Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I've finally decided it's time to step up and buy the 4 foot long cages, now I just need to decide between a stack of Boaphile or Vision. The models I'm looking at are the Boaphile 421 and the Vision 400. Both offer the dimensions I'm looking for but I still want to know what other herpers have experienced using these two specific types of cages.

I can't tell if the Boaphile cages are ventilated from the pictures....are they? What's the best heat option to go with if you keep your collection in the house w/ ambient temps in the winter at 68-70 and in the summer at 75-78?

One major concern of mine with either cage is that the snakes don't have the option of rubbing their nose up against something sharp.

Thanks....and my pit collection thanks you too

Russ Bates

My experience with both..

At your temps you mentioned of 68-70 it will be easier to maintain a warmer ambient in visions then with boaphiles, unless you go with radient heat panels or something along those lines (the flexwatt heat option that comes with boaphiles has a difficult time keeping the enclosure warm enough in a cooler room).. Other then that it will boil down to what options you like.. The boaphile has the single swing down door, some people really like it, I personally hate it, kind of a pain when you are changing water in an enclosure with an angry snake and they have full access to you, the sliding doors are nice for that since only half the front is open to you at a time.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

no post
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

I agree with Randall. Visions have the nice feature of sliding glass doors which is a cage requirement of mine. Visions are strond, durable cages but don't hold heat or humidity well. I have found Boaphile Cages to hold heat and humidity well but hate that one giant door. I had one and sold it after two weeks. Feeding a charging retic with that one door was entertaining to say the least.

www.cheapcages.com Jungle Habitats has a super line of new quality cages that has the sliding door option. They hold heat and humidity very well. You can get installed heat and lighting if you wish. With free shipping and a low base price they are the best by far. Bill

Your opinion is the exact opposite of another guy who is using Boaphile cages. That's interesting to see the exact opposite wrt experiences. I guess what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other. If you want to read this post it is in the Pituophis section.

Thanks for replying,
Russ

I know that even my 8 year old vision cages look brand new.

I don't think there are any plastic cages on the market that have even been around long enough to make the same claim.

I havent used any of the other cages. I haven't needed too.

I recently got my jungle habitats cage and its great for a great price. It has double doors and holds humidity with no problem. The vent is the gap area around the door. It has a few heating options like heat tape or installed lighting. Alan is good peoples he kept me updated and answered all questions he was really helpfull. I have to say jungle Habitats all the way you wont regret it especially with the great price. Check him out at www.cheapcages.com

then I might go with Vision. Boaphile cages are made with boa constrictors in mind. As such, they have little ventilation (although this is easily remedied by drilling holes) so as to hold heat and humidity better. For Pits you don't want too much humidity or heat I would think.

For my Visions, I run heat tape across the cage, then use styrene foam blocks or wood blocks for larger cages so I can stack cages without the heat tape getting pinched between cages.

The polyethylene used in Vision cages makes cleaning snake urates easy. For pits I think that is a plus.
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Mark G