Quote Originally Posted by Bogertophis View Post
So really, take your time- if you still want to consider a used enclosure, you don't want to be buying someone's "train wreck"- be picky! (Might try running a free "want" ad too?)

I'm not a fan of the PVC-acrylic enclosures (I tried a couple in the past, but I keep mostly colubrids & much prefer glass tanks), but anyway, I'm trying to recall, there used to be one or 2 companies that would send you the pieces to assemble the enclosure yourself. That saves a lot of $ on the shipping, & it's faster because they don't have to make it & store it someplace- but I just don't remember which ones did that, nor do I know if anyone still does? -but others here might know, so just ask.

IF for any reason you can't find or afford what you really want & you feel your BP needs more room quickly, you could always do a "tub" conversion as a temporary solution- it's not my personal preference, but many here use tubs one way or another & can advise you on setting one up. That would honestly be better than buying a used enclosure that's in bad shape, risky for your pet, or the wrong size. That would "buy you plenty of time" to shop for just the right thing.
Something my mother brings up every time I mention tubs, and one I keep forgetting a good answer for, how do you heat those without, well, melting the plastic? Do UTHs not get hot enough (if regulated which of course mine is)? And how do I use the CHE since that would definitely melt the plastic lid? Cut out a hole and cover it with a wire mesh for it to hover over (not sit directly on)?

As an aside though, your comment on colubrids is exactly why I'm going to lowkey try and keep the tanks as they would actually appreciate the verticality of a tank and on average they aren't as picky about humidity. And given my dream snake just happens to be a colubrid (Vietnamese blue beauty rat snake), all the more reason to do so. Though at 7-8 feet it would outgrow even a 55, but they'd make for nice "growing out" enclosures.

Of course, the priority now is to get my current snake's living quarters situation all squared away first. I've always had a problem with thinking too far ahead though, sue me.