purchased a crested gecko and have looked at dozens of websites, blogs, videos, and the like. I don't like to deal with certain 'rules' and 'minimums' for enclosure/tank size. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 09, 2019: Blackosprey Your personal anecdote is neither 'food for thought' or helpful. They swim slowly, and usually lurk in a favorite hiding spot. ive owned scorpions, tarantulas, roaches and other invertabrates. Im not going to get into the arguments happening below because some people refuse to change their minds regardless of evidence you throw at them, but most of these pets will need larger terrariums/tanks in order to live their full lifespan and thrive. Axolotls need a 20 minimum. Keep in mind that small aquariums may only be suitable as temporary homes while animals are young and small. I hope you learn to be a better person one day. ". I also have a 20 gal with 2 veiltail angels and a small pleco, and a 5 gal with a 10gal whisper filter with 2 emerald corys and a baby short finned angel that won't get as big as my veiltails ( I grow my baby angels in this tank, he will get a 10gal when full grown). Also, the lizards, a lot of lizards cannot live in a 5 gal or 10 gal tank, leopard gecko and crested seem the worst for the size you recommend. Be sure to frogs species which can be kept in a smaller tank – just make sure you research the full size of any animals you intend to keep as a pet. There are many small invertebrates which can live happily in a smaller aquarium or in a tank set up as a semi-aquatic terrarium. Generally, only experienced keepers will push the envelope but it is always best to do everything in your power to assure a comfortable existence for your pet. I see one comment a person posted below saying that they have a 10 gallon tank divided into thirds so that each fish has only 3 gallons to swim around in. Never use any chemicals or soap. There are many other invertebrates that you can consider for your aquarium, like land arthropods. You can consider from the following, among others: Note: Poison dart frogs are very small, but are generally recommended to have at least 20 gallons. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on May 12, 2015: That's your opinion. Keeping fish as pets can range from the simple to the complicated, and as such are a great starter pet for kids: you can start off small and expand your aquarium or pond into a vibrant community of animals, that can form a lifelong passion for fish. Like all pets, they have particular care requirements, and it is best to follow a care guide from a verifiable authority. Now that you have joined us, we can start our magnificent journey through the world of little house animals. It is highly recommended that you pursue a professional breeder or references when housing reptiles, as their care requirements vary widely from species to species. If you are recycling an old fish tank to use for other pets then you need to make sure it is thoroughly cleaned out before you start to put anything into it. Think in terms of long term success for best results, don't purchase any pets that you don't foresee living at least five years in your five gallon tank. Blake, all of these animals would also be better off in a 1,000,000 gallon tank. Originally it was set up like: Land Arthropods: For those into animals that most would consider ‘creepy’, many pet bugs are suitable for 5 gallons. Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on January 22, 2020: GetHerpsNotHerpes: I don't care if you are a zookeeper. The axie might become more prone to disease and the tank might be prone to ammonia spikes. There are a number of small buy the right version and not a species which is going to grow bigger. So you can keep Ax’s in a ten gal but you need to buy the necessary filtration, which may be more expensive than just getting a 20 gal. Bio: Katie Michaels is a freelance writer who loves pets. Amphibians are things like frogs and salamanders, as I'm sure you know, or even loosely could be used to describe any animal that lives half on land half on water (such as a red eared slider or a beaver). Whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatee and dugong are completely aquatic; seals, sea lions, walrus, hippopotamus, platypus, otters, … I think people are getting confused, a ten gallon tank isn’t technically too small for an axolotl, but twenty gallons is recommended as axolotls expel a lot of waste. Species like ball pythons also prefer smaller, enclosed spaces and 10 gallon tanks are the preferred size until the snake is at least 700-800 grams in size. These include: The snakes, as do all pets, listed all require research into their care. I had perfectly healthy happy fish in every size container because I put in the maintenance necessary. If you live in an area near a coastline or better yet someplace near tide pools, this could be a great option for you. Recently, she has been very obsessed with fish and turtles. An animal living for 2 years is no evidence of anything. Many studies have proven that bettas in small tanks die earlier in age than those in 5 gallons. Always do careful research to pick fish for small tanks to insure they are suitable, and to find out if they should be kept alone, or with tank-mates. It was cracked and had to be returned and replaced so I got them 3 gal clear plastic storage boxes(I was running out of money, those cost $3.50 each while just the little 1gal acrylic tanks were $7!) There is a current trend among herp and small animal keepers to start barking information like they know it to be a fact. For those who are fixed on adding fish, opinion varies for different species, but the following are safe bets: There are certainly other small fish that would be recommended by many. They may also need supplemental biotin. If not, how long can they live in a ten-gallon tank until having to move to bigger sizes? If you live in an area near a coastline or better yet someplace near tide pools, this could be a great option for you. Aquatic and semiaquatic mammals are well adapted to life in the water with physical characteristics such as flippers, webbed feet, paddlelike tails and streamlined bodies. However, some of the smaller types can live comfortably in a tank this size, such as small garter snakes or red-bellied snakes that you may come across in the garden or varieties you’ll find in pet stores like, Kenyan sand boas (Eryx colubrinus), corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) or Western hognose (Heterodon nasiscus nasiscus) will all work in small enclosures. If you are willing to put work into keeping it clean, then your concerns about tank size come down to size of fish (if I tried to keep my veilteils in a 10 gal their dorsal fins would stick out of the water like a shark! To help you with this challenge you can go online and look up different tank sizes, like this one from Aquacadabra in the UK or Fish Tanks Direct in the US. I see a person who doesn’t want to admit to their mistake and fix the information. i have a few different exotic animals. Research is paramount to finding a pet that best meets the level of commitment you’re willing to put into them, as well as one that doesn’t tax your pocketbook. Please do much more research than this article and do not skimp on the habitat for any animal. Ps: try living in a 4x4 box and see how that makes you feel. that's way too small! Melissa A Smith (author) from New York on February 26, 2014: Thanks for commenting Ann1Az2. Te gecko lived 2 years. 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