If you’re interested in getting a snake as a pet, you might wonder what size enclosure you’ll need for your new friend. Which snakes can live in a 20-gallon (76-liter) tank?
Snakes that can live in a 20-gallon tank include the Kenyan sand boa, California kingsnake, red milksnake, rosy boa, the corn snake. This is the ideal size for these snake species, allowing them to be healthy and happy.
This article lists the 5 best snake choices for a 20-gallon tank. Let’s dive right in!
1. Kenyan Sand Boa
As adults, Kenyan sand boas reach a maximum length of 24 inches (2 feet), and make excellent pet snakes for beginners. This snake species is low maintenance and can easily thrive in a 20-gallon (76-liter) tank.
To keep your Kenyan sand boa healthy and happy, fill the enclosure with a sand substrate, and include branches, leafy decor, and a hide to mimic this snake’s natural habitat. Keep the temperature between 93-95°F (34-35°C) on their basking spot.
Feed your Kenyan sand boa mice and ensure it has clean water daily.
Kenyan sand boas are sweet and docile pets and don’t typically have issues with being handled.
2. California Kingsnake
California kingsnakes are smaller than most others in the kingsnake family and remain manageable all their life. This makes a 20-gallon tank ideal for this snake type, as long as you provide it with plenty of food and tank entertainment.
You can choose your California kingsnake based on its color, and they boast striking patterns. This snake species is ideal for first-time reptile owners, but you should ensure that the tank has a suitable substrate, a heating unit, and plenty of hiding places.
Whatever rodent you put in front of your California kingsnake will quickly be devoured because they have a healthy appetite and appreciate weekly meals.
3. Red Milksnake
A 20-gallon enclosure is also large enough for an adult red milksnake. These snakes enjoy a paper-based substrate that is deep enough for them to hide in, and they enjoy the following items in their enclosures:
- Logs
- Artificial plants
- Rocks
- Climbing equipment
- Pebbles
Red milksnakes prefer humidity levels between 40% and 60%, and you can monitor this with a humidity gauge. Keep the temperature in their tank at 85°F (29°C) at the warm end and 75°F (24°C) at the cool end.
Red milksnakes don’t mind being handled, but it’s best to keep handling sessions short when you first get your pet. They also enjoy moving around freely, so it’s a good idea to supervise them outside their enclosures.
4. Rosy Boa
Rosy boas have gentle natures, making them an excellent choice for a pet snake, especially for kids. They’ll be comfortable in a 20-gallon enclosure, and you can easily replicate their natural environment with items you’d typically find in a desert.
The tank you use for your rosy boa should be well-ventilated. You can feed your pet snake frozen mice, rats, or lizards; they’ll also need a small water bowl cleaned daily.
5. Corn Snake
You can keep a male corn snake in a 20-gallon tank. This snake type is easy to care for and sometimes entertaining to watch. They need plenty of hiding places, a heated basking spot, and a water dish big enough for them to bathe in.
Male corn snakes don’t grow as large as females, so you should consider the gender before adopting your corn snake. Like other snakes on this list, corn snakes are docile and don’t mind being handled.