aquarium vs reptile aquarium

[Kuhlifan]

I'm getting ready to convert my wife's 10 gallon tank to a 20 long. My mom is giving me a 20 long she bought at a yard sale. The tank looks pristine, no scum, scuffs or damage of any sort that I can detect. My mom said that it came with a screen top on it though, so I'm guessing it was used for either reptiles or small mammals.

My question, is there a difference between the glass aquariums sold for fish and the ones sold for reptiles? Also, if there were reptiles or some other animal, would the tank be safe for fish, assuming it was scrubbed out?

 

[dudley]

Yes there is a difference, they are not meant to hold as much water as an aquarium for fish is. They are usually labeled when new.

 

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

could be a aquarium that was used to house a reptile best to ask/show someone familiar with the difference in glass.

 

[enthusiast]

they offer tanks specifically for reptiles but the chances that whoever bought it didnt go out and buy one specifically labeled for reptiles. You can easily go out and buy a 20 long and use it for reptiles and if you ever wanted to use it as a fishtank you could do that then also.

I dont think either way it'd matter, if you wanted to use it for a fishtank then i'd say more-likely-than-most, you could.

My only concerns with it would be to make sure the silicone sealing along the edges is still in good conditions. If somebody kept a snake in it that was fed mice, or maybe even perhaps gerbils, they would dig and scratch in the corners and mess up the silicone sealing which would obviously jeapordize the tanks waterproofing.

 

[Navyscuba]

I got one that was use for rats and currently using it for aquatic turtles and is mostly full. You can tell if they are reptile tanks by the top plastic frame on top. If it has some kind of little grooves on one side(usually the back side and front) is a reptile tank. If not is an aquarium.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Yes be careful becasue the glass on most reptile tanks is thinner. If your good at measuring measure the glass thickens using a caliper or micrometer and use the glass thickness calculator on the internet based on aquarium size to make a reasonable determination. If the thickness meets the length / height requirement you should have no problem filling it with water to the tip top.

 

[Kuhlifan]

Are the grooves on the outside of the frame, the top or the inside?

I got one that was use for rats and currently using it for aquatic turtles and is mostly full. You can tell if they are reptile tanks by the top plastic frame on top. If it has some kind of little grooves on one side(usually the back side and front) is a reptile tank. If not is an aquarium.