40 Gallon Tank: 19 Answers You Should Know (For Beginners)

Tanks are one of the most common enclosures for a pet and getting the right size for your pet is an important step as an owner. This ensures that the animals live a healthy and comfortable life within their tanks without getting stressed due to little space.

It’s imperative to know what animals are capable of living in 40-gallon tanks without jeopardizing their health. This article will get to know the various animals you can put inside a 40-gallon tank.

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Is A 40-Gallon Tank Good For A Hamster?

No, a 40-gallon tank wouldn’t be enough for a hamster as this is too small for them.

It may sound strange that a small hamster wouldn’t be satisfied with a 40-gallon tank, but it’s true. People are used to seeing hamsters being kept in those small carrying wire cages that look so cramped.

These small cages vary in design, some have several floors with ramps while others only have a single floor. These would have beddings made out of hay and of course, the ever-famous hamster wheel.

All these would be packed inside a 24 x 12-inch cage and that’s simply not enough. Hamsters wouldn’t have enough space to roam around and that would make them stressed out.

Various kinds of hamsters such as Syrian Hamsters, Golden Hamsters, and others, would be uncomfortable in small enclosures. Dwarf Hamsters on the other hand would do well in a 40-gallon tank, well, this is obvious since they’re smaller than their other hamster cousins.

Is A 40-Gallon Tank Good For A Dwarf Hamster?

Yes, a 40-gallon tank would be sufficient for a dwarf hamster.

The name of this hamster implies that it’s practically the smallest hamster out there, and with that in mind, a 40-gallon tank would suffice for them.

As a matter of fact, two Dwarf Hamsters can fit in a single 40-gallon tank. Other bigger hamsters like the Syrian Hamster, can only live in a 40-gallon tank alone because they tend to become aggressive when they share their homes with other hamsters.

Is A 40-Gallon Breeder Tank Big Enough For A Bearded Dragon?

No, a 40-gallon tank wouldn’t be enough for a Bearded Dragon.

The only instance wherein a 40-gallon tank would be fitting for a Bearded Dragon is when the animal is in its baby stage.

As Bearded Dragons grow they would need an appropriately sized cage that accommodates their sizes as they age as well.

The ideal size for a fully-grown Bearded Dragon would be 75-120 gallons. The bigger the tank for this animal, the better. This is because it can fully cater to the needs of a Bearded Dragon such as basking space and a spacious area for hiding.

Is A 40-Gallon Tank Good For A Snake?

It would depend on the kind of snake you’re going to keep in a 40-gallon tank. If the snake is small, then yes, 40-gallon tanks would be good for them.

Smaller sub species of snakes like the Antaresia pythons, Dwarf boas, small Jungle Carpet pythons, and many other species would live comfortably in a 40-gallon tank due to their small size.

Can A Flowerhorn Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

No, a Flowerhorn fish can’t live in a 40-gallon tank because it would be too small for them as they are big fishes.

A Flowerhorn fish is a big fish and it grows at a rapid pace. This fish grows to approximately an inch per month and the average size of a fully-grown Flowerhorn would be 12 inches.

A measly 40-gallon tank would simply not match the size of a Flowerhorn fish and this is exactly why owners must buy a larger tank from the get-go.

The ideal tank size for a Flowerhorn would be 200-375 gallons.

Can An Oscar Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

No, an Oscar can’t live in a 40-gallon tank because it’s too small for them.

Oscars are big fishes so it’s only right to give them a big tank as well. A typical Oscar fish has an average size of 10 inches and the tank size that would be ideal for this size is 55 gallons.

Although 55 gallons would be enough for them, it’s still better to get a bigger tank. 75 gallons would be the best tank size for them. This only applies to a single Oscar since multiple Oscars, let’s say a pair of Oscars, would need to live in a 100-gallon tank.

Can A Baby Corn Snake A 40-Gallon Tank?

Yes, a baby Corn Snake can live in a 40-gallon tank.

A 40-gallon tank is the ideal tank size for an adult Corn Snake so getting a tank with this size from the start would help owners save money in the long run.

A baby Corn Snake can typically live in a 10-gallon terrarium so a 40-gallon tank would be more than enough for them.

Can A Guinea Pig Live A 40-Gallon Tank?

No, guinea pigs can’t live in a 40-gallon tank as these would be too small for them.

A fully-grown guinea pig would measure up to 12 inches and a small 40-gallon tank would simply not be enough space for them.

The ideal tank size for guinea pigs would be 50 to 75 gallons. It’s a common misconception that larger tanks are harder to clean, it’s not. It may be more time-consuming to clean it due to its size but the maintenance would be better in the long run compared to a small tank.

Can You Put A Baby Snake In A 40-Gallon Tank?

There are mixed answers when it comes to this because some people claim that baby snakes are terrified of large spaces and would therefore need to be kept in smaller tanks first before moving on to larger tanks.

Then again, there are others out there who share their opinion about baby snakes living in larger tanks. These people agree that baby snakes should be kept in bigger tanks because this would save them money in the long run.

Figure out what kind of snake you have and determine if it’s a small snake or a large snake, if you have your answer, base on that and decide whether to get a small tank or a large tank.

How Many Leopard Geckos Can Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

Only one Leopard Gecko can be kept inside a 40-gallon tank since this is the ideal tank size for them. Also, multiple Leopard Geckos being kept in the same tank is not recommended since this would result in them getting hurt by each other.

The average size of a fully-grown Leopard Gecko would be 6 to 7 inches. A 6-inch gecko should be housed in a 20-gallon tank while a 7-inch gecko must be housed in a 40-gallon tank.

Multiple Leopard Geckos shouldn’t be kept in the same tank because they tend to cause injuries to one another. Bite wounds, broken bones, and dropped tails would occur if they are kept together in a tank.

How Many Cichlids Can Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

Most cichlids have an average size of 2 to 8 inches depending on the species. A 40-gallon tank would suffice for a single cichlid.

The tank size that would be appropriate for a cichlid would depend on its species. For some instances, two cichlids can be kept in a 40-gallon tank. This would apply to cichlids that are below the 8-inch size range.

As for those cichlids that measure up to 8 inches, they would need to be kept in 55-gallon tanks.

What Reptiles Can Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

The reptiles that can live in a 40-gallon tank would be the Rosy boas, Collared lizards, African House Snakes, Leachianus geckos, Western Hognose Snake.

These animals don’t grow into large reptiles so a 40-gallon enclosure would suffice for them. Also, some of these reptiles are pretty easy to get and are quite affordable too.

What Turtles Can Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

Bog Turtle, Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Yellow Mud Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, Southern Painted Turtle, and Eastern Painted Turtle are the kinds of turtles that can live in a 40-gallon tank.

All these turtles are relatively small in size so they can comfortably live in 40-gallon enclosures.

The average size for these turtles would be 3 to 9 inches and that would be perfect for 40-gallon tanks, so long as they aren’t kept with other turtles in the same tank. 

What Snake Can I Keep In A 40-Gallon Tank?

Rosy boas, African House Snakes, and Western Hognose Snakes are the kinds of snakes that can be kept in a 40-gallon tank.

These snakes don’t grow too large in their adult stage so it’s perfectly safe for them to be housed in 40-gallon tanks. There’s also no need for owners to change their tank size as they age because they can practically live in 40-gallon tanks for as long as they live.

What Pet Can Live In A 40-Gallon Tank?

Hermit Crabs, Tarantulas, Mice, Emperor Scorpions, frogs, toads, Hissing Cockroaches, Dwarf Hamsters, Millipedes, Geckos, and small snakes are the pets that can be kept in 40-gallon tanks.

All these animals are fairly small and can adapt well in small spaces, so a 40-gallon tank would be an appropriate size for them. Do take note that some of these animals are solitary ones and would prefer to be housed alone rather than have any companions to share with.

Do You Need A Sump For A 40-Gallon Tank?

A sump is mandatory for a 40-gallon tank, although it’s highly recommended to have one installed in a tank.

A tank would still be able to function normally even without a sump, however, if you would want to have the benefits that only a sump can offer, then go ahead and purchase one.

How Often Do You Clean A 40-Gallon Tank?

Spot cleaning a 40-gallon tank should be done once a week while deep cleaning should be done every month.

Of course, this would depend on what pet is being housed inside the 40-gallon tank. Some animals would require frequent cleaning such as hamsters.

How Much Does A 40-Gallon Tank Cost?

A 40-gallon tank would roughly cost $100.

The cost of a 40-gallon tank would vary depending on where it’s bought. For instance, at petco it would be a bit pricier compared to a listing on Craigslist.

Clear-for-Life 40 Gallon Uniquarium Fish Tank, Coralife LED Biocube Aquarium, and SeaClear 40 Gallon Acrylic Aquarium would be the most popular 40-gallon tanks.

All three of these tanks have been reviewed and rated on Amazon and most of the people who bought these are happy with the tanks.

Resources:

https://www.thesprucepets.com/exotic-pets-for-small-spaces-1238582

https://zoomed.com/corn-snake

20 Gallon Tank: 19 Answers You Should Know (For Beginners)