Why aren't reptile enclosures designed this way?

[Coluber42]

It seems to me that there are lots of types of cages for assorted small animals and birds that have some sort of removable bottom, tray, bin, etc, for making cleaning easier. But reptile enclosures (not really talking about bins and tubs) don't work that way. Whether it's a tank or one of those things with sliding doors on the front or whatever, you have one large and difficult to move/pick up/dump item and you have to clean it by getting your arms into a narrow opening and scooping everything out.

Obviously you wouldn't house a snake on wire mesh with a tray underneath like a birdcage, but it seems like it shouldn't be hard to create a snake-safe enclosure with a bottom consisting of a tray deep enough to contain the substrate, so that you could just slide the whole thing out to clean it. If everything fits together snugly, the snake shouldn't be able to squeeze around the edges of the bottom tray. I guess I'm picturing something like a vision cage with a tray or bin a few inches deep that would fit it exactly. To clean, you'd take out all the furnishings and then you could slide out the tray and dump it straight into a garbage bag. The tray would then be easy to hose off, dry off, disinfect, whatever. Much easier than scooping everything out of the bottom of a tank or the back corners of an enclosure mounted on a stand that you can't really move around very easily.

I'm getting a new (baby) ball python soon, and initially it will be housed in an old 20-gal tank I already have. But my goal is to eventually build an enclosure like I'm describing. The bottom will be made out of/lined with a plastic bin of the Sterilite store-stuff-under-the-bed size, give or take, with an enclosure built around it to the exact dimensions of the outer edges of the plastic bin. I think an UTH could be attached to the bottom of the enclosure so the bin would sit on it and make contact securely, without having to attach it to the bin itself. You might still have to clean in and around where the bin sits, especially if the animal manages to get poop into the cracks or if you ever had to treat mites or something. But for general cleaning, it would be very convenient.

So why aren't enclosures made this way? It seems like it would be relatively simple to design one around a system like that - if cost is the issue, it could be done so that the bin is optional. Or it could be designed around a Rubbermaid or Sterilite bin that already exists. But if I were spending a couple hundred bucks on an enclosure, I'd happily spend $50 more on one that was easier to clean.

[OhhWatALoser]

So... a rack?

[Coluber42]

No, not a rack. To me that's a different type of thing entirely from single units meant to house single animals and be viewable from outside. In a way maybe it's halfway between a rack and a terrarium... maybe that's why it doesn't exist? People just go to one side or the other?

[AbsoluteApril]

with most of the small animals, as you mentioned, there's the wire level to keep the animal from being in the bedding when you slide the tray out, with birds, they will be up high. How would you keep the snake out of the bedding and tray? Most snakes use hides on the floor or bury in substrate. That's why I don't think it's been done.

[Coluber42]

You wouldn't keep anything out of the bedding and tray, you'd put everything in it just like you normally do on the bottom of the enclosure. It would basically just be a removable bottom to make it easier to dump and wash, instead of having to scoop everything out. A liner of sorts, I guess you could say.

I can dump a 20-gal aquarium, but it's big and awkward to dump into a garbage bag, stuff gets all up and down the walls, and hung up on the lip at the top. Washing it out is a pain, too, especially in the winter when I can't go out and use the garden hose. Imagine a front-opening enclosure of about that same size, with something like a boot tray on the bottom but with slightly steeper sides. Put tray in enclosure, then put bedding, furniture, animal in tray just like you would without the tray. To clean, you still have to take out the furniture and the animal, but then you can just pull out the tray and dump it, even wash it at the sink or in the bathtub, without having to maneuver the whole entire enclosure. Make sense?

[Kokorobosoi]

use a shop vac. Solves most problems.

[bcr229]

Use tub/rack system. When the snake makes a mess that requires more than spot cleaning, I set up a spare clean tub with substrate, a new water dish, and a new hide.

Remove soiled tub from rack, insert clean tub, put snake in tub (clean snake first if needed), and take the old tub out to be cleaned and disinfected.

[Slim]

I set up a spare clean tub with substrate, a new water dish, and a new hide.

Remove soiled tub from rack, insert clean tub, put snake in tub (clean snake first if needed), and take the old tub out to be cleaned and disinfected.

THIS!!!!!

Works good, lasts a long time

[CantHelpIt]

I can see exactly what you're getting at, I prefer enclosures over tubs but don't like scooping out substrate, unfortunately it seems more complex than its worth.

You would need to build the enclosure and then some sort of stand to house your uth as well as your sliding track. Unless you're quite handy and want a project it'll wind up costing a good chunk of change to get made. Although with doors and a nice wood stand and frame, it has potential to be a good looking enclosure.
If you do it I would suggest mounting a RHP instead of uth.

[Reinz]

Use tub/rack system. When the snake makes a mess that requires more than spot cleaning, I set up a spare clean tub with substrate, a new water dish, and a new hide.

Remove soiled tub from rack, insert clean tub, put snake in tub (clean snake first if needed), and take the old tub out to be cleaned and disinfected.

^^^^^
This does not meet his requirement. The OP wishes to use a Display set up, not a rack.


C-42, I understand totally what you are talking about. It could be done, but for now you will have to do it yourself or find some individual to make it.

I can tell you personally from a manufacturer's standpoint, when your orders are backed up and you stay behind, you don't have time to make a radical custom job or design a better mousetrap.

What I'm saying is, the Plastic cage mfgr's are all backed up and seem to stay that way. I don't know if they would help or listen to this seriously.

On the other hand, your idea COULD be a money making opportunity for a new business.