Who to go with?? AP vs Boamaster vs Boaphile vs Reptile Basics

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

I use all AP cages so my experience might be limited. I have 3 T25 as well as a couple T15 and a couple A8. Sold off all my T8 as I feel they are too low in height.

I had a retic and a couple boas in my T25s which worked fine. I would opt for the shelf option as you can remove it if wanted but it adds a decent amount of floor space. I used flexwatt for heating. RHPs are good too, I use those on my A8s for my GTPs.

Right now I got 2 gilas and 1 beaded lizard in my T25s and still use the flexwatt set on a Herpstat 6 which also runs the cage lighting. Can’t go wrong with AP but be prepared for a wait.

Forgot to add, I have sliding glass doors on all my cages with locks.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ed665f2555.jpg


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That stack of t25's is perfect, just what I would end up doing.... Is that an AP base also?? and do you mind telling me what the total height is of that?

I would definitely go for the shelf option to give the snakes some climbing area and to be able to get out of the substrate if they wanted.

Thanks for the pic and the input

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

Well you've had experience will all of them, I appreciate your input on these.....

The t25 is what I would buy from them, freight is like 230.00 on those though now if they can ship 3 on thee same pallet for a little extra for the weight that would be great.... sent them an email asking that question, just waiting for a response.

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call them. You’ll have better luck in my experience

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Originally Posted by dakski

I have zero experience with any of the manufacturers you mentioned, except Boaphile. I have nothing bad to say about any of the others, but I have exclusively boaphile tanks.

All 13 of my tanks are Boaphile tanks. I've had really good success with them. Jeff Ronne, the Boaphile, is a good guy and a straight shooter. He will tell you what you need given room temp, animal requirements, etc.

He does everything from helping you design the tank to installing all the heating elements, vents, etc. He also ships the tanks assembled (except for 6 and 8FT tanks which will come in 3FT or 4FT pieces that join easily).

I have not compared prices, but I imagine Boaphiles are a little more given that they come ready to go. For me, it was worth it in the beginning as I didn't know too much about the different options and wanted to deal with one person. After I had a bunch of his tanks, it made sense to keep going down that road. I have 3 stacks of tanks and have had them for about two years (give or take) and really like them.

Jeff is terrible with emails (he admits it too). However, he is great with calls. Call the number on his website and he will answer or call back in short order.

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Thanks for your input...
I've read your thread about these, shipping might make the price a bit higher being they are assembled, I like the bolt together aspect and the right angle boxes that's a good idea... I might get a hold of him and see if he will work with 1/2" or that's a no can do... he does have lots of options that can be added also.

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

That stack of t25's is perfect, just what I would end up doing.... Is that an AP base also?? and do you mind telling me what the total height is of that?

I would definitely go for the shelf option to give the snakes some climbing area and to be able to get out of the substrate if they wanted.

Thanks for the pic and the input

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Thanks. Yes, that’s an AP base. The base is 8 inches tall. The whole thing is like 62 inches. I’m 5’10” or so and it’s perfect height.

Also, they do ship 3 on 1 pallet. That’s how I had mine shipped.

I say AP all the way. I have a boaphile and it's pretty solid, but doesn't compare to my APs. They're solid and they let you customize every which way to Sunday.

I have a stack of T10's, a customized T16 for a beardie, and an AP 25 on the way with shelves and perch holders installed.

I recommend getting the shelf as it practically gives extra space, as well as ordering a heat panel from pro products and having it drop shipped for them to install. The wait is excruciating, but you will not regret it

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AP will be the best product with the best customer service the only downside is lead time which can be up to 16 weeks so you always need to plan ahead.

Chris at Herptastic is also a great choice with shorted lead time.

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Originally Posted by Avsha531

I say AP all the way. I have a boaphile and it's pretty solid, but doesn't compare to my APs. They're solid and they let you customize every which way to Sunday.

I have a stack of T10's, a customized T16 for a beardie, and an AP 25 on the way with shelves and perch holders installed.

I recommend getting the shelf as it practically gives extra space, as well as ordering a heat panel from pro products and having it drop shipped for them to install. The wait is excruciating, but you will not regret it

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Also forgot to mention, I have the sliding doors on all. Makes feeding hungry pythons less scary lol

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Ive had them all and nothing is like AP. Ive sold all the others and also just ordered another AP. Yes I wait 4 months ever time but when you make these kinds of purchases waiting is worth it. Safety, ease of design and material are top priorities. Ive had problems with the gauge pvc used in other enclosures all the way to their pvc glues coming apart. I had a Burm push the backing off a Boaphile. Thats a high dollar enclosure that I new was a top name so I bought one. Ended up being 1/8th pvc and glued together. At least AP is screwed together and you seal it. My Vision PVC was so flimsy even though it’s one piece the floor warped and swelled up and formed that way because of the heat from the RHP and Tape. The tracts are junk. I have now had AP’s for several years without a single complaint during the same time as the others. I have one last enclosure coming to replace a Boaphile and then all mine are AP. As the saying goes, all good things come to those who wait.


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Thank Everyone for all the replies..... :gj:

Looks like AP is the way to go, No issue on the wait my sneks are good in their enclosures for now.

Now how about the options??

As I have zero experience with pvc enclosures.... I'm using glass right now tanks and terrarium's

I would order cage locks and basking shelves as a definite.

Led lighting? Is is worth being preinstalled? I would get the blue color, or should I just add some from Amazon after I get the cages?

Is the standard venting on the cages ok? or have them add the extra screened vents?

And belly heat vs rhp? These will be in a room where I can control temperature and humidity I can keep the ambient temps at 75-78 in the winter
and humidity at 50% minimum

So should I just get belly heat or if I go for the RHP's can I skip belly heat and just use those or go for both?

This is going to be a large cost so I want to get the options that are worth getting so everything is basically ready to go

Thanks again everyone!!

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Originally Posted by Gocntry

Thank Everyone for all the replies..... :gj:

Looks like AP is the way to go, No issue on the wait my sneks are good in their enclosures for now.

Now how about the options??

As I have zero experience with pvc enclosures.... I'm using glass right now tanks and terrarium's

I would order cage locks and basking shelves as a definite.

Led lighting? Is is worth being preinstalled? I would get the blue color, or should I just add some from Amazon after I get the cages?

Is the standard venting on the cages ok? or have them add the extra screened vents?

And belly heat vs rhp? These will be in a room where I can control temperature and humidity I can keep the ambient temps at 75-78 in the winter
and humidity at 50% minimum

So should I just get belly heat or if I go for the RHP's can I skip belly heat and just use those or go for both?

This is going to be a large cost so I want to get the options that are worth getting so everything is basically ready to go

Thanks again everyone!!

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I personally use RHPs that Bob at Pro Products drop ships to them directly to install, with no belly heat. I run my thermostat probe through the hole they drill for the RHP wire and keep the probe wire in the router channel from the RHP wire. But if the room stays at 75-78 all the time you can just use belly heat, they come standard with channels routed on the right, left, and center of the bottom of the enclosure for thermostat probes.

I personally just have them install the LED, I tried doing it myself on one with Amazon LED strip and it turned into a PIA disaster. They route a channel for it in the back which makes it clean and neat. I prefer it in the back, but you can request if you want the strip closer to the front of middle. I use white, and since they don't come with easy on off switches I bought a power strip with individual switches per outlet and use that to control lighting in my stack.

I have issues with winter humidity, so I personally request less vents. But if your reptile room always has 50% humidity you should be fine with standard venting. Definitely no need for extra screen vents unless it's for an animal (like we did for our beardie cage) that requires lower humidity.

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