Newb question on caging

[whispersinmyhead]

I live in Ontario Canada and I can't seem to find any plastic or acrylic cages like the boaphiles or vision cages. The shipping and more importantly the brokerage fees are going to make it too expensive from the U.S.

I found one cage http://rickysreptileenclosures.com/ but it is only 24"W x 20"D x 18"H. I don't think it is enough for an adult.

I don't have the ball python yet but I want to get a cage setup and ready before I buy one. I was originally going to get a glass one with front doors but I really want to avoid humidity problems.

Any thoughts or advise is very much appreciated.
Thanks.

[The Serpent Merchant]

You should send a PM to Kitedemon, he lives in Canada and has PVC enclosures.

[kitedemon]

Sly plastics has really nice ones, web site is poor however. http://www.slyplastics.com/en/index.html

Sylvain is a good person and easy to deal with.

Greg West is also a great guy to do bussiness with he also makes enclosures

http://cornelsworld.com/terrariums

I have never dealt with these guys but they look like boaphiles.
http://www.powerhousedisplays.com/Reptiles.pdf

I don't like the rickys they to my mind have the disadvantages of tubs and none of the advantages of custom enclosures.

[whispersinmyhead]

Thanks so much for the great start! I am really excited about getting a ball python but have been going crazy making decisions on caging and I think these types are going to be a better way to go instead of the glass terrariums.

Thanks again.

[kitedemon]

They are much easier to manage than tanks. It is a good investment, also keep in ind that setting up an enclosure before you add a snake is a good idea. It often takes a bit of tinkering to get right and it is never a good idea to subject you new snake to temp shifts and all the fiddling it can take best get things basically correct and then add the snake.

[whispersinmyhead]

I totally agree with setting up cages before getting the animal. I ended up building my own beardie enclosure and getting it setup because the glass one became very hard to manage temps and I don't want to make that mistake again.

This is a great forum and the best I have found so far for not just ball python info but also other reptiles. Seems like a great community!

The last link you sent me actually supplies a store somewhat close to me call All Reptiles. So I may actually be able to drive out and get one! Still looking into the other suppliers to discuss shipping etc.

[kitedemon]

I noticed you were in Ont. I have some others too but these are the best I know of powerhouse I don't have direct dealings with but noticed they are at least in the same region so I added them glad I did. Let me know what they look like I have friends going that way in a few months they might be able bring back something...

[whispersinmyhead]

I will for sure! I hope to get one in the next couple months. (depends a little on finances. I have a sick Beardie right now with a large tumor on his head )

BTW do you have any tips on how to heat these types of cages? My house gets around 68-70f in the winter and I am not sure if all I will need is a UTH. I am a little worried about the ambient temp getting too low. I plan on using a thermostat with the UTH. Any setup hints are much appreciated.

[kitedemon]

My place is about the same temp. I run a dual system 2 UTH (two t-stats) and a fluorescent light inside with a blu led night light.

The uth keep the surface temps and the lights help bump up the air temps. I add blue or pink foam insulation to the top and sides (not blocking the vents) to help hold the heat. To be honest the cool side uth is rarely on. I am currently have two test enclosures one with just one UTH and lighting one with a radiant heat panel. They are performing ok the RHP is a bit temperamental to get stable. some have suggested placing the probe under the substrate but with the air temp I have been playing with the panel and hide top gets SCARY hot (100º+) so I am playing with suspended probes.

It is a pain, my suggestion is to buy the enclosure and run a single UTH with installed fluorescent lighting inside and add a night led strip (I point the LED into the ceiling and hot glue over the sides to dim it it is seriously bright.) The leds don't produce much heat but the electronics inside do so it cools over night but not as much as you might think it has been working for me.

I get stable 90 24/7 inside the hot hide the cool hide has been 79-82 range the ambient air temps at 9am are about 79º at 12 they are about 82º at 3 they are about 85º they rarely get hotter than 85 The outside of the enclosure stays cool so the cool hide insulated the cool so it isn't becoming hotter it stays about the same. The temp hold that until the sun goes down then the house cools and air temps fall at 8pm they are often about 82º this is when the FL lamp goes out . The enclosure holds 80 until about 9 and drops a degree an hour until 11 or 12 when the led lighting takes over it keeps the temp about 78-9 the rest of the night. (combined with the insulation and hot side heater)


Your set up will not be mine but it is worth the try as it is likely you will have FL lighting anyway you can always buy a RHP or just heat the room up to 80 later but if the lighting works it is a cheap alternative if it does not then you have time to look to other options.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I will for sure! I hope to get one in the next couple months. (depends a little on finances. I have a sick Beardie right now with a large tumor on his head )

BTW do you have any tips on how to heat these types of cages? My house gets around 68-70f in the winter and I am not sure if all I will need is a UTH. I am a little worried about the ambient temp getting too low. I plan on using a thermostat with the UTH. Any setup hints are much appreciated.

Kitedemon just explained everything pretty well, if you still have any questions check out this thread on PVC cages: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...69#post1763769