Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Reptariums as sunning cage outside during the day?

I'm wondering, I have actually been putting my collareds in them this week, and leaving out for awhile each day.

I have had some feedback on the collared forum saying they filtered alot of the uvb out, atleast 30 percent or more because of the heavy nylon. Geesh is this true?

Anybody have any Data? Thanks so much guys, I know some of you use them also, as sunning cages, figured you may know!

APPRECIATE IT !

Chino & Chia Baja Collared Pair Sunning

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Eve

Reptarium cages filter up to 70% by my readings- Natural sunlight at its peak is ~300 microwatts- summer time noon time- so still have ~ 90 microwatts at peak summer times. otherwise very low amounts at off times and seasons. Check out my site for our "Sun-in Side" UVB penetrating plexiglass cages
Joe
Link

I don't know how your cages are designed, but never ever ever put a lizard in the sun inside a plastic tub, a glass tank, plexi-glass, or ANYTHING that does not have a LOT of side ventilation. Only plexi-glass cages that are really big and have specially made vents to allow a lot of airflow should be used in the sun.

You need to post that if you mention sunning cages because people are cooking thier lizards left and right this summer it seems.
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Plexiglass phobia---If you dont know how my cages are designed then why are you commenting? My cages can be made with any degree of screen one wants, in fact our sides are changeable to match the seasons and individual use. Ours are the only sunning cages that can be used in cold weather as well.

Again, I am commenting because this is a forum where people come to learn about dragons. You did not say anything about screen or venting in your post, jus that you have PLEXI-GLASS cages that you put in the SUN.

Whether or not it is intelligent, many people would get the impression that putting a dragon in any plexi-glass tank in the sun is ok. It is NOT. I have 7 young dragons in my care at this VERY moment that were put in the sun in a plastic tub by their "breeder" and suffered heat stroke and some degree of kidney failure. I have lost several of the worst affected ones, this was a clutch of 18, the others were dead when he found them. It is HORRIBLE, and posting something like you did without a warning can cause things like this to happen to other dragons. The majority of new dragon owners don't know that normal plex-glass filters out sun-rays at all, so they would likely think you just mean any plexi-glass tank.

I did not attack your product, I SAID I do not know what your product is like, I SAID properlly vented tanks with some glass or plastic and great side and top ventilation can be used, so what are you so defensive for? that just makes you look guilty of something.

And some phobias like hear of Fire, fear of death, and fear of cooking in a greenhouse in the sun are very rational and healthy phobias.
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Someone may look at your page, which does not show clear pics of a cage, just a frame, and think they can make a plexi box to put their dragons in to get sun. I don't think they were out of place one bit to make a point that could save someone's beardie.

Does your cage come with the plexi & screen? Are there doors or just the frame? There isn't a whole lot of explanation on your site so I don't know how your frames are designed either. Sorry.
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Joel R

Coming some day.
www.SpikesAndScales.com

been several people lose dragons due to being in glass or pexiglass outside, to see someone come on and post about their pexiglass cages for OUTSIDE is frightening.

I did check out the link and it appear they have removable sides and they can be changed to screen, but the post did not explain that and the site does not go into much explanation either... basically I think it is cage meant to be used inside with the pexiglass and outside with the sided changed.

But then, as anyone that has used pexiglass knows too, the heat from the heatlights or MV seems to age and crack those too!

We had one cage of pexiglass and one night we heard what sounded like a rifle shot, when we looked to see what caused the sound, the whole tank had cracked apart! We had anoles in it and they were all over the place
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www.reptilerooms.com

I have no objection to warnings of overheating with cages not designed for outdoor uses---I do object to overreacting, words in CAPS etc especially when uniformed--phobias and healthy rational concern are very different- and are vocalized differently-
Dictionary definition; Phobia
"an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation"

Warning others that pexi-glass in the sun can/will kill their animals is not a phobia, does not meet the definition of a phobia, it meets the defination of a fact.

: something that has actual existence b : an actual occurrence
: a piece of information presented as having objective reality- in fact : in truth

The posters concern was that your post mentioned your new pexi-glass cages and using them "Sun-in side". Hnce the warning to other's that might read it was okay to put animals in the sun inside pexi-glass boxes... nothing more was intended, if you read that as something more, we'er sorry. We care about animals welfare here, not selling items from our stores.

Which also, BTW is a violation of the TOS of the site. You Said:
Check out my site for our "Sun-in Side" UVB penetrating plexiglass cages

Kingsnake TOS state clearly:
All posts that state or imply "Look at/check out my/this website" will be removed. We do allow our users to post the URLs of websites, as long as it is part of a contribution to the overall discussion, but not simply as a method of promotion/endorsement of those websites, either on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else.

I realize you are new here, so maybe this will help. If your items are good products, and your customer service is good, others will share that information. That is something we all are very big on here too with each other, as we want the best for our animals and when we find something that works well, we do share it, others appreciate it, at least I know I do.
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www.reptilerooms.com

I was the first to use the word phobia- not as a discription of the message of be careful about frying your animal in cages not designed for outdoor use- but rather to describe the tone and actions of the responder to my post- I hoped this was obvious and perhaps reinforces my criticism of overreaction and lack of critical thinking - a quality which can be just as dangerous to the novice reptile keeper as an amorphous plexiglass cage.

My response to this statement--
"And some phobias like hear of Fire, fear of death, and fear of cooking in a greenhouse in the sun are very rational and healthy phobias."
is the same- phobias,("an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation.", dont seem healthy or the way to properly educate.
Thats all I wanted to say

in sunlight on a typical summer day (ranges from 400 uW/cm2 in the south to 225 uWcm2 in the north, unscreened) your collards are getting 3-5 times the UVB they would get under the averages from a UVB light inside. That can vary if you use MV or florescents inside.

Any way you look at it, they are getting an excellent output of UVB and they benefits from it. Just make sure to still provide them an area they can retire to in shade or cover part of the enclosure.

AND.....for everyone.... I am with the others, NEVER interpert that it is ever safe to put an animal outside in a glass, pexiglass or partial sealed enclosure. Thats one thing nice about the reptariums, light weight mesh all the way around allows maximum air flow, but they still need an area covered or shaded. It does filter some, but they are still getting much more UVB than sitting under the majority of UVB lights on the market.

There are some great data reports and testing of UVB info on a yahoo UVB group link below, if anyone wants to read them

UVB reports and test

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www.reptilerooms.com

that was what I wanted to know. Even after a few buddies seemed to think they were not very benifecial, I figured they must be getting as much or more than inside.

Not only that, they seemed to enjoy it. Especially hatchlings, they got very active and never stopped jumping and exploring the whole time.

And to keep the reptarium on the light side and quite movable I just put in a small cardboard box to bask on, or they had the option of running inside for cover from sun or anything that may have freightened them.

Also I sat out their with them LOL to MAKE SURE all was well !

Thanks also for the uvb info, Your alright, LOL
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Eve

to raising hatchling in them. That way can take them outside daily and also, we found out that in the wild, they do not go into a hide or hid on the ground, they climb bushes, trees and shrubs, hanging straight up and down to sleep.

It was interesting to learn, giving them the choice 100% of the babies choose to climb the mesh side and sleep like that at night, even with hides, caves, boxes and plants in their cages. Around 4 months the first ones started sleeping on the ground and the others followed within a month. I thought an interesting observation.

Babies sleeping at night

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www.reptilerooms.com

yeah, I can understand you choosing to raise the babies in them.
I used to hear so much negative feedback on them, I had not tried them until recently.

They have some hangy threads here and there, but I dont think you can beat them in size, price, or being so easy to move around (lightweight)

I do use a 65 gallon (tall) for emerald swifts, and they are thriving in there, use every inch, sides top, bottom. And I use a 38 gallon for 2 black agamas who also use every inch.

Then I just got a couple just for the Sunning purposes, for all my collareds, adults and hatchlings. So I now know they are getting some good UVB ! Great!

Okay Cheri thanks again, take care of all those KIDS !
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Eve

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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)

0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
0.0.1 tarantula (Otto)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

>>to raising hatchling in them. That way can take them outside daily and also, we found out that in the wild, they do not go into a hide or hid on the ground, they climb bushes, trees and shrubs, hanging straight up and down to sleep.
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>>It was interesting to learn, giving them the choice 100% of the babies choose to climb the mesh side and sleep like that at night, even with hides, caves, boxes and plants in their cages. Around 4 months the first ones started sleeping on the ground and the others followed within a month. I thought an interesting observation.
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>>Babies sleeping at night
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>>www.reptilerooms.com
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Rob Talkington