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Melissa Kaplan's
Herp Care Collection
Last updated January 1, 2014

Standard Tank Sizes

©2000 Melissa Kaplan

 

"So, what tank size do I need for my [fill in species name]?" is a question I'm often asked. It is a question often asked of pet store employees, too. Unfortunately, pet store employees too often give the wrong answer, something like, "Oh, you can house your iguana in that 10 gallon tank for its entire life!" (Why pet stores haven't figured out that they can make more money selling the equipment and supplies reptiles need, rather than some pet product manufacturer marketing person's idea of what is cute is beyond me...then again, they still sell iguana ponchos and skin moisturizers, don't they...)

As discussed in Reptile Housing: Size, Dimension and Lifestyle, there is a rule of thumb to determining what size enclosure your reptile will need. The thing that most herp keepers don't keep in mind is that size will vary throughout the early years of its life as the reptile grows. So, the enclosure size suitable for a one year old iguana, boa constrictor or savanna monitor may not be the size suitable for that same reptile two, three or five years later. Since reptile species attain their full adult size at different ages, you need to be aware of the expected growth rate of your species. Again, pet stores and people who have listened to pet stores as to how to care for and feed their reptiles are not a good source of information as pet stores understate adult size and their care recommendations lead to stunted, undersized animals.

After you do the calculation to figure out what size tank you will need, you can compare it to the standard enclosures typically sold for reptiles.

 

Stock Aquariums

US gallons
Litres
Inches LxDxH
Centimeters LxDxH
2.5 (mini-tank)
9.5
13 x 6 x 8
33.0 x 15.2 x 20.3
5.5
20.8
17 x 9 x 11
43.2 x 22.9 x 27.9
10 (leader)
37.9
20 x 11 x 13
50.8 x 27.9 x 33.0
10 (long)
37.9
24 x 9 x 13
61.0 x 22.9 x 33.0
15
56.8
24 x 13 x 13
61.0 x 33.0 x 33.0
15 (high)
56.8
20 x 11 x 19
50.8 x 27.9 x 48.3
15 (show)
56.8
24 x 9 x 17
61.0 x 22.9 x 43.2
20 (high)
75.7
24 x 13 x 17
61.0 x 33.0 x 43.2
20 (long)
75.7
30 x 13 x 13
76.2 x 33.0 x 33.0
20 (long)
94.6
24 x 13 x 21
61.0 x 33.0 x 53.3
33 (long)
124.9
48 x 13 x 14
121.9 x 33.0 x 35.6
37
140.0
30 x 13 x 23
76.2 x 33.0 x 58.4
38
143.8
36 x 13 x 20
91.4 x 33.0 x 50.8
40 (breeder)
151.4
36 x 18 x 17
91.4 x 45.7 x 43.2
40 (long)
151.4
48 x 13 x 17
121.9 x 33.0 x 43.2
45
170.3
36 x 13 x 24
91.4 x 33.0 x 61.0
45 (long)
170.3
48 x 13 x 19
121.9 x 33.0 x 48.3
50
189.3
37 x 19 x 20
94.0 x 48.3 x 50.8
55
208.2
48 x 13 x 21
121.9 x 33.0 x 53.3
65
246.1
37 x 19 x 25
94.0 x 48.3 x 63.5
75
283.9
48 x 19 x 22
121.9 x 48.3 x 55.9
80
302.8
73 x 14 x 21
185.4 x 35.6 x 53.3
90
340.7
49 x 19 x 26
124.5 x 48.3 x 66.0
100
378.5
73 x 19 x 20
185.4 x 48.3 x 50.8
120
454.2
49 x 25 x 26
124.5 x 63.5 x 66.0
125
473.2
73 x 19 x 24
185.4 x 48.3 x 61.0
150
567.8
73 x 19 x 29
185.4 x 48.3 x 73.7
180
681.4
73 x 25 x 26
185.4 x 63.5 x 66.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rubbermaid Stock Tanks

Other stock tanks made by other companies are available in the same or similar capacity as these Rubbermaid tanks. Rubbermaid model numbers 4242, 4245 and 4247 have a drain plug.

Model # (US gallons)
Litres
Inches
Centimeters
4243 (50 gal)
189.3
52 x 31 x 12
132.1 x 78.7 x 30.5
4244 (70 gal)
265.0
40.5 x 32 x 24
102.9 x 81.3 x 61.0
4242 (100 gal)
378.5
52 x 31 x 25
132.1 x 78.7 x 63.5
4245 (150 gal)
567.8
58 x 39 x 25
147.3 x 99.1 x 63.5
4247 (300 gal)
1135.6
63.3 x 69 x 25
160.8 x 175.3 x 63.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Commercial Enclosures

Resource

Product Name
(Manufacturer)

Dimensions LxDxH in.

US
gal

Imp
gal

Big Apple Reptarium
(by Apogee)
15.5 x.15.5.x 22
26
19
16.5 x 16.5 x 30
35
29.4
28 x 16.5 x 30
60
49.9
16.5 x 30 x 48
103
85.6
30 x 30 x 48
187
155.7
30 x 30 x 72
281
233.6
Chameleon Sr.
36 x 24 x 48
179
149.5
Chameleon Jr.
24 x 19 x 30
59
49.3
Iguana Home2
36 x 24 x 48
179.5
149.5
IguanArium
(by Zoo Med)2
24 x 18 x 24
45
37.4
30 x 18 x 30
70
58.4
36 x 18 x 48
135
112

Vision Reptile Enclosures

Model 211

 

24 x 22 x 14

 

32

 

26.7

Model 221
28 x 24 x 12
34
29
 Model 215
28 x 14 x 20
35
17
 Model 222
28 x 24 x 24
70
58
Model 322
36 x 23 x 21
75
62
Model 332
36 x 28 x 18
78
65
Model 422
48 x 28 x 18
105
87
Model 432
54 x 36 x 18
151
126
Model 433
48 x 28 x 28
241
135
Model 622
72 x 28 x 18
157
131
Model 632
72 x 36 x 18
202
168
Model 734
80 x 28 x 44
426
355
Big Apple
Herpsupplies.com
Lizard Lair
24 x 24 x 24
60
49.8
36 x 24 x 24
90
74.7
24 x 24 x 36
90
74.7
Herpsupplies.com Create-a-Cage
(by ESU)
24 x 24 x 23
57
47.7
16 x 16 x 23
25
21.2
16 x 16 x 19
21
17.5
Iguana Kingdom2
32 x 32 x 56
248
206.7
Lizard Lounge (by Oceanic)
Available in 15, 32, 45, 50, and 70 gallon sizes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gallon size indicated on the Big Apple website is Imperial gallons (277.4193 cu. in./gal), not US gallons (231 cu. in./gal)

Don't ask me which of the above I think are good for an iguana. I do not think any of them are by virtue of how fast iguanas grow. As for the enclosures made primarily of mesh, bars, or screening materials, it is difficult to impossible to keep an iguana heated properly in an enclosure made out of such materials.

 

Calculating Capacity

To calculate the capacity of any enclosure, simply multiply the height x width x depth, in inches. This gives you the total cubic inches (cu. in.). Divide this by the following factor to get gallons:

231 cu. in. = US gallons
277.4193 cu. in. = Imperial gallons

 

 

 


Related Articles of Interest

Reptile Housing: Size, Dimension and Lifestyle

Imagine: A Visualization Exercise

Basic Iguana Cage Design Problems

Determining Iguana Age and Size

 

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