Okay. So I know I'm horrible about planning tank inhabitants and then never following through. But I'm definitely getting a 15 gal tank within a week or so, and I want to plan what's gonna be living in it. It won't be stocked any time soon, since chances are my parents aren't gonna pay for it this time, and they don't seem too thrilled about getting another animal right now, anyway. But then they shouldn't have let me get the tank. XD
So. The tank comes with a heat pad and a bunch of tank decorations. I'm a bit wary about the heat pad, and I have no idea what kind of plants and rocks and whatnot they are. That being said, I'm okay with going out and getting better/more stuff, whatever's needed.
So, what can live a full and happy life in a 15 gal? I really really prefer reptiles, can deal with fish, and I'm really not all that enthusiastic about amphibians.
For reptiles, snakes would be my first choice, but I don't see it happening in the near future. Still, I can try. I'm really liking the Kenyan Sand Boas, since they're relatively cheap and apparently easy to care for. I also like rough-scaled sand boas, but I haven't been able to find one for sale, so I assume they're expensive. Then, I could always go with another ball python, but I'd want something other than the natural wild colors while still staying under about $120 (is that even possible?). And finally, there are the good old-fashioned corn snakes, but frankly, I just never saw the appeal in colubrids. Boas and pythons are so much prettier, I think.
As for lizards, the only thing I've really found interesting was viper geckos. I considered getting another leopard gecko, but again, the only color strains I really really like are pretty expensive. My dad really wants a chameleon, but I'm pretty sure putting them in anything but a screen cage is pretty much a death sentence. And I've had little things like anoles and house geckos all my life, and I think they're kind of boring as far as reptiles go.
As for fish, I don't really want to keep a whole bunch of small fish. I'd rather one or two nicely-sized ones. My primary choice is a betta. They will always hold a special place in my heart. But, to me, 15 gallons seems like a LOT of room for one little fish. I used to keep them in a little 1.6 gal and they loved it. A fish I just discovered and really, really like is the cockatoo cichlid. The thing is I've never seen one at a pet store and I assume they're fairly expensive. My other option is filling it 3/4 of the way and getting a few African butterflies. Not too sure what to do about that one...
And finally, in the amphibian department...the only thing I'm remotely interested in is red-eyed tree frogs, and I've heard they're pretty fragile. They'd be my first amphibians beyond ACFs and FBNs, so I'm a little nervous about taking that route.
So, now that I'm done blathering....any recommendations?
So. The tank comes with a heat pad and a bunch of tank decorations. I'm a bit wary about the heat pad, and I have no idea what kind of plants and rocks and whatnot they are. That being said, I'm okay with going out and getting better/more stuff, whatever's needed.
So, what can live a full and happy life in a 15 gal? I really really prefer reptiles, can deal with fish, and I'm really not all that enthusiastic about amphibians.
For reptiles, snakes would be my first choice, but I don't see it happening in the near future. Still, I can try. I'm really liking the Kenyan Sand Boas, since they're relatively cheap and apparently easy to care for. I also like rough-scaled sand boas, but I haven't been able to find one for sale, so I assume they're expensive. Then, I could always go with another ball python, but I'd want something other than the natural wild colors while still staying under about $120 (is that even possible?). And finally, there are the good old-fashioned corn snakes, but frankly, I just never saw the appeal in colubrids. Boas and pythons are so much prettier, I think.
As for lizards, the only thing I've really found interesting was viper geckos. I considered getting another leopard gecko, but again, the only color strains I really really like are pretty expensive. My dad really wants a chameleon, but I'm pretty sure putting them in anything but a screen cage is pretty much a death sentence. And I've had little things like anoles and house geckos all my life, and I think they're kind of boring as far as reptiles go.
As for fish, I don't really want to keep a whole bunch of small fish. I'd rather one or two nicely-sized ones. My primary choice is a betta. They will always hold a special place in my heart. But, to me, 15 gallons seems like a LOT of room for one little fish. I used to keep them in a little 1.6 gal and they loved it. A fish I just discovered and really, really like is the cockatoo cichlid. The thing is I've never seen one at a pet store and I assume they're fairly expensive. My other option is filling it 3/4 of the way and getting a few African butterflies. Not too sure what to do about that one...
And finally, in the amphibian department...the only thing I'm remotely interested in is red-eyed tree frogs, and I've heard they're pretty fragile. They'd be my first amphibians beyond ACFs and FBNs, so I'm a little nervous about taking that route.
So, now that I'm done blathering....any recommendations?
