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

Does anyone else find these cages to be way too expensive?

I mean they are nice and all, but damn $400 bucks?! And then he wants $799 for 2 door showcase enclosure...Who has 400 bucks to shell out for 1 ball python?!? And why would you when there's just so many more less expensive options that are comparable?

Not trying to bash the guy, because his enclosure are beautiful. I was just blown away by the prices, and wondered if anyone on here opted for one.

At one point I really considered buying one because they are very nice.

But, for $400 dollars I would rather get another nice bp and put her in a tub.

boaphile all the way

Yea crazy expensive

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Originally Posted by Lferg

Yea crazy expensive

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I just built my own rack and tub system. Cost me about $200. As far as paying $400 for a ball python... if that seems like too much for a ball python then you are in the wrong hobby my friend. At one point I saw an albino Pied going for $20,000. I personally am getting ready to drop $2k on one snake.

Materials and quality workmanship cost money.

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Originally Posted by Rat160

I just built my own rack and tub system. Cost me about $200. As far as paying $400 for a ball python... if that seems like too much for a ball python then you are in the wrong hobby my friend. At one point I saw an albino Pied going for $20,000. I personally am getting ready to drop $2k on one snake.

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You misunderstood me...I would totally buy a $400 snake. Would I spend $400 on an enclosure for my ball python? No way! Sorry for the misunderstanding :D

I mean they are beautiful enclosures, but just too much money! I'm with you guys, Boaphile is definitely a cost effective option. Someone just pointed me to Boamaster cages, and I really like them as well. I just think Ricky should come up with some cheaper enclosures to accommodate to the cheapskate market. I mean maybe I would buy one if I had a pied that I wanted to use as a like a showpiece, and had some extra money to spend (which I never do). But until then, snake racks will do just fine lol

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Originally Posted by m00kfu

Materials and quality workmanship cost money.

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Very true....

I'm sure they aren't the cheapest to build...I just don't think these are going to catch on too quick unless he finds something in the middle that he can offer instead of these Rolls Royce enclosures. I hope he does, because if they are anything like the ones he has now I'm sure these will be really nice too. Time will only tell!

Problem with manufacturing high quality cages is... like m00kfu said :Materials and quality workmanship are expansive...

I talk with Rich from RBI on the last White Plains and ask him why He dont make cages anymore...

He said because of material cost and sales rotation...

Quality cages are expensive and making few of them a month (because most ppl choose rack system anyway) is even most costly when You need order hinges from manufacturer by a 1000's... So he concentrate his effort on His racks... totally understandable economical decision...

As a small python and now colubrid keeper I've chosen rack as well... but... in the future when I grow mentally and financially to buy display animal like GTP or some super duper carpet python.. I for sure will buy functional and eye pleasing (probably expansive) cage for him...

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.

When I say showcase cages I'm not talking about Ricky's, I am talking about http://www.showcasecages.com/

AliCat37: You said: "Not bashing anyone who has their snakes in racks or tanks," but then you call them "tacky"?: "but I personally would not want anyone to see my animals or invite anyone over if they were in things that looked tacky." Calling my tanks "tacky" IS bashing me. Thanks! I LOVE my tanks though and they look very nice and there is plenty of room for my pythons move around in.

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Originally Posted by AliCat37

When I say showcase cages I'm not talking about Ricky's, I am talking about http://www.showcasecages.com/

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Just wanted to tell you, I am glad you put that website down. I checked it out and they have very nice cages for really inexpensive. I was very impressed. I have a few questions for you though about the cages: do most of the cages only have one spot for a heat bulb? If so, what about UVB bulb, or do pythons not really need one? For night bulb, do we just have to change out the bulb every day? Do you know how the cages hold heat/humidity? Do they hold it in well? What about the floresant light fixture? Does it come with the cage or where are we supposed to get it and the bulb from? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Minpin1985

Just wanted to tell you, I am glad you put that website down. I checked it out and they have very nice cages for really inexpensive. I was very impressed. I have a few questions for you though about the cages: do most of the cages only have one spot for a heat bulb? If so, what about UVB bulb, or do pythons not really need one? For night bulb, do we just have to change out the bulb every day? Do you know how the cages hold heat/humidity? Do they hold it in well? What about the floresant light fixture? Does it come with the cage or where are we supposed to get it and the bulb from? Thanks!

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The 5 foot cages have two places for heat lights/uth. I use uth's in my tanks since all my snakes are nocturnal. I don't use night bulbs because I don't find it necessary to use any other heat than my UTH. You won't need a UVB bulb for any python. I just use a regular undercabinet light in my cages, as there are built in areas to put lights. Unfortunately the lights don't come with the cages, but the two foot lights I use in my cages I bought at walmart for $8. It would cost over $40 to buy a hood and light, when the walmart lights work just fine. In my opinion they hold heat and humidity in GREAT. I also covered the screen in the back where a heat light could go since that is right over the UTH. It helps hold in the heat, keeping the ambient air temp at 85 and the ground temp 90. I only have to mist the enclosures down once a week or less to maintain 60% humidity, but they hold higher than that just fine as well.

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Originally Posted by Minpin1985

AliCat37: You said: "Not bashing anyone who has their snakes in racks or tanks," but then you call them "tacky"?: "but I personally would not want anyone to see my animals or invite anyone over if they were in things that looked tacky." Calling my tanks "tacky" IS bashing me. Thanks! I LOVE my tanks though and they look very nice and there is plenty of room for my pythons move around in.

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I am sorry it came off as that I was bashing you. I have used many different tanks and tubs before, and though tanks are a huge step up from tubs in the ability to decorate them, I could not stand having them laying all over the place. I also live in a very dry climate, so I had to wrap the screen tops in seran wrap, which required tape to hold on. I also lost snakes before from malfunctions of cage clips. Opening from the top was also an inconvenience. Having the inability to stack tanks also held me back, because the tanks took up too much room. I simply don't have the room for four 55 gallon tanks. Having tanks scattered about simply looked bad to me. Tanks and tubs are simply unappealing to me and were unhealthy for my pets in my climate. I tried tubs after tossing my tanks, but they didn't look nice either, and it didn't leave me the ability to see my snakes, so they ended up in the closet. My Showcase cages look nice to me and are stackable. I also find that they hold in heat and humidity a lot better here. I also called the tubs tacky, not the tanks. Tubs have their place for breeders, I have to say that they are SUPER easy to clean and make great use of space, allowing one to keep many snakes. If I was a breeder I would be proud to show off a room full of tubs, but I only have four pet snakes. So, nothing against your tanks. It's just not what I find appealing.

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Originally Posted by AliCat37

I am sorry it came off as that I was bashing you. I have used many different tanks and tubs before, and though tanks are a huge step up from tubs in the ability to decorate them, I could not stand having them laying all over the place. I also live in a very dry climate, so I had to wrap the screen tops in seran wrap, which required tape to hold on. I also lost snakes before from malfunctions of cage clips. Opening from the top was also an inconvenience. Having the inability to stack tanks also held me back, because the tanks took up too much room. I simply don't have the room for four 55 gallon tanks. Having tanks scattered about simply looked bad to me. Tanks and tubs are simply unappealing to me and were unhealthy for my pets in my climate. I tried tubs after tossing my tanks, but they didn't look nice either, and it didn't leave me the ability to see my snakes, so they ended up in the closet. My Showcase cages look nice to me and are stackable. I also find that they hold in heat and humidity a lot better here. I also called the tubs tacky, not the tanks. Tubs have their place for breeders, I have to say that they are SUPER easy to clean and make great use of space, allowing one to keep many snakes. If I was a breeder I would be proud to show off a room full of tubs, but I only have four pet snakes. So, nothing against your tanks. It's just not what I find appealing.

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It's ok. I understand. I checked out that website and love the tanks they have but since we just purchased two Zilla Critter Cage Tanks, it will probrably be a year or two before we can afford to replace them. (I am sure you understand, seeing as how the economy is the way it is) but I know that someday we do want to replace our tanks with those and eventually whatever snakes/lizards we have, only use those at that website! www.showcasecages.com We have a difficult time keeping up the temp (usually stays 83 - 85 degrees in the hot spot) though so we have a heat light and UTH. Also the humidity is rough trying to keep up but we found a way to keep it 50-65 % humidity but I think once we get some of those cages, it will be easier. I know you said you live in a dry climate, so you cover a lot of the vents but remember that snakes to need ventalation or else they can get upper respitory infections... :P

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Originally Posted by Minpin1985

I know you said you live in a dry climate, so you cover a lot of the vents but remember that snakes to need ventalation or else they can get upper respitory infections... :P

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I actually had worse problems in my rack lol. I've never had respiratory infections in any of my critters, but their humidity had been too high and my bp ended up with some sort of scale rot? I'm not really sure in all honesty, but it went away after I bought these cages. It's like the top part of some of his scales started to flake away. But it went away once he moved and had a couple of sheds. I don't cover all of the vents, the ones in the front for the lights are not covered. I just cover the one over the uth. Either way there is more ventilation than in some other cages like boaphile or even some tubs. BUT that's a whole different story. My ball looks extremely bright now that he is in his showcase cage, it's like he looks as shiny and good as he does when he sheds, but it's 100% of the time.
I can definitely understand having to wait a while to afford a new cage! I too am waiting to get my next cage until I have some money. I just spent a bunch on building a cage and a lizard lol. I do have to say that I like the zilla critter cages, and if I had to get tanks again I'd go with them (mostly because I LOVE their tops). :gj:

OH and I forgot the other nice thing about these cages is that they came the exact same week I ordered them lol. And the 4 foot cage probably weighs as much as a 20 gallon tank. They're SUPER light. Which is nice for me since I'm tiny :x