Pet for a 10 gallon tank?

[lthom]

I have a spare 10 gallon tank and was wanting some ideas of what I should do with it. Is there any interesting pets that could live their whole life in a 10 gallon tank? Suggestions do not have to be fish.

[Kitsune]

hermit crabs, rats, or paradise fish (Ilove how they change colors)

[khombre]

a betta?

or some guppies? or mollies? or platies? or swordtails? or... lots of choices.. depends on what u're preferences really are :dive2:

[TheMightyQueenPixie]

id try a hermit crab, but im not sure if 10 gals is enough...apparently they like to have buddies.... There are some REALLY interesting sites though about them... I have to admit I am tempted....

[DaisyTattoo]

I would say a mouse or gerbil or something small like that. Maybe a toad of some sort. A tarantula or an emperor scorpion can also live in a 10g. I wouldnt go with a rat though because they are tall enough to reach the top and they are very smart and will get out. I had a rat in a 10g i had it taped shut and had bricks on top of it and she still got out and was lost in my house for 3 days until my mom found her under the bathroom sink lol.

[marapets]

yeah mouse or gerbil

[lthom]

Are there any cool frogs that can be put in there?

[threejjj]

you could put an anole in a 10 gallon

[UncaBret]

Poison Dart frogs maybe. Emg would know more about those.

[momar]

Fire belly toads, fire belly newts, ADFs, various other forgs like asian bullfrogs. For good info on amphibians, esp. frogs, go to

www.pollywog.co.uk

[RockabillyChick]

lets see.

Rats: require at least two cubic feet per rat. the closed environment of a fish tank traps ammonia from their urine, they breathe in the fumes, and it causes resperitory problems. also, rats should be kept in same sex pairs or groups. they are very social and will get lonely and depressed if kept alone.

Hermit crabs: would be fine in a 10g tank, but require a lot more care than people think. they need 80% humidity, which means a SOLID lid, not a screen one. without this humidity, their gills will dry out and they suffocate. if you want hermit crabs, please visit www.hermitcrabassociation.com and www.hermit-crabs.com

all other rodents: same as rats. too small and a fish tank traps the ammonia and causes resperitory problems. fish tanks are NOT designed for rodents. rodents should be kept in a cage that has air flow and circulation.

most small frogs and insects can be kept in a 10g tank, and there may even be some small snakes that could live happily in there, but you'd have to research what kinds.

[DaisyTattoo]

Thanks for the info Rock. I had no idea about the hermit crabs. I also didnt know about the rats and mice. I did keep a rat in a 10g with a screen lid for a time, but was soon moved to a giant, and I mean 2 people could get in it, ferret cage and was also provided with 2 friends. One I had to have euthanized b/c she had breast cancer(yes, rats can get it too) One died of old age, and the last one I gave to a friend per advice of my veterinarian. He told me I should stick to animals that live longer bc of my emotional attachments lol. I cried like a little baby when I had to put that rat to sleep. I'm glad you popped in with that information. It's good to know.

[Ruben Tolon]

A pac-man/horned frog would be an interesting display and much easier to keep than most people think. I think they are interesting beautiful animals, and theylive relatively long.

[tricksterpup]

A pac-man/horned frog would be an interesting display and much easier to keep than most people think. I think they are interesting beautiful animals, and theylive relatively long.
Yeah they are great pets, you gotta keep them moist with daily constant misting. But they are great pets that will eat anything alive. :)
http://allaboutfrogs.org/month/satchmo.jpg

[greendeltatke]

I like using a screen lid with my hermit crabs, but with a dishtowel draped over the top. I can spray the towel itself if the humidity goes down. Its a compromise between humidity and ventilation.

[RockabillyChick]

i use a sheet of plexiglass on my 20g hermit crab tank with 2 water dishes and damp sand and my humidity stays 85% constantly without misting. i mist maybe once every 2 months. when i take off the lid every day to feed and water them, that allows enough air exchange for the crabs. also the lid isn't air tight.

[born2lovefish]

Small lizard of some sort....

[Toirtis]

Small geckos (Stenodactylus, house geckos, etc), Dendrobatid or Mantella frogs, reed frogs, firebelly toads, small newts (Cynops, etc) or salamanders, smaller tarantulas or scorpions, terrestrial snails, fiddler crabs.

[greendeltatke]

Terrestrial snails? I've never heard of anyone keeping those as pets. I suppose it would be very easy.

[Red Tailed Wonder]

errr that pic is discusting

*barf*

[DaisyTattoo]

errr that pic is discusting

*barf*
Are you talking about the pic of the frog? I think it's cute. :thm:

[tricksterpup]

Are you talking about the pic of the frog? I think it's cute. :thm:
thanks, they actually make great pets and are pretty cool.

[Red Tailed Wonder]

ye...

yikes

[tricksterpup]

ye...

yikes
For your viewing pleasure.. a young Ornate horned frog.

http://www.pollywog.co.uk/c.ornata3.jpg

An adult
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordates/craniata/amphibia/anura/images/pic-sa-ornate-horned-frog.gif

South American Ornate Horned Frog

Common Name: horned frog, Pac Man frog

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Leptodactylidae

Genus species: Ceratophrys (horny skin) ornata (ornate)


Fast Facts
Description: Large, fat frogs, often very colorful; usually green with dark red to black markings along their back; females slightly larger than males

Size: Snout to vent length: 14 cm (5.5 in)

Weight: Large females may weigh up to 480 g (1 lb)

Diet: Large insects, small vertebrates such as lizards, mice, and other frogs (including their own species)

Incubation: Females deposit 1,000 to 2,000 eggs in standing water; at optimal temperature, it takes only two weeks to go from egg to tadpole to froglet

Sexual maturity: 18 to 24 months

Life span: Average 6 years

Range: Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil

Habitat: Burrows in the leafy, muddy vegetation of tropical forest floors

Population:

Status: Not listed by USFWS or CITES



Fun Facts
1. These frogs are often called "mouths with legs" because the mouth appears to be the entire front half of the body.

2. The common name, horned frog, comes from the folds of skin that are located over its eyes.

3. As an adult, the horned frog is a passive hunter that waits for its food to come to it before attacking. As a juvenile, they are very active feeders and are cannibalistic.

4. This species has vomerine teeth, or teeth on the roof of its mouth, as well as around the outside of its jaw.

5. Horned frogs are usually diurnal; some may be crepuscular. Like all frogs, they sleep with their eyes open. Their skin is very sensitive, acting as a supplemental breathing organ. The oils found on human skin can be harmful to frog skin.

6. In general, frogs have smooth skin while toads have textured skin.



Ecology and Conservation


As a small predator, one of the ornate frog's roles is controlling populations of small animals. As tadpoles and adults, horned frogs themselves are a source of food for many other carnivores. Like all amphibians, horned frogs have porous skin and respond quickly to changes in the environment; they are very sensitive to minute changes in the ecosystem.

These frogs are becoming more popular in scientific embryological research. Researchers are able to halt the development of the egg in different stages of development in order to better understand cell division.



Bibliography


Conant and Collins. Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1991.

De Vosjoli, Philippe. The General Care and Maintenance of Horned Frogs. California: Advanced Vivarium Systems, 1989.



Dickerson, Mary. The Frog Book. New York: Dover Pub. Inc., 1969.

Duellman and Trueb. Biology of the Amphibians. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1986.

Halliday, Tim R. and Kraig Adler (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Facts on File, 1987.

Mattison, Chris. Frogs and Toads of the World. New York: Facts of File, 1986.

Stebins and Cohen. A Natural History of Amphibians. 1995. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

[Toirtis]

South American Ornate Horned Frog

Diet: Large insects, small vertebrates such as lizards, mice, and other frogs (including their own species)

Heh...I have a photo somewhere of an adult choking down a baby boa constrictor. :D

[robert333]

water dragon or gekos

[tricksterpup]

water dragon or gekos
water dragons grow to big for a 10, he would need to upgrade later on.

[lthom]

I like the idea of frogs but am unsure of what kind.

[Cartman102]

I hear that Blue RIng Octos stay rather small for a 10 gal. :p