Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was looking into housing for a baby gtp and i can decide on what cage woudl be best.

one of those exo terra cages with half the top covered, a rubber maid bucket, or glass cage with the top covered?

all will have cypress mulch many branches, and water bowl, hide places.

i also want something that will be able to let me watch him, but i dont really want one of those acrylic cages.

thanks for the help
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Zero to 4 legs
1.0 Black Rough Neck Monitor
1.1 Bearded Dargon
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 dog(black lab)
R.I.P. Bailey gone but still in my heart

Go with the rubbermaid tub. Glass is a terrible insulator of heat. I would not use a glass cage for anything that needed temps higher than average room temps. Keep it simple since it will soon out grow it.

Bart

I'm not trying to sound mean here, but I really don't understand why people keep making this statement. I know of at least two of the TOP chondro breeders in the U.S. that keep their adult breeders is nothing but GLASS cages and one with SCREEN tops AND fronts....I've seen it first hand. I can think of another that used to but switched to plastic for convenience and space efficiency.

It all depends on what you can provide for environmental conditions. I've kept chondros in 10 gallon aquariums for several years with no problems what so ever. As long as necessary conditions are met you could keep them in a cardboard box.

As for my setup, I use a combination of PVC cages, melamine, and tubs for my breeders. I use 10 gallons for my quarantine, and yes I have had animals in quarantine for over 2 years. Everything gets it, but some a little longer than others.

Again, I'm not trying to sound harsh.

B
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

>>It all depends on what you can provide for environmental conditions.

I agree... I personally can't keep mine in screen top cages because my room is not set up "just" for the snakes, ie the temp in the room is not high enough and neither is the humidity... Maybe someday... I have seen some of the rooms Brandon is talking about and I'm green with envy...
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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

Please note I did not state chondros can't or shouldn't be kept in glass tanks. That is a matter of opinion. I stated glass is a terrible insulator of heat, especially compared to plastic. That is a matter of fact. Given the choice between the two, plastic makes the most logical sense.

Didn't take your post as being harsh. Just think you are so quick to defend the use of glass tanks that you read something in my post that was not there.

Bart

I think the notion that glass shouldn't be used for anything other than room temps is subject to opinion. In my experience, it's about the same as some of the thin plastic tubs we all use. If you're of the same thinking of most chondro keepers, glass would be an excellent choice. You have a cool end and a basking end that you can get to 100 if you like.....which I personally don't like. The most important thing is to do what is best for your animals. It probably won't be the same as the next guy that offers advice. Take in all the opinions and use them all to your advantage.

B
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

If someone is asking how to keep a chondro they usually are newcomers to the species. If you say "yes you can keep them in an enclosure not suitable for chondros" there most likely going to have problems, think that they are a difficult species to keep and get out of them in a few years time.

If you give people an inch they usually take a mile.
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Julian Garcia
Chondros Exquisite
Seattle,WA

This has always been my belief as well. I think most of us agree that as long as you can maintain the proper conditions, you can keep them in anything, glass tanks, screen cages, and cardboard boxes; however, I think this is a very ambiguous claim that will be interpreted wrong by any newcomer, specifically, the one that asked the original question. A newcomer can read that to think this species in hardier, and more tolerant to enviromental changes, than what it really is. The OP asked what would be best, plastic or glass. I know of few chondro keepers that would not choose the plastic tub over the glass tank, especially a glass tank with an open top - top breeders included.

On another note, my comment about glass not being used for anything other than room temps was an opinion and it was stated as so. I stated that "I wouldn't do it" and not that it shouldn't be done. The fact is glass is a bad insulator of heat, making it inefficient on the electric bill. You can create an enclosure using a plastic tub, with a good temp gradient, and be much more energy effecient.

Bart

Pictures tonight. Enjoy.

B
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

Brandon, I would love to see pics of your setups and thank you in advance for taking the time to post them. With that said, I think you are losing site of what was actually stated in this thread. The OP asked for opinions of what would be better, plastic tub or glass cage. I provided my opinion, clearly stated it as an opinion, and will stand behind my opinion. No pics in the world would ever convince me that glass is better than plastic – never going to happen. The only fact I stated here is regarding the insulating qualities of glass. That was not an opinion (there is a reason glass windows have multiple panes).

Looking forward to the pics, but probably not for the reason you are posting them.

Bart

What enclosure is not suitable for chondros?....and I mean enclosures that we would normally use for reptiles.

B
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

I think the important thing to remember is that you can keep a Chondro is just about anything, but in some cases adjustments will have to be made to provide proper heat and humidity... I don't think anyone here would stick a Chondro in a standard aquarium with a screen top with a heat light and a water dish and call it a suitable cage for 5 years (maybe with a ball python )... Most of the stuff on the market can be modified to meet the needs with very little effort, including an aquarium... I personally like the idea of building what I want... Something that will be suitable for 5 years (100 years), something I can leave for vacation for a month and not have to worry about anything...
In any event, the electric bill have never been a concern of mine... I have used aquariums, Neodoshea cages and plastic tubs before building my cages and never noticed a difference in the electric bill...

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Shiloh Hawkesworth
kansas
(Midwest Serpents)

“I think the important thing to remember is that you can keep a Chondro is just about anything, but in some cases adjustments will have to be made to provide proper heat and humidity... I don't think anyone here would stick a Chondro in a standard aquarium with a screen top with a heat light and a water dish and call it a suitable cage for 5 years”

I agree, but I also think one needs to consider the perspective of the new comer when suggesting enclosures that often do need modifying. If one makes the general claim to a new keeper that aquariums can be used for chondros, the setup you just described is exactly what most will use because it is the “basic” setup used in many pet stores and advertised by most pet supply chains. Without offering more information, there is a higher likelihood the OP (as an example) will be back in a few months asking why his animal sheds in pieces, refuses to eat, and is making wheezing noises. I think we need to elaborate more, myself included, when offering suggestions or advice. I think in MOST cases, adjustments need to be made to provide proper heat and humidity. Considering the environmental conditions of the average home (not to be confused with the environmental conditions of a herp room designed by an experienced keeper or top breeder), it is my opinion that glass tanks require more modification than plastic tubs.

And I am not saying one will notice a difference in their electric bill if they use an aquarium. You do not have to notice it to know it is there. I know plastic holds heat better than glass. Given that knowledge, there is no choice for me as to which to use. One also needs to consider the added workload being placed on the heating device used to maintain the set temps in a glass cage versus a plastic one (given all other factors are equal). Again, you may not notice it, but it is there, and if one is more energy efficient than the other, again, for me there is no choice.

Bart

I once had a parrot that just talked and talked and talked but never got to the point...we ate it.

are great for housing neonate and yearling chondros. Use only water/soap and soft sponge for cleaning so they won't scratch and you'll be able to see your snakes very nicely for a long time. They hold the heat a lot better than the normal plastic tubs you get at Walmart, etc.

You can check at local smart & final or restaraunt supply stores. They come in several useful sizes too!

i was reading where perople keep etb with some kinds of frong(etb are adults) and the snaked dont even bother witht he frogs bc there to small.
was wondering can u keep any diff types of reptiles with gtp

and im also gunn look into those tubs

thanks for the help
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Zero to 4 legs
1.0 Black Rough Neck Monitor
1.1 Bearded Dargon
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 dog(black lab)
R.I.P. Bailey gone but still in my heart

I would not mix species but know of people designing ETB vivariums to include dart frogs, since they are from the same region, apparently with positive results. Not sure how chondros would react, especially since they are not from the same part of the globe. I would be concerned about introducing anything into the enclosure that may harbor parasites. I also can't imagine anything moving around the enclosure at night that the chondro won't strike at when hungry.

BTW, not a dumb question.

Bart

GTP's eat frogs, lizards, insects and each other (as youngsters). I would keep them alone except for breeding. Robin