Trying to Pick a Plastic Cage

I am a perfectionist who wants the perfect solution to my problem. I am looking to buy an enclosure for my new ball python that will be a good size for the rest of her life once she outgrows the 10 gallon aquarium she is in. My enclosure needs to be as attractive as possible for my girlfriend to allow it in the house. So with my concerns ordered from most to least important to me, what would everyone recommend. Brand recommendations are welcome dimension suggestions even more.

1. A healthy, happy, easy to maintain home for my new friend.
2. Must be as attractive as possible, look like it belongs in my home office.
3. Price, I would like to stay under $1000 dollars.

Racks are seriously off topic and stand alone tubs are right out. I have the tools, and skill to build but new projects cause my female human to get stressed and she becomes aggressive. I own a 37 gallon tall aquarium that has 2 Jack Demseys that may be moved to a 55 gallon aquarium I also own.

If I haven't bored you more details below.

Hi, I am new to the community. Quick bio, I have wanted a ball python since 6th grade. My mom didn't like snakes and we were pretty poor growing up. For the past 10 years I have been an "adult" and every time I see a ball python I get choked up and wish I could have one. Well guess what, I am an adult with a job that pays well I can do whatever I want.

So 1 week of research, easily 20 hours of reading, and I impulse bought a captive hatched ball at a local pet store. Should have waited, but I had the fever. So I have a very friendly 20" normal of undetermined sex. I have lived with her for 17 days now. She is living in a 10 gallon aquarium with an under the tank heater on a dimmer a large water bowl and a terra cotta pot base for a single hide. I have a lamp that's on during the day. My humidity is holding at around 60%. I have 2 analog dial thermometers and 1 hygrometer, looking for a good digital. In my fever, although I intended to get her small F/T mice I got fuzzies. I fed her 48 hours after she was home, too soon I know, and she took it within 5 seconds. She had been at the pet store for 6 weeks had refused to eat for the first month, eaten twice and was due to be fed when I got her. I intend to feed her every 7 days just after dark but due to the small size of the food items I have, I fed her 5 days later. This time she seamed disinterested. After a minute or two I heated up the body of the fuzzy and then further heated the head and after that she took it quickly, 10 to 15 seconds. 5 days following her second feeding I decided not to feed her as her eyes were pretty cloudy and I didn't want to stress her. She shed this past Sunday, good shed, and I fed her the following evening. She took it almost instantly. I hate to make too many changes as from what I can tell things are working but I really want to get another hide and 2 digital thermometers two measure the temp under both.

So far for a new enclosure I am looking at Showcase Cages, Reptile Basics and Vision Products. I am thinking of a 3x2. Assuming my snake is a female and she gets big for a ball could she outgrow that size. Does anyone see anything wrong with a Showcase Cage other than the price. How soon would people recommend upgrading to a 3x2 if that's what I go with. If I put some nice secure logs in there and some plastic plants and of course 2 hides could I move her sooner and take stuff out as she grows.

There's nothing wrong with a 3x2 cage ... just understand the the larger the enclosure the more difficult it becomes to heat properly and the more difficult it becomes to provide your ball python with the security that it needs.

But, if you're willing to spend the time and do the work, your snake can have a great life in a large enclosure.

All of the manufacturers that you listed are excellent ... if I were you, I would make sure to take the time to speak with representatives from each company over the phone and let them know what you're interested in doing ... helping people in your situation with the right setup is what the people at those companies do for a living and they do an excellent job at it. They'll be able to work with you to make sure you have thought of everything that you'll need to setup the right home for your snake in one of their enclosures. What a lot of people don't realize is that they do a lot more than just "take orders and ship cages" at those companies and they can help you with heating, humidity, lighting, etc when it comes to the cages that they sell. Use them as a resource, you won't regret it.

Hope this helps.

-adam

Did you look at these? Or are these the showcase ones you mentioned above.

http://reptiledepot.com/showcase.html

They look very nice and are on the cheaper side of nice display cages. They also can come in different colors. I give them a thumbs up for one snake

^^ those are nice.. too bad the 3x2 cage is 2 ft high.

I've always liked the design of RBI cages. I want to pick one up real soon.

Thanks Adam_Wysocki, I fully intend to use the vendor as a resource once I have decided on an enclosure. My snake appears to be doing great right now in the 10 gallon and I feel like getting a displace case is more for me than for the snake. I am willing to put in the time and effort for sure. I have waited over 10 years for this.

Beardedragon, yeah I was looking at going with a 36x24x24 but was thinking of buying from http://www.showcasecages.com/

I have the thumbs up from my girlfriend on either the white or the green.

I emailed the support at http://www.showcasecages.com/ and they recommended the 48x18x24 for an adult ball. From everything I have read that seamed overkill? Thoughts anyone? If I went that big it would not be for a while.

I feel like so far I have been very lucky in getting a docile good feeder and don't want to jeopardize that. Plus there is not a lot of room for a 4x24 cage in my office, and nothing is as quite, warm and low foot traffic as my home office.

I will post a pic of my setup after work.

I have several Reptile Basic cages and I love them!! Here's the link: http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html.

The cages are 3x2x1 and are easy on the eyes. They will house a female ball python for her entire life. They are amazingly easy to keep temps and humidity perfect-- and I live in a place that has about 28-32 humidity year round and is mostly cold!

Aside from holding heat and humidity really well, they are incredibly easy to clean and come fully assembled with the heating option of your choice. The owner, Rich, offers the very best customer service and support of anyone out there, and totally stands behind his products 10000%!!!! Even after the sale!!!! He is truly a great guy!!!

So, I encourage you to check out his products and contact him for further information and to answer any questions you might have.

Take care.

Here's the 2 RBI cages i got for 4 of my snakes. these are 4x2 cages that i divide in the midle to make 4 sections and works really good for me. I was also very concearned with the "looks" side of things because i just bought a new house and want to keep things looking nice :D

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...z/c6419163.jpg

i agree with Rich from RBI being great with his customers i actually just ordered a CB70 rack from him this week for my breeder females.

RBI is the way to go for a purchased display cage. Rich is Da Man to deal with, and all his merchandise from heat tape to racks is excellent!

Personally, I prefer to save money and build my own enclosures...but if that's too hard for you, then going with a 3x2 RBI cage is the best alternative. :)

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Originally Posted by Egapal

I have the tools, and skill to build but new projects cause my female human to get stressed and she becomes aggressive.

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I almost fell out of my chair when I read that! Good stuff.

I don't think it's a matter of it being too hard for him to build Argentra. He would be in hot water from his girlfriend for starting a new project, so he is buying instead.

Good luck taming that 0.1 human!

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Originally Posted by raphymartinez

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...z/c6419163.jpg

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I am digging this! :gj:

Thanks for all the advice. I know that this forum is big on RBI and trust me the point is not lost on me.

raphymartinez your setup was one of the ones that caught my eye and got RBI on the top of the list.

Argentra - Definitely not a matter of difficulty but I work 50 hours a week and make decent money. My girlfriend is working 40 hours and taking 12 credits for her masters program. My time is very precious to me. I also just started building a MAME cabinet and I try to put in at least 10 hours a week programming a web project of mine. Add that to new episodes of a few TV shows I watch and there isn't much time for anything else.

Simplechamp - Luck is the operative word. I can spend 20 hours researching the right temps, humidity, smells, lighting, noise levels and a host of other factors that will make a python happy. I can then go out and buy hygrometers, thermometers, timers, and thermostats. Collect the data tweak the environment and all said and done I have a happy healthy snake. Woman on the other hand are a bit more complicated.

Here is a pick of my new ball by the way. I will try and get some better ones soon. Trying not to stress her to much right now.
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...ball_thumb.jpg

So back to my issue. Has anyone used both the RBI and the Showcase cages who can compare the two? Even though I think the showcase would fit in better in my office I think I may have to go with the RBI just based on the reviews from this forum. Its almost like people are getting a kick back or something. Makes me want to find out for myself.

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Originally Posted by raphymartinez

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...z/c6419163.jpg

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Is the sword just in case all 4 come at you at once? :rofl:

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Originally Posted by starmom

I have several Reptile Basic cages and I love them!! Here's the link: http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html.

The cages are 3x2x1 and are easy on the eyes. They will house a female ball python for her entire life. They are amazingly easy to keep temps and humidity perfect-- and I live in a place that has about 28-32 humidity year round and is mostly cold!

Aside from holding heat and humidity really well, they are incredibly easy to clean and come fully assembled with the heating option of your choice. The owner, Rich, offers the very best customer service and support of anyone out there, and totally stands behind his products 10000%!!!! Even after the sale!!!! He is truly a great guy!!!

So, I encourage you to check out his products and contact him for further information and to answer any questions you might have.

Take care.

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I just got mine in and I love it!!!!! I had a few questions after I got it, Rich was helpful and it was an all around great experience. I got mine with the lighting and Radiant Heat Panel (RHP) installed it looks great and it is working even better than I thought. I was worried about the RHP and my heat gradient but to me it works even better than a UTH. I would recommend Reptile Basics to everyone and slap anyone who argued the fact with me ;).

Go with rich you cant go wrong.

I am so glad that you love the RHP!!! :D

I think they are great and I agree about obtaining an awesome heat gradient!!! An excellent product!!

that's a great-looking setup. I would like to get something like that if I could find anything here in vancouver.

is there any particular reason you wanted to go with plastic? my favorite cages are the front-opening Exo Terras. They look FABULOUS and are such a snap for cleaning and maintenence!

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...6029Medium.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...6030Medium.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...6032Medium.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...mber4-6011.jpg

JasperStreet, are you in Vancouver, BC?

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Originally Posted by Egapal

I have the tools, and skill to build but new projects cause my female human to get stressed and she becomes aggressive.

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LOL! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by raphymartinez

Here's the 2 RBI cages i got for 4 of my snakes. these are 4x2 cages that i divide in the midle to make 4 sections and works really good for me. I was also very concearned with the "looks" side of things because i just bought a new house and want to keep things looking nice :D

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...z/c6419163.jpg

i agree with Rich from RBI being great with his customers i actually just ordered a CB70 rack from him this week for my breeder females.

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That's Realy nice! I hope when I buy a house I'll have something nice looking like that!

The sword is nice! but I think I would of hanged a snake/BP poster/frame instead. I would keep the sword closer to the 0.1 Human female :D

Katia, yes! I'm in Vancouver, BC, right down by English Bay. Any tips?

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Originally Posted by katia

JasperStreet, are you in Vancouver, BC?

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i would reccomend visiting a store called pet boutique, they do a lot of reptile stuff. it's on marine drive in north vancouver...google map it! haha.

or come to MY store in squamish :D

thanks for the tip! I will check out pet boutique on the weekend, but I'd like to come to Squamish and check out YOUR shop in the next few weeks :gj:

I have 2 enclosures by Animal Plastics and I couldn't be happier with them. Not to mention their customer service is top notch. www.animalplastics.com

I'll try to post some pics when I get home from work.

I also have to agree with animal plastics. I have mostly vision cages and I hate everyone of them. Ive never messed with showcase becuase they seem kind of high. But ap has a great sale on now for the t10

Quote:

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Originally Posted by katia

is there any particular reason you wanted to go with plastic? my favorite cages are the front-opening Exo Terras. They look FABULOUS and are such a snap for cleaning and maintenence!

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Hey thanks for the post. A seriously considered the Exo Terras for the showcase aspect. They obviously give a great view of your setup. The big reason I wanted to go plastic was for the stack ability, durability, and oddly enough the limited viewing angles. I have a very simple setup and because of that I want the cage to look good as for the most part thats what people will see when they come over. When my snake is out and about at night the glass on the front still gives me a great view. I may very well have a JCP sometime next year and the stack-ability of the plastic cages was a big plus.

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Originally Posted by Denial

I also have to agree with animal plastics. I have mostly vision cages and I hate everyone of them. Ive never messed with showcase becuase they seem kind of high. But ap has a great sale on now for the t10

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I ended up going with the Showcase. I have read enough of your posts to know that you would not like the Showcase cages. There are a few problems with the cage for keeping BP's.

1. A BP under 1000 grams can crawl above the front doors and mine has spend the night up there if she is not happy with her hides for whatever reason. For me its almost a nice feature because it tells me very clearly if I am doing something wrong.

2. Its too high. It would be much better at 18" rather than 24".

3. The raised area for the heating UTH is raised too much. The UTH doesn't stick to the plastic very well and I need to put something under the UTH to keep it touching the plastic.

4. The hole for your thermostate probe is on the top right side where the UTH area is on the left. I would prefer the hole be placed on the left side so that I would not have to cross the whole enclosure to place my probe.

All of that being said I still really love my Showcase cage. I think I am going to love it even more for an adult JCP where the head room would be an advantage.