Ricky's Reptile Enclosure's...Woah!

What really amazes me, well not really, is how some people think their standards, their thinking, should be the baseline for everyone.

Custom doorways for passage of overlarge heads always come to mind in these situations.

If he can sell them for that, then obviously people are willing to pay what he's asking. If he can't get his price, he'll either adjust it or go out of business. Either way though, I'm pretty sure it's his decision to make, be it pleasing to all or some or none.

Simply because one cannot imagine spending such coinage does not mean, in any way, that others not only can imagine such things, but have done so to the point of actually doing so.

Is it such a far cry to imagine someone spending thousands of dollars, or hundreds for those like myself who have few coins to spend, would not also spend many coins on a suitable enclosure? And why is this so offensive? Is one with few coins jealous? Envious? Green about the gills, as it were?

It's difficult for many to understand spending thousands on what is basically a faulty colour pattern on an otherwise almost worthless snake. You can easily get normal balls for 20.00 or less. What's the difference again between that inexpensive normal and the latest hot morph? Nothing of significance. It takes no more effort on the part of the breeder to make normals than expensive morphs. Why no outrage there? Because one wishes to cash in on that colour difference when one has finally gotten one's own to reproduce? Again, jealous? Envious?

I used to build custom wood cages. I used hardwoods for people who had coinage and plywood for those who didn't. It takes the same amount of effort to work with either, but the materials for hardwood were sometimes several times the cost of ply. Perhaps the same applies here. Has anyone asked Ricky why he charges so much, or is speculation as far as it goes? IF I really wanted to know, I'd ask Ricky himself.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

What really amazes me, well not really, is how some people think their standards, their thinking, should be the baseline for everyone.

Custom doorways for passage of overlarge heads always come to mind in these situations.

If he can sell them for that, then obviously people are willing to pay what he's asking. If he can't get his price, he'll either adjust it or go out of business. Either way though, I'm pretty sure it's his decision to make, be it pleasing to all or some or none.

Simply because one cannot imagine spending such coinage does not mean, in any way, that others not only can imagine such things, but have done so to the point of actually doing so.

Is it such a far cry to imagine someone spending thousands of dollars, or hundreds for those like myself who have few coins to spend, would not also spend many coins on a suitable enclosure? And why is this so offensive? Is one with few coins jealous? Envious? Green about the gills, as it were?

It's difficult for many to understand spending thousands on what is basically a faulty colour pattern on an otherwise almost worthless snake. You can easily get normal balls for 20.00 or less. What's the difference again between that inexpensive normal and the latest hot morph? Nothing of significance. It takes no more effort on the part of the breeder to make normals than expensive morphs. Why no outrage there? Because one wishes to cash in on that colour difference when one has finally gotten one's own to reproduce? Again, jealous? Envious?

I used to build custom wood cages. I used hardwoods for people who had coinage and plywood for those who didn't. It takes the same amount of effort to work with either, but the materials for hardwood were sometimes several times the cost of ply. Perhaps the same applies here. Has anyone asked Ricky why he charges so much, or is speculation as far as it goes? IF I really wanted to know, I'd ask Ricky himself.

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Offensive? I am not offended lol. I am simply engaging in a little friendly debate about a new enclosure company. Maybe he'll read this and come up with a new design? Either way I wish him the best of luck with his company. I just think it would be cool in the future if he could implement some other enclosure type though.

I think its pretty obvious why he charges so much...They're beautiful cages! I just don't see the reason to spend that much money on one cage. Even if you are looking for a quality product, Zoomed, and Exo-Terra have very nice displays that are twice the size/half the price...I mean maybe for him it's more cost effective to sell less quantity, but higher quality. Who know's, I just think it would be cool if he offered another tier of cages that isn't quite so expensive...Am I jealous? Not even slightly, just wondering if anyone thinks they're worth the arm and the leg that he's charging.

I think I might just shoot him an email just to see if he ever intends on offering a cheaper option, so there is no more speculating. I'll let ya know what he says.

Hello Alex,

I got your email asking if we had intentions to sell a "cheaper" enclosure - and rather then answering via email I thought it best to respond on the thread so everyone else could see.

So it apppears that the 'nail has been hit on the head' already. The materials we use are all top notch, high end materials. We bend all our showcases in industrial ovens and in a way to ensure only the very highest quality. So yeah, they are expensive, but for those who want the best we offer them a product that will give them the best. Besides, if your snake costs you 700.00, then why throw it in a cheap enclosure that won't do it any justice? *cough cough* rubbermaid tub *cough cough* True, the tub will work perfectly! However, there is less then a 0% chance that I'd put my expensive snakes in my livingroom, in a rubbermaid tub.

Anyhow!! Over the past year we have sold dozens of these showcases to people all over North America who didn't have a lot of money - through payment plans. $50.00 down, $50.00 bi weekly. 0% interest financing. doesn't get any better! Just because you can't afford the best all at once, doesn't mean you can't afford the best over a 3 or 4 month time frame.

This is all about our showcases... however, we do actually offer enclosures for half the price of our showcases already. If you are in Canada you can order them online, through a few vendors: such as Serpentes Reptile, or find them in store at Reptilia (Near Canada's Wonderland) and soon at Big Al's in store and Online. If you're in the USA you'll need to purchase directly through us. Check out our site for more details.

Next year we're releasing dart frog enclosures - we're just working out the fine details at the moment.

If you want a "meh" type of enclosure for a "meh" type of price there are many manufacturers available. Boaphile and Boamaster come to mind.

For those of you who are interested in a payment plan, just drop us a line and we'll set it up for you.

100's of showcases later and we still have never received anything less then compliments and great reviews. Expensive, yes. Worth every single dollar - YES.

Keep well everyone and have a fantastic weekend. The weather is hot out there, drink lots of water :)

WOW!!

That was fast, I guess you get an A+ for customer service! lol

I was not aware of the payment plan! That's a cool option for sure!

Thanks Ricky for the fast response, and for responding directly to the thread for everyone. I was gonna post it to here anyway, but you beat me to it! Definitely excited to see the dart enclosures! Keep us updated!

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Originally Posted by Animals As Leaders

WOW!!

That was fast, I guess you get an A+ for customer service! lol

I was not aware of the payment plan! That's a cool option for sure!

Thanks Ricky for the fast response, and for responding directly to the thread for everyone. I was gonna post it to here anyway, but you beat me to it! Definitely excited to see the dart enclosures! Keep us updated!

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You're welcome.

We're more then a manufacturer - customer service is VERY important. If you email us a question, we will do our best to respond within 1 hour. 7 days a week.

Also consider that there is no way for old stagnant air to get out and fresh air to get in. I know for a fact that snakes and lizards can get respitory infections when they don't have access to fresh air. I think it would be better to raise humidity and heat and add a few towels on the top to hold in the heat and humidity. Also, the large reptile tanks can't be all that bad for them or else they wouldn't be able to sell them. From what I have seen from breeders, they usually have stacks of large drawers that they keep snakes in. Just because someone doesn't want to spend over a 1,000 dollars for one type of python doesn't mean they are in the wrong hobby or they can't have one as a pet. Maybe people like smaller, tamer pets and they want a ball python? What's so bad about that? :colbert:

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Originally Posted by rickyRRE

Hello Alex,

I got your email asking if we had intentions to sell a "cheaper" enclosure - and rather then answering via email I thought it best to respond on the thread so everyone else could see.

So it apppears that the 'nail has been hit on the head' already. The materials we use are all top notch, high end materials. We bend all our showcases in industrial ovens and in a way to ensure only the very highest quality. So yeah, they are expensive, but for those who want the best we offer them a product that will give them the best. Besides, if your snake costs you 700.00, then why throw it in a cheap enclosure that won't do it any justice? *cough cough* rubbermaid tub *cough cough* True, the tub will work perfectly! However, there is less then a 0% chance that I'd put my expensive snakes in my livingroom, in a rubbermaid tub.

Anyhow!! Over the past year we have sold dozens of these showcases to people all over North America who didn't have a lot of money - through payment plans. $50.00 down, $50.00 bi weekly. 0% interest financing. doesn't get any better! Just because you can't afford the best all at once, doesn't mean you can't afford the best over a 3 or 4 month time frame.

This is all about our showcases... however, we do actually offer enclosures for half the price of our showcases already. If you are in Canada you can order them online, through a few vendors: such as Serpentes Reptile, or find them in store at Reptilia (Near Canada's Wonderland) and soon at Big Al's in store and Online. If you're in the USA you'll need to purchase directly through us. Check out our site for more details.

Next year we're releasing dart frog enclosures - we're just working out the fine details at the moment.

If you want a "meh" type of enclosure for a "meh" type of price there are many manufacturers available. Boaphile and Boamaster come to mind.

For those of you who are interested in a payment plan, just drop us a line and we'll set it up for you.

100's of showcases later and we still have never received anything less then compliments and great reviews. Expensive, yes. Worth every single dollar - YES.

Keep well everyone and have a fantastic weekend. The weather is hot out there, drink lots of water :)

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Well, im impressed. :)

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

I just wanted to toss this out there:

I've spent probably $100 or so on every crested gecko vivarium I've put together.

Sure, for $10 I could get a large plastic tub, use paper towel for substrate, and provide vines/climbing/hiding areas with $3 fake vines from wal-mart and get 80% savings on providing housing for my animals.

However, I frankly just plain enjoy display cages. With glass enclosures, real living substrate, and live plants, etc. I get some real decoration and lots of personal satisfaction out of maintaining that kind of enclosed ecosystem.

If you want to ignore your animals except at feeding/cleaning/handling times, sure tubs are just fine, but I like to have at least some of my animals in beautiful displays. For those purposes, I'm willing to drop some coin.

I'm hoping some day I'll have the opportunity to drop a couple grand on a huge in-home display enclosure for a large scrub python or boelens python.

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Originally Posted by mainbutter

I just wanted to toss this out there:

I've spent probably $100 or so on every crested gecko vivarium I've put together.

Sure, for $10 I could get a large plastic tub, use paper towel for substrate, and provide vines/climbing/hiding areas with $3 fake vines from wal-mart and get 80% savings on providing housing for my animals.

However, I frankly just plain enjoy display cages. With glass enclosures, real living substrate, and live plants, etc. I get some real decoration and lots of personal satisfaction out of maintaining that kind of enclosed ecosystem.

If you want to ignore your animals except at feeding/cleaning/handling times, sure tubs are just fine, but I like to have at least some of my animals in beautiful displays. For those purposes, I'm willing to drop some coin.

I'm hoping some day I'll have the opportunity to drop a couple grand on a huge in-home display enclosure for a large scrub python or boelens python.

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I agree that people shouldn't just put them in a cheap tub or something like that. They should be willing to put money into having a nice, clean cage for them. I spend about 200 on my enclosure and set up for my snakes to make sure it looks good and it a decent place for it to live. However, I don't think one has to spend 400 dollars and up for a enclosure. If a person keeps the temp and humidity up to where it is supposed to be and moniters the bottom of the cage, I think it is just fine for a snake. :taz:

Not gonna lie, I spent $400 on EACH of my cages. For my ball, boa, and corn. I have them all in 4 foot showcase cages. Tack on $70 shipping each. Was it expensive? yes. Would I buy from them again? DEFINITELY. I couldn't be happier with these cages. I know that snakes aren't the most active critters. But I'd rather my snakes have room to crawl around if they so decide. In the mean time, I like to have something that looks nice and I don't feel embarassed about like a rack. Not bashing anyone who has their snakes in racks or tanks, but I personally would not want anyone to see my animals or invite anyone over if they were in things that looked tacky. I used tanks, tubs, and racks before. The showcase cages were well worth the money and I don't feel like I need to hide my snakes in the closet. (And yes, I did hide them in there when they were in tubs/racks.) Obviously big cages are not optimal for breeders, but since these are my pets, they are spoiled rotten.