Mini Cage from Reptile Basics

[zhang317]

Slim brought my attention to this unit by Reptile Basics. At first glance it seems amazing, and my first questions was, how come there has not been very much talk about it? I really consider getting one.

Does anyone own/have experience with this unit?

http://www.reptilebasics.com/Mini-Cage-p-16232.html

My main questions are; will it comfortably house a Ball Python from hatchling to adulthood? (dimensions are 22 1/2" weight x 16 1/2" deep x 14" tall)

And because I will be placing the enclosure in the area where the temperature will fluctuate, it is best if I have to belly heat sources on thermostats, for both the cool and hot zones. The Mini Cage has already one built-in belly heat source, does anyone know if its flexwatt? And it has a built-in area for a probe. What I'm wondering is if I will be able to install another belly heat source identical to the built-in one?

Thanks in advance!

[chetman7]

I would think it would equate to around 20 gallons.

Will it fit an adult? I wouldn't see why not. People say a bp can live comfortably in a 20 gallon for their whole life. I personally junked my 20 gallon viv for a reptile basic 3x2 cage.

I am unsure about adding a second heating source. Your best bet is to email reptile basics...they are really nice and very informative. He'll steer you in the right direction.

[zhang317]

I would think it would equate to around 20 gallons.

Will it fit an adult? I wouldn't see why not. People say a bp can live comfortably in a 20 gallon for their whole life. I personally junked my 20 gallon viv for a reptile basic 3x2 cage.

I am unsure about adding a second heating source. Your best bet is to email reptile basics...they are really nice and very informative. He'll steer you in the right direction.

I just emailed them, lol. Thanks for your help. And yah I will take a look at the 3X2 cage too.

[Slim]

Zhang, I own two of them and use them for QT cages. They come with built in belly heat that I run on a T-Stat, and then because my QT room is cooler than my main snake room, I use aluminum tape to add a small ReptiTherm UTH on the back of the warm side. That one I run on a rheostat. In your climate, you can prolly get away with just the built in belly heat.

The cage is easy to clean, and has plenty of floor space for everything but the largest female. I don't think a male would ever outgrow it. It holds humidity and temps better than anything short of a rack and tub system. With the front opening, it's very easy to get your BP in and out.

[Buttons]

I think I've posted this in nearly every Reptile Basics thread in the last week..

They do not ship to Canada so if you plan on ordering one you'll have to find someone to ship it to and then have them ship it to you.

[Slim]

I am unsure about adding a second heating source. Your best bet is to email reptile basics...they are really nice and very informative. He'll steer you in the right direction.

I've talked with Rich about this. In a 2x3 cage, a 40 watt RHP is recommended, but for the Mini-Cage, even a small RHP would be overkill unless you live in an igloo. The extra ReptiTherm UTH on the back is plenty to bring the ambient up.

[dsirkle]

I own one. it is a good value with everything included without extra charge. In my opinion a female would get a little too big for it but an average male could be happy in it.

[Slim]

I own one. it is a good value with everything included without extra charge. In my opinion a female would get a little too big for it but an average male could be happy in it.

I totally agree. I use the two I have as QT cages, and by the time the kids are out of QT and ready for the rack they never get too big for the Mini. In fact, with hatchling BPs, I fill part of the Mini up with crumpled news print.

[zhang317]

Zhang, I own two of them and use them for QT cages. They come with built in belly heat that I run on a T-Stat, and then because my QT room is cooler than my main snake room, I use aluminum tape to add a small ReptiTherm UTH on the back of the warm side. That one I run on a rheostat. In your climate, you can prolly get away with just the built in belly heat.

The cage is easy to clean, and has plenty of floor space for everything but the largest female. I don't think a male would ever outgrow it. It holds humidity and temps better than anything short of a rack and tub system. With the front opening, it's very easy to get your BP in and out.

When you said in my climate did you mean toronto? Because I will be moving back to Taiwan when I get my Ball Python. In the summer the air con will be on, and in the winter there won't be a room heater. So its pretty different than here in North America, so I want to be safe and have two heat sources on thermostats.

Actually, a lot of reptile owners in Taiwan don't even bother with heat sources because the weather is so hot. But I think this is because the pet industry is really bad there. Mainly I want two heat sources because the air con will be on a lot during the summer months. It might seem like over kill because Taiwan is a tropical island with very high humidity, but I just want to be safe.

I think I've posted this in nearly every Reptile Basics thread in the last week..

They do not ship to Canada so if you plan on ordering one you'll have to find someone to ship it to and then have them ship it to you.

Oh man... thanks for bringing that up. I guess I have to rethink this a bit.

[Slim]

I was thinking about the environment in Taiwan. I've flown through there, and you're right, it's pretty humid year round.

Give Rich at RBI a call. See if he has a Canadian distributor yet, or if he can work some other kind of magic.