Hi!
I’m preparing to buy my first cages (all I’ve ever had is racks) and I have some questions. I’m sorry if this post gets long or some of these questions seem odd…

1) How hard are they to clean? I’m upgrading my BRBs from tubs to these. Their humidity is pretty high, so I bleach everything in their tubs once a week as a pre-emptive strike against mold. Obviously this would be much more difficult in a cage that I can’t spray down and the rinse out in my shower (lol). Is it hard to reach everything in there? I know this may seem like an odd questions, but never having had this type of cage, I’m having a hard time picturing the cleaning process…which is obviously important in a high humidity environment.

2) Do you have a preference for swing or sliding doors? I like the look of the swing doors better, but I’ve read lots of people say that prefer the sliding doors. Why?

3) Would you add the florescent light fixture? I like the idea of it but, once again, I’m not sure how it would handle the high humidity.

4) Shelf: The animal plastics cages have a “basking shelf” option. I really like the idea of this even though I wouldn’t technically use it for “basking.” The BRBs are pretty active and it would give them more “floor space”….kind of like a decorative enhancement? Am I crazy for wanting this? Do you think it would be a neat cage addition? They have a large water bowl and humid hide, so sometimes I feel like that get jipped on floor space.


These are the main cages that I’m considering, but I’m open to suggestions if it’s in this general price range.

Animal Plastics “Carpet Cage” (36x24x15): With everything that I want (belly heat, lock, swing doors, shelf, shipped) it’s about $300. This is the same price as the AP T3 except its 3 inches taller.

Animals Plastics is having a sale right now on their T8 (48x24x12). So I would be able to get all of the same things as mentioned above, but for around $280. Is it worth the $20 cheaper (well $40 b/c I’d get 2) to deal with a cage that is bigger than I need? (I need 6 sq feet). Also, it is only offered on the sliding doors, which I’ve mentioned I don’t prefer….but really what do I know…I’ve never really had much contact with either. Thoughts?

Reptile Basics (36x24x14): With everything included (except the shelf) it would be between $250-$300 depending on the type of heat that I choose…I guess that I’ll call Rich and tell him my temperature requirements and let him make a suggestion. The BRB range is around 75-83….UTH would be closer to $250 and RHP would be closer to $300. Suggestions or experience?

So, all things considered, the prices are very similar. Except that Reptile Basics doesn’t come with the shelf and Animal Plastics doesn’t come assembled.

Thanks and sorry again for such a long post!