What Species of Snake Can Be Kept in a 20-Gallon Tank

People keep snakes as pets for many reasons. These reptiles are very easy and inexpensive to care for. Many species of snakes that can be kept comfortably in a 20-gallon terrarium, such as the milk snake.

  1. Color Markings

    • The milk snake is a subspecies of the king snake. They have a patterned band of black, white and red rings that cover them from head to end of tail.

    Size

    • Milk snakes can grow to be 20 to 60 inches in length and live to be about 12 years old, making them a long-time family pet.

    Terrarium Environment

    • Milk snakes are shy by nature and love to hide. Placing items like reptile caves or hollow cork bark in the tank can give them places to hide. Create a hiding place on both the cold and warm ends of the tank.

    Diet

    • Juvenile milk snakes need to eat every four to five days. Adults usually eat every five to seven days. Juveniles are fed pinkies or baby mice. Adults are primarily fed frogs, lizards and grown mice. The food should be dead prior to feeding a milk snake.

    Myth

    • A myth that has haunted milk snakes claims the snakes got their name by sucking on the udders of cows. The truth, however, is that they do not latch onto the udders of cows, but that they are found in the same vicinity of cows, such as in barns, because of the rodents found in that environment.