Forget the Tank - You CAN Afford the Better Cage Now!

[Puck]

So, I just got a ball python and, since I've been on this forum, I have noticed several people talking about how they're just going to keep their snakes in a glass terrarium until they can afford a cage like Boaphile or Animal Plastics... Well, even with my very small level of experience, I say, YOU CAN AFFORD IT NOW!

Seriously, you can, because once you add up all the costs of putting together a glass tank, you could have gotten the better designed cage to begin with.

I am so PO'd at myself, looking back on how much I spent on this tank. The thing is so hard to take care of that I want to scream. It takes up a TON of space, I have to reach in from the top, the humidity is hell to control, it's tough to get a read on the temps, heat rises up since it's way taller than necessary, and I *have* to use a lamp because I can't get the ambient temp right with a UTH. Because people would be able to see into the cage, I talked myself into getting "cute" things for it, which are annoying to mess with and cost way too much. I wish that I had gone with tubs from the very beginning, and to anyone who is trying to "save money" until they can "afford better"--don't do it. You are NOT saving NEARLY enough money for the effort! Just go ahead and invest in that seemingly more expensive cage, because all the costs of keeping a glass tank add up, and they're a lot more work in the end.

My personal experience:

20L Zilla Terrarium - $64.99 Hidey Rock - $7.99 Hidey Tree - $12.99 Rock Water Dish - $9.99 Heat Pad - $12.99 Aspen Bedding - $7.99 Heat Lamp - $19.99 Red Bulb - $6.99 Thermometer - $12.99 Thermostat - $32.99 Light Dimmer - $4.99 Insulation to Keep Humidity In - $14.99 Aquarium Background - $15.00 Eight Hours of Headache Trying to get Temps Right and the Continuous Pleasure of Having to Reach in From the Top - WAY TOO MUCH	Boaphile 30"x24" Cage - $199.00 including shipping Under Cage Heat x2 - $35.00 Thermometer - $12.99 Thermostat - $32.99 Paper Towels - $2.99 Two Hidey Bowls - $1.98 One Water Bowl - $.99	Boaphile 4 Spot Ball Room Rack -$399.00 including shipping and heating 4 Thermometers - $51.96 4 Thermostat - $131.96 Paper Towels - $6.99 8 Hidey Bowls - $8.00 4 Water Bowls - $4.00
TOTAL: $224.88	TOTAL: $285.94	TOTAL: $601.91 for 4 Snakes ($150.48 per snake)

Seriously, if you can afford a terrarium, you can afford a cage made for snakes, and it will be worth it in the end. It's a sixty dollar difference between getting a cage from Boaphile Plastics and putting together a glass aquarium, and IMHO, that's worth the cost of not having to deal with continuous frustration throughout your BP's entire life! And if you have more than one snake, you CANNOT beat a rack!