Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do any of you guys use these & if so, what do you think of them.
I can't seem to decide if I want to buy or build cages. One day I think i'm going to build & then the next I'm going to buy.
Whatever I do, I need to get on it soon.
I'm considering ordering a few of the 421D cages (48" x 24" x 11.5" boaphile is selling for $219 shipped. I was also thinking of getting the in cage heating installed in the floor. What do you guys think?

Thanks & God bless!

Eric
Boaphile homepage

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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

I was looking at getting their 6321D 6' cage, but boaphile never seems to answer their phone or emails....kind of frustrating...
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Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

I've got mostly Boaphile cages these days. I love them for some things, a little frustrated with others.

I like the fact that they are light and yet solid. I like the built in heat. The light option is also worth it and once I saw in in 2 cages I had it in, I wish I had ordered it for all of them. Pass through holes can be added so that snakes can go from one cage to another, multiplying the cage space available or making mates easy to find during breeding season.

They are very easy to clean. I've heard some complaints that snake urates seem to stain the cages, but I've got the same type of staining in plastic water dishes that I believe is an acid-etched, permanent mark. If a stain at substrate level is a bothersome thing, the black plastic is good.

I think that their basic 4x2x11.5 cage is a nice size for a female indigo, but you'd want the longer versions for a male.

The black plastic probably does have some stress reducing effect on snakes.

The swing open doors are normally great, but if you have a hungry indigo, this could present a problem. I wish they had sliding doors as an option.

I would recommend keeping the lowest cage about a foot off the floor for visibility and to avoid trouble with the doors.

The biggest issue folks have with Boaphile is that they are tough to contact. This isn't because they are ignoring the calls and emails. I believe it's because they're getting so many orders that they are having a hard time getting them done. My own experience is that once the order is made, on time delivery was never a problem. Replacing or correcting orders that weren't perfect was very prompt.

I have 10 Boaphile cages and 3 racks for babies.

If my snake room were a little bit longer, I would even replace my bigger home made cages with Boaphile cages. Unfortunately the dimensions of the plastic sheets limit the type of dimensions of cages they can make.

I have some cage making skills, and up until a few years ago I would recommend that folks make their own cages. Now that nice plastic cages are available, I'd say it's worth checking out the commercially built cages. It was much easier for me to work some OT an buy the cages than it would have been for me to put in equal amount of time working on the buying the parts and building the cages myself, and I would have ended up with heavier, not-so-watertight cages.

I give Boaphile cages a strong thumbs-up.

Doug T

Are you saying that the 4' long cage would be large enough for an adult female? I was going to order 6' for all of my indigos, but if 4' is enough for females it would be nice to save some money...
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Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

I think that a normal sized female would be fine in a 4 x 2 cage. I have a couple of 5 x 2 boaphile cages and they would be great for a really big female or smallish male. I'd want the 6' cage for my big male.

Does this help?

Doug T

Are you saying that the 4' long cage would be large enough for an adult female? I was going to order 6' for all of my indigos, but if 4' is enough for females it would be nice to save some money...
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>>Paul Weaver
>>Carolina Herps

yep, that helps.
I just assumed that both males and females would need 6' cages.

btw, is it normal for females to build girth instead of length after they are a couple of years? I have a female from Dean that's getting bigger and bigger around, while the male mainly puts on size in length.
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Paul Weaver
Carolina Herps

Thanks Doug!

Eric
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If Jesus is your co-pilot, you'd better change seats!

A good friend of mine has them and is useing them exlcusively with his snakes, many of which are boas. Formerly he had Melamine cageing and Vision cages.

I would have to say that I am OVERLY impressed with the Boaphile cages AND plastic rack systems as well.

Its nice to see a really good product come on the market.

God Bless,

Fred Albury

all my stuff loves these cages, as do I! Two thumbs up!