Sell me on your preferred enclosure brand

We are getting our forever homes for our BP and my RTB. All of the options make my head spin. What company do you prefer and why? My requirements - I would prefer one stop shopping. I think RHPs will be the way to go for heating since we don't have temperature controlled rooms and if appears that not all manufacturers have these. Also, a basking shelf would be nice.

Thanks in advance!!!

I like Animal Plastics. I like their cage design and manufacturing the best. You can get a basking shelf, lights, heat tape, cage dividers, stands, cage wheels, and locks from them directly, and if you buy a radiant heat panel from say reptile basics or pro products and have them ship the panel to AP they will instal the heat panel and cut holes for the cord.

Here is a thread I wrote on their cages: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...With-Pictures!

Thank you!!! AP is on the short list.

Anyone else?

Here's what I've been looking at - boaphile, AP, proline, and Boamaster.

I live in Canada and usually purchase my pvcx enclosures from Greg West.

I do have two 4'x2'x2' boaphiles. I plan on keeping my male boa in there until the summer until I can build him a higher cage, since he seems to enjoy climbing. I keep my large female Bp in the other and she enjoys it.

Boaphiles:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/11/meje6edy.jpg
It's the one on the bottom. Ontop was my 3'x2'x18" custom cage from Greg.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/11/apy4yrev.jpg

I've heard they don't have the greatest customer service, but I can't say anything because I picked up my two used.

^^^ I've heard the very same :-/

Have you checked out C Serpents? They have quality racks AND quality customer service. I highly recommend :gj:

Never heard if them but I am not looking for racks.

I really like animal plastics! I have two T8's ( 4X2X1) and they are awesome looking and very good quality/sturdy cages. They also have tons of options to customize your cages :)

Customer service is really good, only issue I've had is lack of communication at one point but that was easily remedied with email to see how things were going.

Here's one of mine, it's a red eyed croc skink set up. T8 with 20" screen, 2 8" circle screens (for lights) on top. Plus sliding glass doors (with lock add-on).

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psfada8d2d.jpg

X3 on Animal Plastics. Quality enclosures, excellent customer service.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoFride

Have you checked out C Serpents? They have quality racks AND quality customer service. I highly recommend :gj:

---

He builds cages too. Also check out dragons4you

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

I decided to go with proline because of the material that is used, it doesn't absorb biofluids and I want them to be lifelong enclosures. I have heard that the plastic used by AP is not very poruous so they are pretty good too. I figured since I would be putting them together myself I would just go with the HDPE material in the proline products. Otherwise I would have gone with boaphiles. I will post pics when I get them in and set up. I also went with RHPs from pro products.

I have a vision and really like it. The roto moulded is not porous at all and has all round corners so they are easier to clean unlike my slab build enclosures (made from sheets and formed rather than moulded.) I also really like powerhouse enclosures I don't own one but a good friend does and it looks and works super well.

That said for myself the next enclosure I want I am either going to build (I have a lot of plastic working experience) or have it built. Yes it will cost more (about 15% more than commercial with shipping) but I will get exactly what I need and want rather than a generic enclosure. It might be something to look at.

You do know RHP and UTH don't heat air directly. If you are looking at RHP colour and surface matters if you need heat absorption. Matte black absorbs more radiation from the RHP then glossy and white will. Radiant heat is the same as the sun.

I am aware of how flexwatt, ultratherms, etc works. We will probably be getting fluorescent lights to help with air temp.

See... The PVC stink issue is an... issue. If I'm going to go PVC I'd rather pay the bit extra for plug and play, one stop shopping, etc. I don't even see pedestals as an option from AP. We are leaning towards one modular setup that "locks" together.

I am leaning towards proline or Boaphile. I'll probably make my decision once I speak to C.NW.

Ed at CNW has been great, he replied to my email today in less than 10 minutes, not sure if that always happens but it was nice. I also spoke to him on the phone before I made my purchase and he took his time to answer my questions.

Maybe AP is not out. Grrrrrrrrrr. This is not easy!!!

PVC...

How long have you had your enclosure/s? How long before stink set in? How do you clean your enclosures? Product, etc.

here is a blog entry from someone that reviewed different cages, I think it is alright to link because it is not an advertisement but if not just let me know mods.

http://www.deviantconstrictors.com/b...g-options.html

Read it, a few times. Helpful.... Kinda. Lol I have placed a call to Jeff at the Boaphile, super helpful, and placed emails to CNW and AP. Maybe these communications will help in the decision making process.

Visions are not PVC if you are worried about something out gassing from pvcx It is Poly propylene or ethylene I believe. If you are worried about PVCx smelling over time my rack is 11 years old and it doesn't smell at all. It is plastic and very water resistant if you properly clean and disinfect the surface it will not stink. There are a large number of reptile keepers I have encountered whom do not understand how to disinfect and are likely leaving bacteria behind that cause bad smells.

Is it common for AP to not respond to emails? I really like the sliding glass door options but at this point I am kinda turned off.

I have had a pvc cage for my GTP for years and I cannot detect any oder.

I would definitely stick to AP or NW constrictors though. Here is my experience with Boaphile.....

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...phile-Feedback

I plan to get a 5-stack from NW soon myself. ;)

I can beat that Evenstar.

I spend almost a grand on three 4 ft by 2 ft by 15 inch pvc cages with light and heat from Repti-Racks. The site said 8 to 12 weeks for delivery. I ordered them and paid in full in July. I got some emails showing the order was placed and paid and then nothing for the next few months. I sent a few emails and would get a response stating my order should start shipping soon. I didn't get my first cage until November, second one in December and finally the third this month. When I got the first cage the uth was not included. I sent an email asking for it and was told it would ship with the next cage. Alot of good that did me since I already had a snake for the cage in what was to be a temporary tub.

I did eventually get everything I ordered and I am happy with the cages. The only complaint I still have is the items i ordered like uth, light, lock keys, and mounting hardware was placed inside the cages and shipped. The problem was most of the time it became loose during shipping and put some scratches on the inside of the plexi door. That and the first two had a large portion of the seams give during shipping that had to be repaired before putting into use.

I never thought it would take as long as it did. I think over six months is alittle nuts.

During this time I ordered a cage for my GTP from PVCcages and got it within three weeks of the order date. I got it pre assembled and it is rock solid.

I remember that!! That really sucked. My pvc cage is also from Jim at www.PVCcages.com. Since we live in MI too, I was able to schedule mine for pickup. But he was fantastic with communication every step of the way.

The only reason I didn't recommend him to the OP is that he's a bit more expensive when ordering multiple cages - at least for boas. If I ever need another enclosure for a GTP though, Jim will be my first stop! :gj:

Even with the lacking if recommendation we are going with Proline. There is a few reasons - HDPE is at the frontline. Neither my husband or myself is comfortable with PVC off gassing. I actually has a wonderful conversation with Jeff at Boaphile. He was super helpful and was really in the front running since I am very well aware of turn around. 6-8 weeks would have not been a surprise. AP still has not responded to my email from Monday morning. This is a big turn off. Proline - can't beat the cost between the three. 1, 4x2x14 and 1, 4x2x2 with a shelf and an attached 12" bases for $755 shipped. Totally worth the time to put them together. It sure helps that Ed's customer service appears to be awesome!

I really like the boaphiles. They come fully put together. Just plug into your thermostat and you're set! The boaphiles are sealed also. So urates, poo, spilt water etc. won't seep out the bottom.

I plan on getting some custom sizes for displays later from proline. These have to be put together and sealed by the customer.


I also have several rhino racks from boaphile. Very satisfied with them.




PS: any route you take is expensive!!!

Just saw that you are going with Proline.

You will love the new cages!