Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am deciding whether i should buy an acrylic or glass terrarium from glasscages.com. It will be a 1/2-15 gallon and for a leopard gecko. Can you give me the plusses and minuses of each? which would you get?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

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**Glass:

Clear viewing

Easy to clean

Very scratch resistant

Can crack when exposed to excessive thermal gradiants

Not as good of an insulator as acrylic

Heavy when compared to acrylic

**Acrylic:

Light compared to glass

Better insulator than glass (at same thickness)

Can make for slightly distorted viewing

Clouds/yellows when exposed to certain cleaners, etc.

Warps when exposed to excessive temperature gradiants.

Scratches easily but also very easy to polish.

Not the ideal cage material if a low quality acrylic is used or if the builder is inexperienced.

I am going to order the 15 gallon from glasscages.com, the terrariums come unassembled so would glass be a safer buy for someone who has never assembled a glass or acrylic terrarium?

also i was wondering if you could answer some MDF questions.

I am building a 4' by 2' by 4' (split into two 4' by 2' cages) cage for a Blood python, and probably a BCI. I am using a 3/4" plywood back with 1/2" MDF sides, top, bottom, and shelf. Is MDF strong enough to hold a large female BCI or large female blood? i will be using liquid nails and screws to secure it.

can you buy/make locks for sliding glass doors?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

I assume a glass terrarium would be easier to assemble than an acrylic. Silicone is a much more forgiving material to work with than acrylic solvent. I'm assuming those are the options they provide you.

I think MDF will work for your described application. You'll want a front frame or lip of some sort for additional support.

Why 1/2" MDF? If it's for $$ reasons MDF is tough to beat. But a 3/4" plywood would make for easier assembly and lighter weight.

Locks can be purchased for sliding doors.

the reason why i am using MDF is because we already had some and it was cut to fit (4' by 2). what do you mean by front frame/lip?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

In the picture below I have an upper and lower lip where the glass track attaches. Picture this cage without these lips and the top and bottom would sag. With the lips glued and screwed in they offer structural support.

There are different ways to do this with a face frame, lips, etc. Really depends on your design.

so the lips are like litter dams that you install the glass track to ?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery

Yes. The lips can go inbetween the side panels or onto the front.

which way would be stronger? have them inbetween the side panels or on the front? also, will adding casters to it make the bottom sag?
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

My image Gallery