The Top 5 BEST Reptile Enclosures!!! Which One Is The Best For You? (2021 List)
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- In this video I wanted to try to help anyone out there who was looking for enclosures for their reptiles and couldn't decide on which one to get! I know theres so many different types of cages out there that I wanted to make a list to hopefully make the decision a little bit easier. Enjoy the video!!
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Exo Terra Glass Terrarium
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Melamine Enclosure
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PVC Enclosures
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www.boaphileplastics.com/cages...
Vision Cages
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I was definitely one of the guilty ones after I bought my first ball python I spent hundreds of dollars on different size enclosures that were all glass some front opening some top opening but I spent well over $500 yesterday I went to Lowe’s and spent $150 and I made a 4‘ x 2‘ x 2‘ enclosure with PVC lining the inside. I personally think that anybody that gets into reptile keeping should build their own enclosures. Best way to go hands down.
Very helpful info in guiding me to find the best home for my boa! And loved the ending "bloopers" with your bird. Thanks so much
I’m glad I could help! Hopefully your boa loves its new enclosure!
You nailed it. As a manager/lecturer and keeper at Reptiland from 87-2006 Vision cages were the best thing we saw since the Neodesha fiberglass in the 80's for top aquariums that have a sliding screen lid for turtles and such there is a 30 and 40 gallon "Critter Keeper" from all glass aquarium. They are perfect for smaller turtles and such.
I can’t recommend them enough! They last FOREVER !
I had a few Vision cages from many years ago. Recently I acquired more and now use them exclusively for my dwarf pythons and rosy boas. You can kick them (the cages, not the snakes), hose them out, they last forever. Real glass doors too, not flimsy plastic. Love them.
all those cages / animals , must be sooo much work to clean and feed , you definitely love what you do
Thank you for this video. ❤️
Super helpful review!
Cool bird! Thanks for the informative video, I wasn't aware that all of these companies existed.
Great video bro💯
If you go the custom route, you can definitly get away with melamin enclosures. Just be sure to use p3 or p5 chipboard (or use 3-layer boards if weight is a concern) and make sure to seal it off with silicone.
I agreed with most of your points. Personally, I actually prefer PVC over Vision cages, only because the material is thicker which makes it easier to mount things on the inside such as radiant heat panels, and being put together in sections makes it easier to customize (such as routing wiring or thermostat probes). But I do gotta say, I've seen reptile rooms that were 100% Vision cages and they look AMAZING.
Your bird 😭😍
Isn’t she the cutest!? Lol
Thanks for the video! This will really help me figure out my upgrade from aquariums, those things are waaaay too heavy for someone who moves as much as I do.
If you move around a lot aquariums are THE WORST ! Glad I could help. Go pvc or vision cage .. both are super lightweight
If you are keeping snakes, once you go with plastic cages you will never look back to glass tanks again. Many reasons why glass tanks are the worst, and the one you mentioned is a very valid reason to switch to plastic. The cost is worth it, especially if you have just a few animals.
Look at American Made cages or JPM Reptilia if you want very light-weight cages. I use Visions mostly, but I do have one of each of the mentioned ones above, and they are very good.
Other types of plastic cage available are HDPS (high density polystyrene) and ABS. Both are a very durable plastics. A 4ft cage can be only 1/4 inch thick and be stronger than even 1/2 inch PVC with far less weight. There are 2 manufacturers that I know of - JPM Reptilia and American Made cages. Great choice for colubrids.
I needed this video!!! I couldn't decide what cage to use. I plan on getting a Northern Blue tongue skink, and I think "Kages" is the best option for me. If you have a suggestion let me know!
I don’t have any personal experience with Kages but I’ve heard they are great quality . I personally use Animal Plastics & if you have some extra money to spend check out Vision Cages . They’re my favorite
get some WWR vibes on this one, great template to follow really, great video man, keep em coming, new sub (:
Well said on glass enclosures the weight and warmth lack there of .
The Vision Cages do have a sleek utilitarianism to that get the appeal for, but not sure if they're quite the aesthetic I'd want for my personal collection. I think I'm going to go PVC, but debating on which brand to adopt as my super system. Leaning towards Maximum Reptile, but starting to debate on going custom now too.
Whether it’s vision cages or pvc enclosures .. you can’t go wrong with either !
Looking to buy a Vision, but not many videos so happy to find this one. Would like to see one with lighting and heating if stacked. I've seen where there are areas for lighting molded into the cage, but have never seen any videos explaining it. Thank you.
I could do that soon! Thanks for the feedback!
I was actually going to buy a tree storage tote (abt 4 x 2 x 2) and use the python portals from specialty enclosure designs! it's basically a diy option, tho? I'm surprised tubs aren't on the list haha. I'll definitely check vision a bit more but i'd usually get a pvc if not diy
Never heard of that brand before! I’ll have to check them out! Vision can be pricey but if you can afford it I’d say go for it!
That bird is so chill
My dad built an 8ft pvc enclosure for our boa. But vision enclosures at least the small/medium ones have always gave us problems. They stayed too humid in our reptile room (we live in NW Florida) and grew mold. The vision enclosures super heated and killed the ball pythons that were in them all of our other glass enclosures were fine but those have been the only 2 snakes we've had die out of 16 and it was in those enclosures. Some was probably user error but they scare me now. I'm sure the larger ones wouldn't have those issues tho.
Really needed this, need something for my leopard Gecko.
Thank you, just subscribed!
Glad I could help & I appreciate the support ! Good luck with your geckos new home
@@piercesplanet3333 thank you!
American Made cages (ABS plastic) are perfect for LGs. No need to get an expensive Vision for something like a leopard gecko when other options are out there. I have Visions and love them for pythons/boas, but kind of overkill for a small lizard IMO.
PVC enclosures are also do it yourself enclosures. I’m about to build my first one.
Very true! I’ve never built my own but they don’t seem too difficult to make
Respect 💜😜
I loved it and I'm gonna get a PVC cage for my Chinese water dragon
Great choice!
Thankyou
I heard Dragonhaus was a veteran owned company that makes some of the best enclosures AND Intensive Care Units around.
New subscriber here. Great video!
Thank you for supporting the channel
Check out King's Kages. They seem to be a little more economical than Vision Cages.
I’ve heard a lot about them! I’ll check them out
the pvc enclosures have always interested me. do you think they're good for escape artists? one of my ball pythons loves getting out and exploring.
Pvc enclosures are awesome! A well built one will be basically impossible for your snake to get out of unless you leave the door open lol
I have two blue tongue skinks a merauke and a northern I have them right now in 75 gallon tanks. I listened to what people recommend for them and wished i hadn’t, because they deserve so much more floor space then what even a 75 gallon tank can provide. I’m now checking out options, and I’m gonna build them an enclosure 8’ Long 3’ Wide 18” Tall. Both my skinks is little over two years old and they look pitiful in a 75 tank I can’t understand how anyone can ever recommend anything smaller…
i finally got one from a visioncage from craighslist and want to replace my glass cages with them.
u do have to put the glass in. but that's it.
Can you recommend any specific brands for melamine enclosures?
My ball python girl is a couple years old now and she deserves an upgrade from the 20gal long she's in. I've been looking at Vision and a couple others. I know I want the sliding doors because space is limited. I want one that will fit on my 34" shelf. I was trying to figure out how heat pads and lighting work on some of them.
Do you need to have a lock for sliding doors so the snake doesn't push them open?
Heat pads work great on vision cages . The material heats up quickly. Just make sure you use a thermostat so it doesn’t overheat . Some models of vision cages also come with an area where you can put a heat lamp. I’d definitely recommend a lock too. All of my vision cages have locks on them. You can never be too safe !
him talking ..... the bird eating his hair but any ways these really helped me find what i should get
When you said the diy enclosures are cheaper the bird starting nodding dramatically lol
She’s more dramatic than most birds AAAANNND people 🤦🏽♂️
would a pvc enclosure be appropriate for a box turtle? also what do you think of radiant heat panels for box turtles?
I do not think radiant heat panels work well for box turtles (I have a boxie for 14 years now..) A halogen light works best for day, plus you will need a UVB bulb on for a few hours a day. Not much heat is needed at night, but if you want some night heat, a heat pad is fine.
A tortoise table setup or a plastic pond works well, but the best box turtle cage is outdoors except for extreme weather. Natural sunlight is best.
Which enclosures would work well for box turtles?
I like to use the rubbermaid 55 gallon tubs for my box turtle and Russian tortoise
With a ball python with the vision cage how would you recommend heating it with a ceramic lighting or heat mat underneath thank you so much video was awesome
You could heat it either way. Most vision cages have a built in area to put heat lamps . I prefer to heat them with a heat pad underneath the the cage though
@@piercesplanet3333 thanks much will be buying this weekend
Visions heat very well with mylar heat pads (Ultratherm, Flukers mylar pads for example) or heat tape such as Flexwatt and THG. Some models do have heat lamp shrouds but not all. I do all of my Visions with heat pads/tape, and that setup has worked extremely well for boas/pythons. I use insulation like Reflectix for example, set the cage on that, then slip the heat pad under the cage above the reflectix. I cutout a small area of the insulation and tape the thermostat probe directly to the heat pad under the cage. Effective setup, consider that if you think it will work out for you.
I wanted to stack my ball python and corn snake on top of each other but they require different heat so how can I stack them so the heat light on top of the bottom cage doesn’t get affected by the cage on top? Is there a way to get a heat light or something inside the cage?
You could definitely stack them on top of each other . I personally would recommend using heat pads instead of lights but if you have to use lights just use them with thermostats and they won’t overheat. Ball pythons like it warmer than corn snakes do so I’d recommend putting the Python on top and the corn snake on the bottom. Since heat rises the higher up the enclosures are the warmer they get. Hopefully that answers your question!
I wanna make a point about what you said about wood enclosures molding,
I think it's kinda stupid to use wooden enclosures without sealing them with silicone and water based polyurethane. those by far have made my wooden enclosures not mold at all and it was an effort 100% worth it. I spent about $150 building 4x2x2 ft enclosures (121x60x60 cm) including the locks, acrylic I used, the rims, and everything about the basic enclosure itself.
I totally agree . You be surprised at the amount of people who don’t do it though! I hear people talk about their wood enclosures deteriorating all the time smh
@@piercesplanet3333 for sure, it's so weird. thanks to people who don't seal it, wooden enclosures really don't make it far in anyone's lists, for some reason. in this group I'm in discounts wooden enclosures because some people don't properly seal them, which I think people should ALWAYS seal the wooden enclosures even if it's melamine.
@kingdomall do you have any building plans that I could use to build an enclosure?
@@whisps1 I used sande plywood and sealed it with BEHR polyurethane and water based 100% silicone. it took 2 4x8 plywood boards to build a 4x2x2 as well as some 4x2 wood pillar boards for the front. idk what you wanna know specifically
I agree with your list. I do have a corn snake in a 55 gallon tank because it was given to me by a friend for free with a stand ,but humidity is a pain in the winter to even keep it at 30%. My other two snakes , I plan on putting into a pvc enclosure once they arrived. I looked at vision cages, but they are expensive and , I have a hard time figuring out how a radiant heat panel would install and also read somewhere they cannot take anything that heats over 75 watts. Which is weird to me.
Yeah pvc & vision cages are the way to go to help hold humidity. Also what substrate do you use for your corn snake ? You could try cypress mulch. That might help raise the humidity a bit
Try a coospider fogger. I use one for my carpet python and it worked great with my 125g with a practically open top. Held it at 60%, imo its the best for the price. 45-60 dollars for the entire thing, just drips a bit more than I like but what can you expect from a fogger
@@piercesplanet3333 I use aspen, I'm always afraid of using like coco husk which could be to humid
For something like a cornsnake (not heavy-bodied like a boa) then check out HDPS and/or ABS plastic cages like JPM Reptilia or American Made cages. Better priced than Visions or most PVC that I have seen. Light weight yet strong. Options too if you want lights. Really nice cages. I use Visions for my pythons because I like how strong Visions are compared to PVC, but the HDPS or ABS cages are very good. I think better than PVC. Good luck!
Id love a vision cage, but they are easily 2 times the cost of a pvc cage.
I went with a local petstore that makes pvc cages. I got exact dimensions and i built my lower cage in 3/4 pvc (which is ridiculously sturdy, n there was no need to do this lol) n the top 2 in 1/2 in. They are damn near equally as sturdy. 1/2 is very strong. That 3/4 in cage is indestructible though.
They funny part is they are only 36x24x16's n the dude building them i had to con him into the 3/4 in one, hes like u dont need it theres no worry, im like idk i just want it that way. Once i got them, i was man that was stupid n a waste. The 1/2 inch are very sturdy, esp at the size i have em for my ball pythons.
These r the way to go. If u having feeding issues, heat issues, humidity issues n have a ball python, get a pvc cage
Ive seen cheapo one here n there but be careful, i know some people say its fine, but u dont want 1/8th in, unless its under 2 ft wide then whatever. Make sure its 1/2 in which is the standard for every reputable company on the market.
I know this was a long time ago, but May I ask did you have a build list/blue print? Or just kinda winged it haha
@@Miss_Amanda_xx tbh, measured the pieces exactly to my friends enclosure.
@@todtalk3912 fair enough haha. Ty regardless. 🌸
How big of a tank should I get for just 1 corn snake? I will receive the snake as a baby but I would like to get one tank that the snake will grow into.
I’d recommend a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft . Bigger is always better for any animal !
Can you add heat pads under pvc tanks?
Yes you can. I’d just recommend using a thermostat with it to make sure it doesn’t get too hot
I really want a vision cage badly... but it seems like information about how to heat them is somewhat scarce.... Do you put the heat pad under the cage or on the bottom within the inside? To stack them, do they all have to be the same size? for instance, I want a bigger vision cage for my Ball Python but I also want to buy a way smaller cage for something like a Hognose or Corn snake... Can I stack the smaller cages on the bigger cage?
I would love to see a video of how you set up your vision cages... how you heat them (using heat tape/mat), best way to install a light on the inside, how you seal the wire holes so the snake wont escape, etc.... Do a ball python setup in a vision cage video!
I always put my heating pads underneath my vision cages and then attach them to thermostats so they won’t overheat and potentially melt the plastic . They don’t have to be the same size to stack them but it’s recommended. I have a few mismatched sized that I’ve stacked before .
Thanks for the video ideas! I can definitely work on that!
@@piercesplanet3333 like on the bottom on the outside?? So heating through the plastic?
Where do you put the probe?
A Vision 221 or larger model is fine for a ball python, and you can simply use an 11x24 heat mat (such as an Ultratherm or Flukers mylar heat mat) or 2 ft of 12" Flexwatt. If the room is warm you can go with a smaller mat, like an 11x17. I use a wire shelving rack, lay down some foil-lined bubble wrap on each shelf (Reflectix is one brand, available many places such as Home Depot or online.)
On each piece of Reflectix, cut out a small window where the heater will cover, like a 2 inch square or less.
Lay the Reflectix down on the shelf, put the Vision cage on it, slip the heater under the cage. Attach the thermostat probe under the shelf in the cutout and foil tape it to the heater under the cage. Tie wrap the probe cable so there is no strain. Very easy with a wire shelf.
You can use one thermostat and plug both cages' heaters into it. I use a household extension cord plugged into the thermostat, then plug your two heaters into that. Or you can use a thermostat for each cage. Depends on the needs of the animals, if they are different.
Easier to control each cage when they are on shelves vs stacked on one another. Wire racks/shelves are inexpensive. A Vision 221 fits perfect in a 36 wide x 24 deep wire rack, and that will also hold the model 211 and 111 and 215. If you are handy with 2x4's, Tyler Nolan on youtube shows a shelf he made for a Vision cage that is simple and effective. I think wire shelves are easier, but check it out anyway.
For a hognose snake, the model 211 or 215 is awesome. A male hognose could fit in the Model 111. But honestly, for a small snake like a hognose, an ABS cage is fine, such as American Made cages. A Vision is a robust cage great for heavier-bodied snakes or venomous. Might be overkill for a hognose. But if you have the funds, go for the Vision. Higher resale value and last forever.
I do have LED lights either on the cage vents or attached to the wire shelves. Those are so I can see better when cleaning cages and to give a day cycle. I have dwarf pythons and just do a few hours a day of light. My cages are setup exactly as described above. Best setup I have had. Easy to clean.
I'm torn between vision cages and Toad Ranch pvc...
I have the 6ft x 3ft vision cages. I got the for my boas. I love them
I’m thinking about getting a animal plastics enclosure but I don’t see where you can put a heat lamp and uvb fixture?
Animal plastics will give you the option of adding a place to put A heat lamp when you go to buy one online . I think they charge like $10 extra to do it
@@piercesplanet3333 thx
I wouldn’t ever get another Vision. I had two Vision 422s, one stacked on the other. The top one bowed, and the weight of the top one on the bottom one made it so that I could barely get the sliding glass doors open. I think they’ve since improved but of course now they are prohibitively expensive.
The trick with Visions - don't stack them on one another. I use wire racks, makes everything easier. I used to have Visions many years ago, then went PVC and others, and now I am back to Visions as of 5 years ago and love them.
Hello - I have a QUESTION:: I have a 3-4 year old female Hog Island boa cross. Down the road I was thinking of providing her with a cage that is 36x18x18 (like the Exo-terra). Do you think this size would or would not be appropriate for this boa ?
The smallest enclosure you would want to put your snake in is one where they can spread out along two sides (I would even say across the diagonal), better is to get one where the snake can spread out along one side only, and then the bigger the better of course beyond that. Based on a quick internet search, it looks like hog island boas can get up to 6 feet, so I would suggest a 6x2 foot print, with at least 2 feet in height since they do like to climb. Taller if you can.
A 4ft x 2ft - ish enclosure would be more ideal for a female hog island, but a 3ft x 2ft can work if you take the snake out for some exercise. Those Exo Terras have their place, but boas need better insulation than glass, and those screen tops have too much ventilation. If you do not want to spend the money for a Vision, look at JPM Reptilia or American Made cages. You can get a 3x2 or 4x2 for a very reasonable price, and it will be eons better than any glass cage. I think Visions are awesome for boas, but I get that the 4ft Vision models are pricey. The Vision Model 332 is actually not bad in cost considering it will last forever. Awesome cage. You will never go back to glass cages again once you have one. Good luck! Hog islands are amazing boas!
@@6strings735 Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I actually ended up buying a New Age Pet 36" Mojave Reptile Lounge, which is not all glass - it has glass sliding doors and a mesh top (most of which I will cover with Heat tape).
@@patrickbowen5398 The material used on the New Age cages insulates really well. You did well to cover most of the screen top. Glad to hear it is working out! I think those are nice cages as well.
Bird did not have an answer prepared for the "what are you doing?" question 😅
What about Zen enclosures?
I don’t have any personal experience with Zen. But from what I’ve heard. They are high quality and I’d feel comfortable recommending them to anyone!
I have seen the Zens from a few years ago, not the newest version. My opinion - very good for something like leopard geckos, cornsnakes, bearded dragons, stuff like that. Myself, not sure I would choose a Zen for a strong, heavy-bodied snake like a boa or python (dwarf pythons OK.) But I could be wrong. I think there are some youtube videos of Zens, and I think these enclosures are more tailored to bearded dragons, so more research would be good.
Correction. Melamine are waterproof! No waterproofing needed! That's what the white plastic coating is.
Lol vision cages are a whole entire another game was it gonna get one for my Burmese python but I look them up and they are almost as much as a new car absolutely ridiculously price if you ask me Yes I realize that they are probably the 1st best cage but 3000$ for a cage that 6' is way over the top if you ask me
At some point it’s only DIY like with my Nile monitor haha
Herptek ftw
What kind of bird was that bro
She’s a rainbow lorikeet !
Badass animals bro love your channel
Where can I buy one bro
I’m a carpenter😂
8:18 om nom
Love the video really did learn alot but alot of back and forth., glass and melimene good, but if you build your own cause you can use whatever then showed D. I. Y. melimene enclosures.., no disrespect you did give alot of very knowledgeable tips..., but you also contradicted yourself with your pros and cons but all love #constructivecriticism
Brooooooooooo, XD, you look like freakin' Joyner Lucas!
Hahaha that’s actually a first for me 🤣
Lol, I hope this worked and they are now sponsoring you.
I wish I could say it did bro 😂😂
Not gonna lie.. I don’t agree with the 4th😭 how you gonna recommend something only for a select few
Theres so many better brands out there. Toad ranch, Black box, Kages.... wow