PVC & RHP: Reptile Basics vs. Animal Plastics & VE vs. Pro Heat

Hello guys!
I'm looking at eventually upgrading to a pvc enclosure but would appreciate some input! Specifically 4' x 2' x 15"

For those that have experience- do you prefer the Animal Plastics pvc enclosures or the ones by Reptile Basics?

And for radiant heat panels- Pro Heat or Vivarium Electronics?

I know that AP has a *very* long turnaround time, but I hear good things about them. RB would be a little more expensive and have less customizability but you won't be waiting several months for your enclosure.

AP is willing to install your RHPs for you but 1. Only if you buy through Pro Heat and also 2. Installation doesn't seem difficult at all?

Just want to know what's going to be the best investment wise as whichever I go with, I will probably buy more of down the line.

PVC enclosures can be an excellent upgrade, so I'm eager to see whatever you decide on!

If you have the space to spare, I would actually suggest going for a little more height, i.e. at least 4' x 2' x 18". All of my cages are actually 4' x 2' x 2'. Firstly, it will give you more vertical space to put in a branch, rod or shelf for your BP to enjoy climbing for enrichment and exercise. Secondly, for your own comfort, you'll probably appreciate the extra room when you have to reach into the far back of the cage to clean it. When I'm doing a deep-cleaning, I sometimes find myself practically half-climbing into the cage to scrub the rear corners, and even though I'm a fairly slim person, I would feel pretty cramped with the 15" height.

For deciding on enclosure brand, Animal Plastics of course has a well-established reputation, but Reptile Basics seems to be of reasonably reliable quality as well. Snake Discovery recently did a video tour of the Reptile Basics facility that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at part of their cage-building process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9D9osb5VdM

Alternatively, I will also throw in a recommendation for Focus Cubed Habitats. Their cages are definitely more expensive than Animal Plastics, but have a TON of customization options (including your choice of RHP installation) and are exceptional quality. All of my current cages are from Focus Cubed, and they were spectacular to work with. Here is their website: https://focuscubedhabitats.com/

This is the cage stack, plus matching base with thermostat recess and storage cupboards, that houses my BPs:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...9LWr0K0E=w2400

And this is the (even more customized) cage stack for my boas, including "header" and "footer" pieces to house their thermostats:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...dYiAWx1A=w2400

Lastly, regarding your question about RHPs - from everything that I've read, Pro Products are still the gold standard. With that said, I actually just have Vivarium Electronics RHPs in all my cages, since they were the default available option at the time I ordered, and they have been quite serviceable so far.

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Originally Posted by SarWildDog

Hello guys!
I'm looking at eventually upgrading to a pvc enclosure but would appreciate some input! Specifically 4' x 2' x 15"

For those that have experience- do you prefer the Animal Plastics pvc enclosures or the ones by Reptile Basics?

And for radiant heat panels- Pro Heat or Vivarium Electronics?

I know that AP has a *very* long turnaround time, but I hear good things about them. RB would be a little more expensive and have less customizability but you won't be waiting several months for your enclosure.

AP is willing to install your RHPs for you but 1. Only if you buy through Pro Heat and also 2. Installation doesn't seem difficult at all?

Just want to know what's going to be the best investment wise as whichever I go with, I will probably buy more of down the line.

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I've been using an 80w Vivarium Electronics radiant heat panel for three years to heat my 3x2x2 plywood enclosure and it's been working great. If you want to install it yourself, installation is very easy. All you need is a power drill and a screwdriver.

What RedRabbit said regarding size if possible. Two of my snakes are in PVCs 15" tall, and I CANNOT WAIT until their upgrades come in with 24" of height to work with. It's so cramped as is and it's a struggle to provide much climbing opportunity for them.

Thank you guys, I'll definitely look into the 24" height versions!