Exo-Terra Terrarium advice and other general starting questions

So I was able to pick up a 36x18x18 Exo-Terra terrarium Model: PT2613 for $70. A steal right? Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here have had any experience with it. What are it's short comings and what does it excel at such as humidity retention and so forth.

Also, it's currently on my floor as I can't find a suitable stand to place it on. Any modern aquarium stand it simply too skinny. Some overlap wouldn't be an issue but they generally have a little lip on them and that makes it useless to me. Any suggestions there without spending $150 or more for the exact stand brand new?

I've been doing my research on BP's for a year now and I think it's finally time to take the plunge and get my first one. This forum has been nothing but helpful to be even though I've only been lurking mostly. Thanks to everyone and their insight. I plan on sticking around here for a while.

That being said, whats the best most trustworthy way to purchase a BP in ya'lls opinion? I tend to think that buying directly from craigslist or even kingsnake seems a bit amateurish. Am I being too cautious?

Not sure regarding any of your questions, EXCEPT, look for a reputable breeder to purchase your BP from. :3

Fraido,

Thank you! I read your thread last night about your dads cornsnake. I hope you find a good vet and that it makes a full recovery. You're doing an awesome job!

I'd ask your opinion on reputable breeders but you're all the way in Canada and I live in Texas. So unless it's one that's quite obvious like BHB or NERD then We might not have much of an overlap when it comes to breeders in our respective areas.

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Originally Posted by Madscrills

Fraido,

Thank you! I read your thread last night about your dads cornsnake. I hope you find a good vet and that it makes a full recovery. You're doing an awesome job!

I'd ask your opinion on reputable breeders but you're all the way in Canada and I live in Texas. So unless it's one that's quite obvious like BHB or NERD then We might not have much of an overlap when it comes to breeders in our respective areas.

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Why thank you! ^-^

I actually have never gotten a reptile from an actual breeder, haha, so I'm just no help! I wish I could suggest some places based off of my own experiences, but I cannot. I'm sure many can though, and I'm sure someone will help you, you'll get a lovely BP!

I've got one of those exo terras. I like the front opening doors and I find the foam background attractive. Most of the problems you'll find keeping ball pythons in it are just general problems you get with keeping snakes in glass tanks. Depending on your area humidity can be a problem and you may want to cover part if not all of the top screen. Generally I'd suggest checking out the setting up a glass tank thread. If you get a baby you'll want to put a lot of decorations or crumpled newspaper or something to crowd it up so they feel secure. Also a problem I've ran into with them (though for me its not that big of a deal) is my baby ball python crawling behind the foam background. At first I was afraid he'd be stuck and would tear apart the tank to get him out but I've since seen him get back there and back out. I figure eventually he'll be too big to fit underneath it.

(edit) Also while you may be nervous to pick up a snake off of craigslist you may want to comb it for cheap tables, desks, or other furniture to fit the large cage on. I've got mine on a big writing desk.

I've had two of the front-opening ExoTerras. While they're nice for retaining heat and humidity if you keep the top covered, the glass in the bottom of both of mine cracked in under two years.

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Originally Posted by salt

I've got one of those exo terras. I like the front opening doors and I find the foam background attractive. Most of the problems you'll find keeping ball pythons in it are just general problems you get with keeping snakes in glass tanks. Depending on your area humidity can be a problem and you may want to cover part if not all of the top screen. Generally I'd suggest checking out the setting up a glass tank thread. If you get a baby you'll want to put a lot of decorations or crumpled newspaper or something to crowd it up so they feel secure. Also a problem I've ran into with them (though for me its not that big of a deal) is my baby ball python crawling behind the foam background. At first I was afraid he'd be stuck and would tear apart the tank to get him out but I've since seen him get back there and back out. I figure eventually he'll be too big to fit underneath it.

(edit) Also while you may be nervous to pick up a snake off of craigslist you may want to comb it for cheap tables, desks, or other furniture to fit the large cage on. I've got mine on a big writing desk.

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Thanks Salt!

I actually don't have the rock background, that wasn't included. Which is fine because I didn't really like that look anyway. And as for browsing craigslist for furniture, I do that a ton. As a matter of fact I just got someone to sell me a cheap wine rack with glass door that I'll re purpose into an incubator eventually. I just think i'd have better luck purchasing a quality animal from somewhere other than craigslist is all. But thanks for all the advice! :) I'll definitely take a look at that thread you mentioned.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I've had two of the front-opening ExoTerras. While they're nice for retaining heat and humidity if you keep the top covered, the glass in the bottom of both of mine cracked in under two years.

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Bcr229, do you think that had to do with the heating from an UTH or was it from moving them or something? Are they still usable or will the bottom fall out of it if you lift them up?

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Originally Posted by Madscrills

Bcr229, do you think that had to do with the heating from an UTH or was it from moving them or something? Are they still usable or will the bottom fall out of it if you lift them up?

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Both cracked over the UTH. I don't know when it happened, but it wasn't because they were moved - I found the cracks when doing a substrate change. One month the cracks weren't there, the next they were. The floors remained intact and didn't fall out. I considered removing the broken floor and replacing it with a piece of plexiglass, but then found a deal too good to pass up on used melamine enclosures for all of my colubrids, so the broken ExoTerras got tossed.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Both cracked over the UTH

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That's so odd, normally glass doesn't just crack with heat. Usually it has to be a pretty drastic temperature change over a short period of time. That's certainly a concern. Thank you for the insight my friend.

I wouldn't suggest an Exo Terra for a Ball unless your willing to spend a little extra money to make proper modifications to it.

If you do use an exo terra one thing you will need to do it either replace the screen with a piece of PVC or HDPE board and use a radiant heat panel instead of CHE's, uth's or lights. This way you could keep a better hold on humidity and temperature.

I'm in the process of setting up a new exo terra 18x18x24 right now. I will post pictures once its completed. Gonna take me about another two weeks to complete since I'm making my own background out of spray foam.

As for a stand I just went to Walmart and bought a basic square black end table.

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Originally Posted by itzazoo

If you do use an exo terra one thing you will need to do it either replace the screen with a piece of PVC or HDPE board and use a radiant heat panel instead of CHE's, uth's or lights. This way you could keep a better hold on humidity and temperature.

I'm in the process of setting up a new exo terra 18x18x24 right now. I will post pictures once its completed. Gonna take me about another two weeks to complete since I'm making my own background out of spray foam.

As for a stand I just went to Walmart and bought a basic square black end table.

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This is all very interesting. I can see why replacing the screen would help with retaining humidity and temps better but do you mind elaborating on the direct advantage of using a radiant heat panel instead of a UTH? I'm not even sure what CHE stands for but I wouldn't dream of using a heat lamp ever for a snake since they require belly heat for digestion.

I'd absolutely love to see your process of making your background from spray foam. Is it necessary? I would imagine it would help further with retaining temps since it's an insulator. Where would you suggest getting an HDPE and how easy is it to get the right size for my tank? Will I more than likely need to cut it to size? This all helps a lot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I've had two of the front-opening ExoTerras. While they're nice for retaining heat and humidity if you keep the top covered, the glass in the bottom of both of mine cracked in under two years.

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Could water have gotten on the glass over the heat mat? I've had my big one for five years and through a move with no cracks, then again I may just be lucky. CHE is an acronym for ceramic heat emitter, some people use them in conjunction with an under tank heater, the CHE helps keep up ambient temp in the cage if your house isn't naturally eighty degrees year round.

It's not fancy by any means but I tape plastic wrap over each mesh panel on top I want covered. On the opposite side from the UTH I've left one panel open and I have a CHE over it. It's cheap and so far has worked well for me.

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Originally Posted by salt

Could water have gotten on the glass over the heat mat?

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Easily, I had fairly small colubrids in mine so they got two water bowls, one over the UTH and one on the cool side, so their humidity would be fine and I wouldn't have to mist them. Pressure from the t-stat probe may also have done it.

I have the large wide Exo-terra and really like a lot if things about it considering it is a glass tank. I've done A LOT of modifications however. I have used sheets of insulation around the sides and bottom and I took out the foam background and glued it to the back, outside of the tank. I had it inside and it took Precioucess about 30 seconds to get behind it. I covered the top with the same insulation sheets wrapped in tin foil. The temp and humidity stay pretty constant once I got everything adjusted right. Because Prec is a juvenile I have lots of "stuff" in there to make her feel more secure. I DONT like the lock on the doors on the front where it meets the lid. It came with a flimsy plastic clip but at the moment I make sure I have a weight to stop her possibly pushing the top up and escaping. A better clip is on this weeks shopping list.

Here is a picture:

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...5d7718ab80.jpg




Molly & Steve
0.1 Normal BP. PRECIOUCESS
0.1 Normal Columbian BCI. LUNA