Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes
Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes and can be outstanding low-maintenance pets.
However, some lizards and snakes can grow very large, and not everyone can dedicate an entire living room wall to their reptile.
Fortunately, many species stay small for life and can live comfortably in a 20-gallon enclosure or less!
What is Considered a “Small Enclosure”?
Here at Vision Products, our most compact enclosure is a 20-gallon reptile enclosure, but many consider a 10-gallon tank the smallest option for a reptile pet.
Anything smaller than 10 gallons would make leaving space for your pet difficult after including decor like a substrate, bowls, plants, etc.
That said, here are 5 of our favorite reptiles who live happily in smaller enclosures.
5 Pets for 20-gallon Reptile Tanks
1) Leopard Gecko
Adult Length:
- Females: Up to 8″
- Males: Up to 11″
Behavior: Terrestrial
When people look to adopt a small reptile pet, leopard geckos are often the first that come to mind.
These geckos are very docile creatures, live primarily on the ground, and have reasonable space requirements.
A 20-gallon reptile tank will provide plenty of room for a leopard gecko. This small reptile also finds comfort in a smaller 10-gallon enclosure, even after the decor and other equipment are added.
Just keep in mind that because they’re terrestrial, the length of the enclosure will be more important than the height.
2) Green Anole
Adult Length:
- Females: Up to 5″
- Males: Up to 8″
Behavior: Terrestrial
Even smaller than leopard geckos, green anoles make fine pets for small reptile tanks.
Not only are they small and fun to interact with, but they’re also intelligent, easy to care for, and very friendly.
In fact, my old kindergarten teacher had two green anoles in a 20-gallon tank in our classroom. Once a month, she would sit us down, let the anoles walk around, and say hi to us… Fearless little lizards they were.
You may be reluctant to bring your anole around a group of kindergarteners but make no mistake, they are excellent pets for all ages – and they’ll live very happily in a 10 or 20-gallon enclosure!
3) Crested Gecko
Adult Length (With a tail*):
- Males: 10″ – 16″
- Females: 10″ – 16″
Behavior: Arboreal
Another popular reptile that comes to mind is the crested gecko.
These pets are docile, generally easy to care for, and have very active personalities.
They’re a little larger than the previous lizards, so 20 gallons is the minimum size tank for an adult crested gecko (A 10-gallon tank will work for younger/smaller geckos).
Also, crested geckos are arboreal and love to climb, so prioritize height over length for their enclosure. And don’t forget to include some elevated surfaces, branches, and foliage!
*Some lizards can intentionally detach their tails from their bodies to distract predators. After a lizard “drops its tail”, a new one typically grows in its place.
However, a crested gecko can drop its tail but it never grows back. This isn’t harmful, but many adults are shorter because of it (tails are usually 4 to 6 inches long).
4) Rosy Boas
Adult Length:
- Females: Up to 36″
- Males: Up to 24″
Behavior: Terrestrial
Rosy boas are relatively small snakes, reaching a max length of around 3 feet (males are typically smaller, around 2 feet).
They’re also docile, easy to care for, and spend much of their time burrowing, making them great snakes for beginners and relatively small enclosures.
For a hatchling, a 10-gallon tank will work just fine. Then, as a male rosy boa grows into adulthood, he will find comfort in a 20-gallon enclosure. Females, on the other hand, have longer bodies and may need a little more space, like a 30 – 40 gallon tank.
Regardless of the enclosure size, prioritize length over height. The rosy boa is a terrestrial, slow-moving snake that is big on relaxation.
5) Kenyan Sand Boa
Adult Length:
- Females: Up to 32″
- Males: Up to 15″
Behavior: Terrestiral
The size of your Kenyan Sand Boa’s enclosure is determined by several factors, including the snake’s age and activity level.
Kenyan Sand Boas are relatively small compared to other boas, ranging from around 15 inches as a male to just under 3 feet as a female.
They’re also terrestrial and pretty lazy, so an elaborate setup isn’t necessary, but you should include a deep, soft substrate for comfortable burrowing.
As a general rule of thumb, aim for an enclosure that’s at least 20 gallons in volume for an adult Kenyan Sand Boa. For a hatchling, a 10-gallon enclosure will be an excellent temporary home.
And if you feel your adult snake needs more space, a 30 to 40-gallon tank is always a great choice!
Wrapping Up
Many amazing reptiles live comfortably in 20-gallon reptile enclosures like geckos, anoles, and smaller snakes.
That being said, you should always research your specific pet. Is your little buddy arboreal and frequently active? Is it growing larger than you expected? Do you want your pet to have more space, regardless of its size?
Take as many factors into account as you can. That way, you can offer the optimal enclosure size, whether it fits 10 gallons, 425 gallons, or anything in between.