Animal Plastics Enclosures *photos appreciated*

[wonderwhitters]

Hello wonderwhitters. I live about 30 miles east of you in Henry Co. I'm curious how you have your current 20 gallon set up. I am new here as well, researching as my kids have saved up about bought everything needed for their first BP which we will be getting from a breeder at the show next month in Indy. I too plan to upgrade to a PVC enclosure but might DIY mine. I'll have some time to think about it until it fills in the 20 gallon long we have for it to start in. I'm planning on getting theirs set up this week to see how the temps do. It's a glass tank and I have a UTH for each end one to keep lower for the cool side and one to keep higher for the hot side. I'm cutting a piece of plexiglass to cover the screen top as needed to help with humidity. I would like to hear what your setup was and what difficulties you had with temps and humidity.

Hey there! I am also planning to go the reptile show on the 10th at the Fairgrounds! I am looking forward to it! It sounds like most of what you are doing is very similar to how I'm going about things so far. I have had mostly an issue with some ambient temps though. My house is chilly at 67 or so degrees and I'm struggling to keep ambient temps up to 75 on the cooler end. I took thick black foam board and put it along the exterior of the back and two sides of a 20L Zilla terrarium. I did plexi glass across the top of the cool side and then a UTH heat pad underneath. I just ordered a CHE that arrives today. I had a daytime bulb we got with the Fluker's dimmable lamp and it's helping with the hotter side, but I'm still not getting quite the right temps. I'm hoping with the CHE I will be successful! I will definitely keep you updated! I am just really worried about the cooler side of his enclosure. I am worried about it dropping too low and him getting sick. I have a temp gun I use, as well as a thermometer in the tank as well. I also use a thermostat for the under tank pad.

Definitely keep me updated on your set up! I would love to hear what is working best for you! I'm hoping I can get these temps perfect for mine asap!

[Craiga 01453]

I have 6 AP, 2 copycats, a Boaphile, and a BoaMaster. The last two will be replaced by AP.

That's good to know. I like my Boaphile a lot, but haven't actually seen an AP in person to compare and contrast. What makes you want to upgrade from Boaphile to AP? What are the key differences that make you want to upgrade?

[wonderwhitters]

I have 6 AP, 2 copycats, a Boaphile, and a BoaMaster. The last two will be replaced by AP.

Soooo nice looking! I'm so impressed!

[Craiga 01453]

Soooo nice looking! I'm so impressed!

Yeah, my snake room isn't nearly that pretty! But someday...

[Midwest]

Thanks, one of the breeders I spoke with at the last show said they keep the room temp in there house @ 70 degrees in the winter and then with a UTH under each end of the tank, the temps in the tank along with the UTH heat will be fine. He said he keeps one UTH around 80 and the other around 90 and as long as his furnace stays on 70 he doesn't worry about additional heat in the tanks. I'm curious to see what mine does. Some have said the UTH's will not raise the ambient temps at all and others have told me they would. I was planning on a CHE as well if needed this winter. I don't keep my AC too low in the summer so it won't be an issue then.
Have you been to any of the shows in Indy before, the one back in August was our first.

[CALM Pythons]

That's good to know. I like my Boaphile a lot, but haven't actually seen an AP in person to compare and contrast. What makes you want to upgrade from Boaphile to AP? What are the key differences that make you want to upgrade?

I also have a Boaphile but didn’t mention it, that’s how much I like it. I would never recommend one. It’s falling apart and I have ratchet straps around it trying to keep the back on until my other AP’s come.
The other enclosures I have are AP T12’s.. and AP T60.
Ive PVC glued the Boaphile together several times and the back comes apart again when my young Burm pushes so Ive used Ratchet Straps for the time being. AP enclosures are 1/2” PVC, Great for holding heat great for holding humidity and great for security. The Boaphile doesn’t even measure 1/8... what a shame for a high dollar enclosure. I called the owner thinking they were one piece construction and he informed me that all he does is glue them together. So the AP’s are 99% better in My opinion and the top PVC enclosure made to date.


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[Craiga 01453]

I also have a Boaphile but didn’t mention it, that’s how much I like it. I would never recommend one. It’s falling apart and I have ratchet straps around it trying to keep the back on until my other AP’s come.
The other enclosures I have are AP T12’s.. and AP T60.
Ive PVC glued the Boaphile together several times and the back comes apart again when my young Burm pushes so Ive used Ratchet Straps for the time being. AP enclosures are 1/2” PVC, Great for holding heat great for holding humidity and great for security. The Boaphile doesn’t even measure 1/8... what a shame for a high dollar enclosure. I called the owner thinking they were one piece construction and he informed me that all he does is glue them together. So the AP’s are 99% better in My opinion and the top PVC enclosure made to date.


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Thanks CALM, good to see you around! It's getting chilly here in MA so you must be about done work for the season huh?

I figured the thickness would be a factor. That's definitely one knock I have on the Boaphile. I was actually fortunate enough to pick it up for free, so definitely can't complain. Some of the "knock-offs" I've seen at expos are 1/2" PVC too. I've actually considered grabbing one of those too. I can't for the life of me remember what they're called, but that been at the Manchester, NH expo the last few times I went. The construction is solid and the price is right in line with AP. I decided not to though cause I figure if I'm gonna spend the money I might as well go with AP based on reputation alone.

Also, do you know anything about the status of APs new facility and if/when lead times will be shorter?

Thanks again.

[CALM Pythons]

Thanks CALM, good to see you around! It's getting chilly here in MA so you must be about done work for the season huh?

I figured the thickness would be a factor. That's definitely one knock I have on the Boaphile. I was actually fortunate enough to pick it up for free, so definitely can't complain. Some of the "knock-offs" I've seen at expos are 1/2" PVC too. I've actually considered grabbing one of those too. I can't for the life of me remember what they're called, but that been at the Manchester, NH expo the last few times I went. The construction is solid and the price is right in line with AP. I decided not to though cause I figure if I'm gonna spend the money I might as well go with AP based on reputation alone.

Also, do you know anything about the status of APs new facility and if/when lead times will be shorter?

Thanks again.

OMG I didn’t even pay attention to who I was responding to hahahaha. How are ya?
Yep the season is just about done, maybe four weeks. I was done early today because of the weather that’s why im on here hahaha.
I myself but only because I have them would stick with a AP. I haven’t been to the shows or seen what is there or offered so I can’t tell you if they’re good or bad. Half inch PVC is obviously a plus but what I also found is there was another manufacture are using half inch PVC but it was a different kind and had no flexibility and cracked like glass I was told by someone who bough one..don’t even know the name of it.
As far as the new facility they have had a problem with the machinery getting set up there so it’s not even under operation at all.. it’s in fact cause more of a problem for them. They are working on the other facility plus trying to for fill all the orders which Alli told me is a crazy amount. I have of course waited too long once again and it will not be here until mid winter. That’s a real pain in the ars. When work is done I’m going to try and glue it again


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[Craiga 01453]

OMG I didn’t even pay attention to who I was responding to hahahaha. How are ya?
Yep the season is just about done, maybe four weeks. I was done early today because of the weather that’s why im on here hahaha.
I myself but only because I have them would stick with a AP. I haven’t been to the shows or seen what is there or offered so I can’t tell you if they’re good or bad. Half inch PVC is obviously a plus but what I also found is there was another manufacture are using half inch PVC but it was a different kind and had no flexibility and cracked like glass I was told by someone who bough one..don’t even know the name of it.
As far as the new facility they have had a problem with the machinery getting set up there so it’s not even under operation at all.. it’s in fact cause more of a problem for them. They are working on the other facility plus trying to for fill all the orders which Alli told me is a crazy amount. I have of course waited too long once again and it will not be here until mid winter. That’s a real pain in the ars. When work is done I’m going to try and glue it again


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All good here! It's bittersweet to see you around, hahahhaa. One one hand, you're an asset to the forum when you're around, but on the other hand...winter is coming. Uggggggh, hahahhahaha.

I just picked up a hatchling Bredli Python, so I'm thinking of a forever enclosure for her. I'm leaning towards a T12 with a shelf. I figure she'd appreciate the added height.

[WrongPython]

Welcome to the forum, wonderwhitters!

I can put in another vote for Bob at Pro Products. I just ordered a 100-watt RHP from him for a PVC enclosure I'm putting together and he was a pleasure to work with. The RHPs Pro Products makes are some of (if not the) best around, and well worth the price and wait time.

Another alternative to AP is Kages. I ordered my enclosure from them last Sunday and it was delivered to me last Saturday - these guys are fast! They are a bit more expensive than AP, though, depending on how many bells and whistles you want to add on. Default enclosures are 1/2" PVC and have a 4" substrate board, slit vents on the back, and sliding polycarbonate doors. While they still have a center brace, they are a bit classier than AP cages in my opinion. The owner, Zach, is also a really nice guy to work with. They're definitely worth a look!