Tanks are widely used to contain pet reptiles and small mammals - but why ?

Glass or plastic tanks are widely used to contain pets for several reasons :

1. Pets can not easily escape from tanks because there no gaps, and they can not chew through them. Many pets can not climb up the sides of a tank to attempt escape through the top because the side walls are slippery, and this also prevents these pets from reaching and making contact with hot lights and heaters mounted in the top of the tank.

2. Tanks are easy to heat and retain heat so that the environmental temperature can be kept steady

3. Tanks have smooth, impervious surfaces which can be easily cleaned and disinfected

4. Pet owners can see their pet through the transparent walls and watch it's behaviour

5. Tanks are relatively cheap to buy

6. The solid tank walls protect pets from droughts and adverse external environmental conditions

Precautions to take when keeping pets in tanks :

1. The tank should not be totally sealed. The top must have gaps to allow air movement into and out of the tank. These gaps must be too small to allow escape of the pet.

2. Glass can concentrate heat, so tanks should not be positioned in direct strong sunlight

3. The tank should be shallow enough that the pet can be reached and food and water utensils can be changed easily from the top..

Updated October 2013