Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im in the process of ordering all new cages for my animals. I was looking at vision cages and a few others, any size you guys would recomend for my male burm?

Visions are a bit pricey but totaly worth it! I have had mine for about six month and have never regreted buying it. My burms love it and its looks professional. Easy to clean and i can lift it over my head super light but super durable!

I don't know if I have mentioned it here, but I HATE Vision cages. I have a retic that is probably about 10-12', his cage is a Vision. If he does not want to go back in there, he doesn't. It is a model 432. I will be willing to bet the thing does not weigh more than 10 lbs. He just goes back in, and when he hits the back wall, he pushes it across the floor. It usually takes 3 people to put him back in his cage.
1.) To hold the snake
2.) To help hold the snake
3.) To keep the cage from sliding.

Another thing about Vision's is, in my experience, they don't hold humidity for crap. I can spray the entire cage and in a matter of hours, the humidity has all escaped. I had to tape off all the ventilation in the back of the cage in order to hold it for a couple of days. My retic has shed twice since I have had him, and both have been in little pieces because I cannot hold humidity.

If you are looking for good, inexpensive caging, and you don't want to build one, chech out Animal Plastics. There website is below.

Jason
Animal Plastics

I use vision, neodesha and habitat system cages and all three are great cages but each have their strengths. In terms of Vision, you are getting a sturdy but lightweight cage at an affordable price. They are easy to heat, hold humidity well, and come in a variety of sizes. For an adult male burm, you want their biggest cage (the 6' x 3' model)...anything smaller is going to be real tight. I was surprised by the other person's remarks about how h/she doesn't like vision cages...if you just keep it on the floor, then yes, it doesn't work properly. If you keep the cage on a sturdy shelf with the proper bracing, any size snake will not move the cage around; common sense to me! In terms of humidity, these cages are great for holding adequate humidity. The only problems I have with vision is that the lips are quite pronounced along the face frame which, when keeping venomous like I do, creates a dangerous situation because the snakes oftentimes wedge themselves into these nooks making it hard to see them. Also, the way the plastic is molded with raised edges on the floor makes it a bit of an annoyance in keeping newspaper flat on the floor. But all in all, it is a good, solid cage.

I know what you mean about "common sense", but some of us have to make due with what we can. I got that Vision for free from someone who no longer wanted the snake that was in it. I would never purchase a Vision, for the reasons you mentioned, and because their prices are okay, but the shipping is more than the cage. I hate my Vision. It will be replaced with an AP cage in July at Mike and Bob's show in Arlington.

My advice.....not that I use common sense, as Rob was so nicely pointed out.....is do not waste your hard earned money on a Vision. You can get the exact same size AP cage for a smaller price and you will not need to build a "rack" or something to hold it in place while you are putting a potentially large animal back inside, which means spending more money. You can put it on the floor, which some of us "Poor Folk" have to do, and not worry about the snake pushing it around.

And by the way Rob, I am a guy, so you do not need to put he/she. Just for your future reference, but with this talk about common sense, I thought you would have used yours and saw the name Jason at the bottom of the post, and thought Male. Oh well.

Jason

Jason, please don't take what he said the wrong way. I highly respect Rob for all his accomplishments and all that he has to offer to the herp community (the guy gives excellent information at the drop of a hat to anyone who asks).

All too often when we are reading emails and posts, it's very easy to misconstreu(did I use that correctly or even spell it right? lol) what we are ready. There are no real emotions in common writing so it's all too easy to jump the gun and assume someone is poking fun at you or singling you out as a dummy.

I think all Rob meant by his "common sense" comment, was just based off ALL the posts remarking about how light these cages are and it only makes sense that with a cage that light, you want to brace it against something (I LOVE my bricks. LOL) to prevent the animal from being the boss of when they go in and out of their cage (or something like that). Take it from me Jason, I've always been poor myself so I "makeshift" anything and everything that I can. If I'm fortunate enough to get my hands on a cage like a Vision, Animal Plastics or any of the sort, I'll be putting it on a bed of flat bricks (like my 16"x8" bricks that are 4" thick) and have the cage up against a wall to prevent skidding. I also have been known to apply rubber matting below with skid proofing the bottom of the cage (rubber on rubber helps a lot). hehe. It's all about making do with what you have (I know this verse well). ;D

Just trying to ease the waters. We are all comrades here. ;D

Hugs!

Amanda Rose

I meant to say it's easy to misconstreu (there I go again) what we are "reading" .;D

Sorry, Amanda is typing too fast for her own good today. ;D

Amanda Rose

I did not take what he said wrong, I just don't like not being able to express my OPINION with out being called names, such as "childish" or having no "common sense". Please refer to the last post that Rob made and my reponse.

Thank you for your opinion, it is nice to hear, since that is what this forum is for.
Jason

Whoa there fella....I by no means meant ANY DISRESPECT towards you. I forgot if the post was written by a man, woman, or perhaps in this case, young kid who takes things way too persoally...my time is limited as a professional herp person and I don't always remember who made the last post (that is attributed to an aging brain...yes, I can even poke fun at myself!). Anyway, since I got your britches in a bundle, I do apologize for my insensitivity about your common sense; I am sure that you have lots of it.

or perhaps in this case, young kid who takes things way too persoally - Carmichael

What kind of crap is that. I do respect you Rob for the things you have done, and are doing, but there is no reason to throw things like this around. You have no idea who I am, not that I am anybody, so why do you throw statement like this around. You are quickly loosing my respect, although I am sure it matters to you. I simple typed what I thought about Vision cages. I thought that is what a forum is for, to give opinions, and you try slamming me because I do not spend alot of money on a fancy "rack" system for my 1 Vision. All of my animals are WELL taken care of. Just because you do not agree with me when talking about Visions, does not give you the right to throw little childish comments around. I think you need to step back and reread what you typed about me being "childish" or have no "common sense". I do not appreciate it. I tried giving my opinion, and this is what I get for it??? No thanks, I don't need to hear crap from you. If this forum is not a place where a person like me can give HIS opinion, then what is it here for? Answer that for me......

Jason

Jason, there are plenty of people in the professional herp world (academic, research, herpetoculture, etc.) who respect me so I don't need to be respected by anyone, including this forum, in order to feel good. As a way to give something back to the herp community, I enjoy coming to these forums to provide insight and help to those who need it...sometimes I am a bit harsh but for those who know me, it is never meant in a malicious manner; just the opposite. I simply made a statement and you took it the wrong way - on these forums you need thick skin and not take things so personally. No need to waste time re-reading statements and point fingers as I never meant any harm. I don't use fancy rack systems for the few visions I use for large snakes; just wood that I hammered together with nails and screws....all it does is provide a firm, heavy "case" so that when I take big snakes out and put big snakes back, the whole cage doesn't move with the snake....as I know exactly where you are coming from because that was frustrating to me too. No need for bad feelings....time to move on.

I have seen you post here for a while, and maybe I did take what you said the wrong way. My bad. I do know that you are a well respected member of the herp community, but there was no need to start with the childish statements. Not calling you childish, just referring to your previous post where you called me childish. I believe that your statement was something to the effect of, or in this case, chilish people...or something like that was not called for. I am done wasting my time with this. I am tired of it. This is all getting too childish for me, even though I guess I am a child in your eyes.

Jason