Animal Plastic enclosure preferred doors

[D-.No]

These seem like such awesome enclosures. I had my heart set on a Zen Habitat especially considering they are pretty lightweight and simple to put together but I have to say the Animal Plastics set ups are sweet. When I move it will definitely blend in nicely with my usual aesthetics.
Everybody that owns one of these systems for a tropical/semi tropical animal what do you prefer for the door option?

Sliding glass or swing acrylic?

Also any other comments or experiences are fully welcome when it comes to these nice BP enclosures.

[blisterbeetle]

no experience with AP enclosures, but i find sliding glass doors often get substrate stuck in them and can be hard to slide open, and if you want to clean out an enclosure you have to work around the one door. either one will work though

[bcr229]

For smaller snakes either. For larger snakes/enclosures I like sliding doors as it's easier and safer to feed if you can distract the snake to one side of the enclosure, slide the door on the opposite side open, put the feeder in, and slide the door shut just enough that the tongs fit but the snake can't come out. With a drop door I've found the snakes like to come flying out over the top of the door once they realize the door is opening.

[Bogertophis]

Totally agree with bcr229's post ^ ^ ^! It depends on what sort of snake you're keeping in there. I've had both kinds of doors on enclosures over the years- pros & cons for each.

[dakski]

I'd add that front opening doors can be difficult because of what was mentioned (snakes flying out), however, that depends on the species. Additionally, they are easy and reliable. You can also open just enough to get a feeder in and use as a shield if you are worried about that. I use them on all my Boaphile tanks. I keep 2 corns, 3 boas, a Carpet Python, and a Ball Python. The boas are very aggressive feeders, but all my boa tanks have two doors. So I can open one the side the snakes head is not at. Having said that, I have room in my snake area to open the door with a hook and keep my distance. I also feed with long tongs and have had good luck so far with the boas honing in on their prey. Not too scared about getting bit when feeding based on knowing their routine and expecting the worst.

Front opening doors on Boaphiles are PVC and have some flex and don't break (easily). I've seen sliding doors that are glass and I do not love glass doors (weight and lack of give - if a snake misses or gets excited and strikes the door during feeding - see Feliz my BC). Do they offer PVC or Plastic doors that slide?

If you have the space and a hook and species that do not generally fly out of the tank, I like the front opening doors but prefer two for larger constrictors because it gives added safety.

Note/Edit: My doors open at the top and open down. Not a big fan of doors that open to the side and meet in the middle especially. Those are more problematic IMO.

[Crowfingers]

I have both, the swing for my leopard geckos and the sliding glass for my BP.

There are pros and cons to both -- for the sliding glass doors, they don't come with any sort handle so have to glue one on or deal with smudgy hand prints. Other than that, my male (when he gets all active and stupid during breeding mode) will wedge his head between the glass and the rim of the cage and try really really hard to get his fat self out - this has resulted in minor scale rubbing on the top of his head, but nothing that needed meds or a vet visit. But they are nice and heavy, and when he's hungry I can control how wide I open the door.

The acrylic are fine, they have little pegs that rotate up and down to secure the doors. But they are flush with the rim, so no head wedging. They seem very secure, but for a snake larger than a BP (or a really big female) I would worry that if all the pegs weren't closed, especially the bottom or corners, a big snake could try and force it's way out and possibly get stuck...It just feels a little light for containing a strong animal.

Glass Sliding Door
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...693&height=520

Acrylic Swing Door
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/450442571596955653/1063861947562479676/IMG_4081.JPG?width=693&height=520