I am in the process of comparing quality and prices on Ball Pythons and all the stuff that goes with them and after looking at tons of Youtube videos have noticed that the friendliest and most active Ball Pythons seem to be the ones kept in the visible type enclosures. The ones kept in racks seem to shut down because their environment is not stimulating enough, and they have less time to get used to the owner because the snake only sees you when you open the drawer. While convenient and space-saving, I would rather be able to watch my snakes and let them see me through the glass so they won't see me as a threat.

What my thought is is to put some things in the cage that look like a natural habitat (some fake foliage and driftwood and things like that) in addition to the hides. That way it wouldn't be like gaping open spaces but would still be visible and allow the snake to move around and explore.

I have heard that terrariums can be a pain to clean if feces gets in a corner, and I also don't really like that in order to take the snake out you have to come at it from way above. If I saw a hand coming down like that I'd be scared too!

I had an idea in my mind of a plexiglass cage made with rounded edges inside, clear all around and opening from the front instead of the top. For weeks I searched and didn't find anything like that. The closest thing was the Exo-Terra ones (which still wasn't quite what I was looking for).

Then the other day I was looking at other snake videos and accidentally stumbled across a small company out of Canada called Ricky's Reptile Enclosures.

I wrote him and he currently has them in clear and in black. The black ones are slightly less expensive but I think they are made the same (waiting to hear back from him to be sure).

They are pretty expensive $299.99 each but with an additional $75.00 shipping and $30.00 import fee that I hadn't counted on. I don't know exactly how that is paid but waiting to hear back about that in the next e-mail.

Here are some video reviews showing the clear cage all set up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpI0B3HbYGE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Edw...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9kYr...eature=related

This video is turned sideways for some reason but is basically what I have in mind for my set-up;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S4mP-SY-l0

Black enclosure video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZlZASei6M

The clear is definitely my first choice if I can manage to come up with enough money. This guy in the first video got a payment plan a year ago, but that is no longer offered.

I want to get one for each snake, but may have to get one at a time because of how much of a lump sum I'd have to come up with. He says they are big enough so that they can be used throughout the snake's lifetime (one feature I really like, as it probably saved money in the long-term).

They have two locks on them and the hinge is on the bottom front side.

I have not been able to find out yet whether he sells to any of the Pet store chains in the US. It seems that would be easier, and I could save myself the import fee.

Apparently a large Exo-Terra heating pad fits just right on the bottom of it.

If anybody knows where I can get one in the US please let me know. I'd even get used ones as long as it's clean and in good condition. That might save some money.

Also, if anybody knows of companies here in the US making similar designs please let me know.