Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have experience with both, or either of these? I would very much like to know your opinions and experiences with these types of cages before I go ahead and make a decision on which type I should get.

Thanks very much for any info you have to offer,
- Mark

I have 3 Vision 422s. Very nice cages, beautiful, well designed. When you take the glass out they are very easy to carry, I only use one hand. I like the light shroud on one side so you can have a hot spot for basking on one end and a cool spot on the other so they can thermoregulate. The Visions are worth every penny. You can't go wrong with a Vision.
I can't speak on the Cages By Design, I've never had one and have never even seen one in person.
I also like the Boaphile cages, you may want to consider them.
HTH!

>>Does anyone have experience with both, or either of these? I would very much like to know your opinions and experiences with these types of cages before I go ahead and make a decision on which type I should get.
>>
>>Thanks very much for any info you have to offer,
>>- Mark
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JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

>>I have 3 Vision 422s. Very nice cages, beautiful, well designed. When you take the glass out they are very easy to carry, I only use one hand. I like the light shroud on one side so you can have a hot spot for basking on one end and a cool spot on the other so they can thermoregulate. The Visions are worth every penny. You can't go wrong with a Vision.
>>I can't speak on the Cages By Design, I've never had one and have never even seen one in person.
>>I also like the Boaphile cages, you may want to consider them.
>>HTH!
>>
>>>>Does anyone have experience with both, or either of these? I would very much like to know your opinions and experiences with these types of cages before I go ahead and make a decision on which type I should get.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks very much for any info you have to offer,
>>>>- Mark
>>-----
>>JMHO, FWIW, YMMV.

I have a Cages By Design cage. (4' x 4' x 2' deep) and boy was it heavy.

Its been a really nice cage so far, but the set up was hell, and the plexiglas doors are really hard to keep clean/unscratched. I'm going to replace them with glass as soon as I get off my butt. Right now its housing my pair of yearling rainbow boas-and its been OK as far as humidity, tends to keep it at 75% or so, so I have to mist it every few days to keep it up in the mid 80% range.

-cat
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My Photos: http://chaoscat.lowerground.net/herps/

aside from so home made cages visions are all I own so i am a little partial but I think they are by far the best on the market!!! I dont think there is any comparison to anything else out there. Personally i think there sorta gods gift to boas, I use mainly the 432 models and the way they are set up makes every aspect of boas a breeze, as far as breeding boas the thermal gradient you can get within them I think has alot to do with my succes. Pretty much any boa I have every atempted to breed that was of size and age has come through with very few slugs or still borns. There costly but its well worth it. Contact Russ at RLreptiles.com he will hook ya up. I bought all mine from him and every deal with him has been straight up awesome. hope this helps Jason
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Jason & Danica
Have you ever been so close to tragedy Or been close to folks who have..Have you ever felt a pain so powerful so heavy you collapse..I've never had to knock on wood but I know someone who has..Which makes me wonder if I could if I ever had to knock on wood..And I'm glad I havnt yet because I'm sure it isnt good..Thats the Impression that I get. By The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Classic Dums

i can't find them on here,,thanks for any reply

I happen to use cages by Doug Bars. He builds great cages for a reasonable price (cheaper than most of the other cage builders out there. The other option that you may not want to over look is Jeff Ronne's cages, they too are very usable and expandable. Here is a cut from my website about different cages. I hope it helps.....
Good Luck
Jim Hopkins

Cages, Housing & Habitats

There is an amazing amount of different cages out there to choose from. What fits yours and your animals needs best will determine what type of caging you need to get. Factors such as size of your pet, space available, and cost are going to be some of the main factors when decided on the habitat for you snake. Remember, the habitat you choose is going to be where your snake will live the rest of it’s life!

Lets start with the size of your pet. If you are looking to house a Boa Constrictor, then you must realize that your pet may very likely become ten feet long! Although most Colombian/common Boas (Boa C. Imp.) won’t become much larger than eight feet long, some of the “true” Red Tailed Boas (Boa C. Constrictor) may attain a length of twelve or more feet! So your first step has to be for you to decide whether or not you can house such a pet. A good rule of thumb for housing a boa is 1 sq. foot of cage floor for each foot of snake length. So an eight foot boa should have a minimum of a 4’x2’ cage (8sq feet).
So where are you going to put such a large cage? Some family members my object to have a ten foot Boa Constrictor as the centerpiece of the family room! Some people would actually rather watch TV than see such a beautiful creature? There really is no accounting for taste, but we must do what we can to keep peace in the family.
If space is a concern then maybe a smaller snake species is for you. Corn snakes come in an array of colors that should make just about anyone happy and can happily live out their lives in a habitat the size of a standard 20 gallon aquarium.

So now you have decided on how big of a habitat you are going to need and if you have enough space for it. Now it is time to decide what kind of cage?
“Well, you do have that leaky 55 gallon fish tank in the garage?” But if you are going to house a Boa in that, we already know its not big enough. A corn snake will do just fine it though, assuming that you buy a secure retile top for it at your local pet store. (bricks and books to secure a lid is an accident waiting to happen!) There are some Drawn backs to aquarium though. They are heavy, even when empty, so cleaning them can be difficult. And they open from the top, so working on the cage is not always super easy either. And they take up more space then the newer Stackable, custom reptile cages that are on the market today. But for the most part, Fish tanks have been tried and true cages for years, they may not be perfect but they do work, just keep in mind, if you plan on keeping a Boa in a fish tank, you will need a 150 gallon tank to do it!
“You’re a handy guy/gal go to the lumber yard and build your own “custom” cage”
Again, it’s a method that has worked for years, and if you really are handy and can work with Formica or other water resistant materials, it is not a bad way to go. But again there are some draw backs. Wooden cages can be heavier than even the fish tanks, so make sure you find a good place to put it, because moving them is tough. Wood also “absorbs” odor and after a year or two, that cage is going to have a smell that is hard to get rid off. Mites seem to love all the little nooks and crannies that a wooden cage seems to offer. Most important of all, wood is hard to sterilize. Bleaching it does a good job, but then you have to let it air out for days before putting the snake back in. But again, if you happen to be a cabinet maker, then chance are you can make a really nice wooden cage.
But you are not a cabinet maker and you have no leaky fish tanks in the garage. So how about one of those “new” (really, they have been around for years) light weight cages made just for reptiles. I hear you can have heat supplies and light put right in them, just plug em in and add snake! Yes, these cages are fantastic! Light weight, strong, space saving stackable and made with your reptile in mind…..But as in life there is always a drawback. Sticker Shock!!!! Some of these new cages can be $400.00 or more just to get one big enough to house your $150.00 Colombian Boa! Well, there are two guys out there making GREAT and Affordable reptile cages.
Doug Barr (www.barrs.com) and Jeff Ronne aka: The Boaphile (www.boaphile.com) Both make great cages and both charge in the same price range for a stackable 4’x2’ Boa cage. I won’t quote prices because it is not my place to do so. Now I’m sure there are other cage makers out there that are just as good, but these two I have seen in person (I use the cages from Doug Barr for both my Boas and my Corns) and Jeff’s cages I have seen and are just as good.

Now you have decided on your cage. You have set it up, clean water, the right temperatures, proper lighting. Now you are ready to bring home your new snake. Yes, that’s right! Get the cage before you get the snake. That way you know you have a place to put it when you get home. You can get him into his new habitat right away so he can settle down and get comfortable.

You won't have a hinge break or have to worry about breaking the cage if you drop a Vision Cage. I think they are awesome and hold up better then any cage on the market. They do have some faults that can casue problems;
1. I don't like having to unstack them to replace a burnt out bulb in the recessed light insert.
2. Stacked more then three high you get some cage warping but not bad. I my 432's three high and no problem slidding the glass panels.
3. The 432's are 36 inches deep so its makes removing the glass sliding doors necessary when cleaning them.

Positive Points;

1. Stronger then most cages.
2. sliding glass doors that will last forever as long as you don't break them.
3. Deep enough to accommodate breeding and placing a large rubbermaid full of moist spagnum in it for humidity purposes.
4. They look super!
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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

ok thanks i found them do most of you use the 432's are these's big enough for adult boas,or sould i go with that biger onesi think that is a fair price for the cages i have built my own before and it cost me alot more they were 72 in by 3d by 2 high,and they truned out nice but after awhile they bubble up from moisture,and weigh a ton..i'm thinking this is what i want to get instead of maken my own again,

I own 6 432's and 3 422's. The 432's are plenty big for adult boas. I use my 422's for my two and three year old boas. Good luck cage hunting......Richard
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Richard -amazoa-

"Changes in behavior occur when the pain of staying the same outweighs the pain of change."

thanks Richard