Snakes and tortoise / gecko and tortoise?

Question
Hi. My sister has recently received a red-footed tortoise for her birthday and my dad wants to know if snakes could live along side them? The vivarium is 4 foot by 18 inches (as recommended), if it was full of fake branches and plants then would a snake be able to live in there with the tortoise?
If a snake isn't suitable then would a gecko be alright?
Would any of them fight?
Is there any extra equipment that a snake or gecko would need that a tortoise would already have?
Thank you for your time.
Jenny
xx

Answer
Hi Jenny

I would advise against attempting that for a few reasons. There is always the potential risk for disease transmission when mixing species. The bacteria and protozoa that are harmless in the intestines of one species may be pathogenic for another.  

Snakes are particularly unsuitable for any mixed species community enclosures. Nobody wants to live with a snake! Very few snakes in the pet trade are 100% arboreal and the ones that are (or come close) have very specific environmental needs and would require much more height. Redfoots are like little bulldozers and would casually trample across any snake that didn't get out of the way fast enough!

Redfoots are also omnivorous and will happily consume any live food they can catch. In the wild they have been observed eating carrion. Breeders often offer their adults pre-killed mice to condition them prior to  breeding.  Lol, You don't want to know what a redfoot eating another creature looks like! Any hapless gecko that came too close would be in danger. My redfoots have even bitten the tail of my hairless cats when they have carelessly layed down too close to them in the garden. The tortoises thought they had just lucked upon the biggest worm they had ever seen!

Your sister should be able to have and treasure that particular birthday gift for her entire life and likely pass it on to her children. It would be a shame to risk its health unnecessarily.