Wanting to switch terrariums- glass is a little much

Hello everyone!

I’d like to switch Dewey into an enclosure easier to maintain for his petsitter when I go off to college, because in the years that I’ve owned him his glass exo-terra has been quite the struggle in terms of heat and humidity (you live n you learn:rolleyes:). I know that PVC and wooden viv enclosures are a thing, but does anybody have any other suggestions or specific PVC/viv recommendations? Not really looking for a tub, I like to display my terrariums.

I apologize if this is a repeat thread! If so let me know, I can delete it and browse a previous
one :)

EDIT: he’s in a 36” X 18” X 18” I believe, he does fine in it!

Thank you!!

I have some of these on order https://focuscubedhabitats.com/produ...lacement-tops/ for my 3 Exo-Terra's

Might help a lot with keeping humidity / heat in instead of the screen tops (I have foil on them). Should have them on Friday.

This might help without changing enclosures, I also have some AP (Animal Plastics) Enclosures on order but don't have them yet.

https://i0.wp.com/focuscubedhabitats...40%2C485&ssl=1

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

I have some of these on order https://focuscubedhabitats.com/produ...lacement-tops/ for my 3 Exo-Terra's

Might help a lot with keeping humidity / heat in instead of the screen tops (I have foil on them). Should have them on Friday.

This might help without changing enclosures, I also have some AP (Animal Plastics) Enclosures on order but don't have them yet.

https://i0.wp.com/focuscubedhabitats...40%2C485&ssl=1

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Not to hijack but Great link, Please Keep us updated on how good this will work.. my ball should be here in 2 days. 91 grams

I’ve never had any issues with glass enclosures and I’ve kept boas, colubrids, and pythons in them. Nevertheless I LOVE my Animal Plastics pvc enclosures. I’m transitioning all my critters to them.

I'd say go for Animal Plastics PVC enclosure but I doubt you would get it before you left for college. That's probably the case with any brands right now. I'd go to a local reptile shop and see what you can pick up that is already in stock.

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

I have some of these on order https://focuscubedhabitats.com/produ...lacement-tops/ for my 3 Exo-Terra's

Might help a lot with keeping humidity / heat in instead of the screen tops (I have foil on them). Should have them on Friday.

This might help without changing enclosures, I also have some AP (Animal Plastics) Enclosures on order but don't have them yet.

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I’ll have to take a look at these, thank you!! I have plexiglass panels that my dad and I made for him that sorta do the same thing, though

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I’ve never had any issues with glass enclosures and I’ve kept boas, colubrids, and pythons in them. Nevertheless I LOVE my Animal Plastics pvc enclosures. I’m transitioning all my critters to them.

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My dad keeps my house very cold and very dry :(. I’d like to spare myself the expense if I can though (it’s also not a necessity, he’s healthy as is, just trying to prevent that from changing), do you have any tips maybe for maintaining the right conditions in glass? Maybe i’m missing something. The heat is easy enough, it’s really just the humidity that gives me a hard time.

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Originally Posted by nikkubus

I'd say go for Animal Plastics PVC enclosure but I doubt you would get it before you left for college. That's probably the case with any brands right now. I'd go to a local reptile shop and see what you can pick up that is already in stock.

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ahhh :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:, yeah, darn. Thank you for the unfortunate reminder! Lmao

If you got your Exo-Terra new and it came with the foam background in it, I found they do make 18x18 background pieces for the sides too.

They are Exo-Terra part #Pt2955

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/background.php

They are hard to find but I have picked up a couple, That will help insulated the glass from the inside with out taking up a lot of enclosure space

Might just give you enough extra being you replaced the screen top too.

https://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Bac...8&sr=8-31&th=1

I have never purchased anything from these places but here are some it looks like

https://www.aquariumspareparts.com.a...8-inch-pt2955/

https://www.petswarehouse.com/exo-te...nx18in-pt2955/

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Originally Posted by GiddyGoat

My dad keeps my house very cold and very dry :(. I’d like to spare myself the expense if I can though (it’s also not a necessity, he’s healthy as is, just trying to prevent that from changing), do you have any tips maybe for maintaining the right conditions in glass? Maybe i’m missing something. The heat is easy enough, it’s really just the humidity that gives me a hard time.

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I use a ceramic heat emitter to boost my ambient temps during the winter or I’ll add an electric heater to the snake room. I really don’t pay much attention to the humidity inside my enclosures but it ranges from 30-60% depending on the season. I use Reptichip for my substrate and it holds humidity pretty well. I might dump the water bowl into the bedding if I see a snake prepping to shed but that’s the most I’ll do. You can also add a humid hide when they’re shedding. As long as they have access to fresh food, water, and a proper thermal gradient ambient humidity should be just fine.

I have the Focus top for my 36x18 Exo with the 10x10 screen for my enclosure.
It does work much better then the full screen covered in foil.
I did still use foil for the screen but I cut out a circle for my heat lamp and CHE.
I have three sides covered with the Exo backgrounds, but having a glass enclosure is always going to have issues with humidity.
If you are getting the solid top without the screen I would ask them if you can install a RHP on it.
I hope that helps.

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Originally Posted by pinaf413

......If you are getting the solid top without the screen I would ask them if you can install a RHP on it.
I hope that helps.

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I have 2 solid tops and a top with the screen coming, that was my future plan to install a small RHP on it.

I figured a 28w or 40w from Reptile Basics should keep good ambient temps in the winter. Won't need it in the summer

It's made out of the same stuff as an AP Cage so I don't see a problem doing it.

They are very nice solid tops. I don't have a PVC enclosure to compare it too though.
Please let us know how it works out with the RHP and humidity because I would get another one too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

I have some of these on order https://focuscubedhabitats.com/produ...lacement-tops/ for my 3 Exo-Terra's

Might help a lot with keeping humidity / heat in instead of the screen tops (I have foil on them). Should have them on Friday.

This might help without changing enclosures, I also have some AP (Animal Plastics) Enclosures on order but don't have them yet.

https://i0.wp.com/focuscubedhabitats...40%2C485&ssl=1

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Gocntry Every since you posted this link up, i am really thinking of buying one of these 4x2x2 cages, I like that Leds they use much better and it has a dimmer. there boxes are nice

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Originally Posted by dee151

Gocntry Every since you posted this link up, i am really thinking of buying one of these 4x2x2 cages, I like that Leds they use much better and it has a dimmer. there boxes are nice

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I did receive the Focus tops for my Exo-Terra enclosures, They are nicely made and fit perfectly.

But with that, I dont have a Focus or an AP enclosure in my hands to compare, just the pricing below (to compare pricing)

The Focus 4x2x2 with locking polycarbonate sliding doors, Led's, and rear shelf shipped is coming up $681.00

AP Cages 4x2x2 with locking sliding Glass doors, blue led's, basking shelf and belly heat shipped is coming up $542.00

My 5x2x2's I ordered with Locking glass doors, blue led's, basking shelf and belly heat were $639.00 shipped

Focus is saying 15-20 weeks shipping, AP told me 26 weeks for my May and June order (ordered 1 a month as finances allowed)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

I did receive the Focus tops for my Exo-Terra enclosures, They are nicely made and fit perfectly.

But with that, I dont have a Focus or an AP enclosure in my hands to compare, just the pricing below (to compare pricing)

The Focus 4x2x2 with locking polycarbonate sliding doors, Led's, and rear shelf shipped is coming up $681.00

AP Cages 4x2x2 with locking sliding Glass doors, blue led's, basking shelf and belly heat shipped is coming up $542.00

My 5x2x2's I ordered with Locking glass doors, blue led's, basking shelf and belly heat were $639.00 shipped

Focus is saying 15-20 weeks shipping, AP told me 26 weeks for my May and June order (ordered 1 a month as finances allowed)

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wen i play with the option i get 652$ for the 4x2x2 ratio.
i would rater buy pro heat, and send it to them...
i have no problem spending the extra money, Paypal pay leter 6 months Boom thats the way to go...
So U got 2 AP cages on the way?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dee151

wen i play with the option i get 652$ for the 4x2x2 ratio.
i would rater buy pro heat, and send it to them...
i have no problem spending the extra money, Paypal pay leter 6 months Boom thats the way to go...
So U got 2 AP cages on the way?

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Yes I have 2 AP 5x2x2 enclosures ordered and will order a third at the end of the month,

Then Sicle (corn snake), Cheyenne (Boa) and The UnNamed One (Carpet Python) will be in the bigger 5' enclosures.

and I'll have Bean, Bitey and Eggroll the BP's will be in 36x18 Exo-Terra enclosures. The egg eater will be in a 20 gallon (he's small)

The AP's will be in a 3 stack, The Exo's in a stack on shelving and the 20 gal on an aquarium stand. Then the snake room will be almost full

as my daughter has her BP, Hal that will be in there too.

The 36x18 for the ball python? Exo is that the one you order the pvc top for? Would like to know how it does with humidity

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dee151

The 36x18 for the ball python? Exo is that the one you order the pvc top for? Would like to know how it does with humidity

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

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Pics are in this thread https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...06#post2759906

Right now my Ecobee (main house thermostat) says 49% humidity in the house, in the one Exo with the solid top reading 62% humidity and in the Exo with the

screen insert saying 55% humidity, Not much difference than with the screen blocked with foil, But let's see after a day or so what happens.

p.s. I don't mist just water bowls in there, with Aspen in the screen inset Exo and Repti Bark in the solid top Exo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

Pics are in this thread https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...06#post2759906

Right now my Ecobee (main house thermostat) says 49% humidity in the house, in the one Exo with the solid top reading 62% humidity and in the Exo with the

screen insert saying 55% humidity, Not much difference than with the screen blocked with foil, But let's see after a day or so what happens.

p.s. I don't mist just water bowls in there, with Aspen in the screen inset Exo and Repti Bark in the solid top Exo

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keep up dated, I'm interested in this information, You should make a thread, so I'm not bumping this one up all the time....

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Solid advice so far!

I haven't used them, but I've heard good things about the various PVC Exo Terra retrofit tops around the market. It's the way to go if you need to keep a little extra heat and humidity in a glass terrarium. In my honest opinion, though, glass terrariums aren't the best option for keeping species that need conditions significantly warmer and/or more humid than the surrounding environment. They're best suited for species that like things at room or local ambients -- think dart frogs and North American species such as corn snakes.

If any royal keepers here are leaning towards investing in 4'x2'x2' PVC enclosure instead of retrofitting an Exo Terra, I would highly recommend that you do so. They're absolutely worth the expense up front in my opinion. On top the increased space for your snake, display value, and ease of maintaining temperatures and humidity, they're a lot easier to move with when the time comes. Your average 4'x2'x2' PVC enclosure only weighs about 50 lbs and isn't delicate like glass. Believe me when I say that your movers will thank you!

With any 4'x2'x2', you'll want to get screens installed if there's even a chance you using heat bulbs, deep heat projectors, UV lighting, and/or powerful LEDs (like JungleDawns) some day. Internally mounting these heat and light sources in a 4'x2'x2' does not work! They give off a lot of heat when they're on, so much so that the LEDs and UV lights are functionally unregulated heat sources. They will overheat your enclosure if they're all internally mounted. Again, speaking from experience here -- I have a 24" UV bulb inside a 4'x2'x2' with an RHP, and I've been having trouble generating a basking spot without overheating the cage this summer. It's at the point that I'm looking to take out the RHP and install a screen for an externally mounted basking light/heat source. The UV light is capable of raising ambient temps enough on its own.

As far as cage makers go: Focus Cubed, Animal Plastics, Custom Reptile Habitats/Maximum Reptile, and Kages all make good stuff. Focus Cubed and Custom Reptile Habitats/Maximum Reptile are your best options for enclosures with screens/enclosures designed for use with heat bulbs and UV. I actually just put in an order to Custom Reptile Habitats/Maximum Reptile this week for an Evolution 4 enclosure and was given a ~4 week lead time.

I hope this helps! If anyone wants to talk advanced enclosure stuff more, feel free to hit me up via PM/DM or in my "Adventures in Snake Housing" thread.