How the checker works
The checker compares your enclosure's length, depth and height against two benchmarks for one adult animal:
- Minimum: the smallest enclosure we'd consider acceptable long-term.
- Recommended: the size that lets the animal behave naturally and makes it easier to build a proper heat gradient.
| Species | Minimum (L×D×H) | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Crested gecko | 18×18×24 in | 18×18×36 in |
| Leopard gecko | 36×18×18 in | 48×24×24 in |
| Bearded dragon | 48×24×24 in | 60×30×24 in |
| Ball python | 48×24×24 in | 60×24×24 in |
| Corn snake | 48×24×24 in | 60×24×24 in |
| Milk snake | 36×18×18 in (small subspecies) | 48×24×24 in |
| Western hognose | 36×18×18 in | 48×24×24 in |
| Ackie monitor | 60×30×48 in (5×2.5×4 ft) | 72×36×48 in |
| Pacman frog | 24×18×12 in | 36×18×18 in |
| False water cobra | 96×36×36 in (8×3×3 ft) | 120×48×48 in |
| Burmese python | 96×48×48 in for smaller adults; large adults need much more | 120×60×48 in+ |
| Radiated tortoise | 96×48 in floor (8×4 ft) | 144×72 in floor or an outdoor pen |
| Red-eared slider | 72×18×21 in (≈125-gallon tank) | 72×30×24 in or a large tub/pond |
Juveniles can be kept in smaller enclosures, but buying the adult size first usually saves money. Bigger is generally better, as long as the space is filled with cover so the animal feels secure.
Why not just use gallons? Gallons describe volume, not shape. A tall 40-gallon tank and a long 40-gallon tank suit completely different animals: crested geckos need height, while leopard geckos and bearded dragons need floor space.
Turtles and tortoises: for red-eared sliders, water volume matters most (10 gallons per inch of shell), and for tortoises it's floor space, so treat height as a guide only.
Read the full care sheet for your species in our care sheet library.