Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been looking at several reptile enclosures/cages the last few weeks and came across visionariums, which are like a hybrid between a cage and an aquarium, mostly glass, stackable, and sliding front doors.

Has any one used these before? How deep can you put sand without getting it in between the sliding glass doors and causing a problem? Also, is it easy to provide bottom heat for them in these visionariums?

I have a pair of brown earth boas that I've had for about 3-4 years, and they've lived pretty much in a 10 gallon aquarium with heat tape on the bottom for most of that time. The female is outgrowing the 10 gallon, and I think it's time for something a little larger. Stackable is great, because I also have several other desert animals that I could stack up.

I asked on another forum about desert enclosures and vision cages and such and got no reply. So, thoughts or information is appreciated. thanks

How deep can you put sand without getting it in between the sliding glass doors and causing a problem?

One of the things I would suggest is keeping the snakes on Aspen rather than sand. I have 4 johni (I assume that is what you mean by brown earth boas) and all 4 of them live and eat well with a few inches of aspen as substrate. It is easier to clean as well.
That would nullify the sand issue, and make the stack a lot lighter and more stable.

Also, is it easy to provide bottom heat for them in these visionariums?

Adding bottom heat could work with a stick on UTH. Once you stacked them, you might have to carefully bundle the wires to avoid a tangle. Having to unstack them for cleaning would be a real pain, however.

I asked on another forum about desert enclosures and vision cages and such and got no reply.

That's easy....that's because this is the best forum on KS.com! LOL
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks for the reply. I have been using sand off and on for about 10 years, with sand boas, eastern hognose, and several other reptiles, with no problems. They are all taken out of their enclosure and put into a rubbermaid, deli cup, or paper bag to eat.

I have also tried cypress mulch on some species, aspen, and sani chips, and really just didn't like them very much for sand boas. I've also heard that pro exotics uses potting soil in their lizard and snake enclosures. Would that be any safer?

I would still like to know if these visionariums would hold sand or soil, and if so, how many inches before going into the door rails or whatever.

I agree. E. johnii seem to do much better on aspen or bark.
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Rick Staub
R&R Reptiles

I would hate to have spent $600 on visionariums and supplies and they not hold substrate well, whether it be sand, dirt, aspen, bark, mulch, rabbit pellets, or whatever.....

I'd just plain hate to spend $600 on a visionlessarium.

>>I would hate to have spent $600 on visionariums and supplies and they not hold substrate well, whether it be sand, dirt, aspen, bark, mulch, rabbit pellets, or whatever.....
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Rick Staub
R&R Reptiles

About 3/4" high, if that. That is it my friend.

You can use heat pads, and Vision has molded in channels for the electrical cords with exit holes. Easy as pie. Great setup in that regard. Plus, the plastic bottom is better when heated than glass. By better, I mean the heat spreads out better (glass gets hot right above the heater and stays cold immediately along the edges of the heater.)

But like I said, you have about 3/4" or less before the substrate pours over into the door tracks.

Visionariums are great for rosyboas. I don't know enough about sandboas to save my life. If they can be happy hiding under paper or cardboard over a thin layer of substrate, then you will be alright with a Visionarium. Otherwise, don't buy them.

Sounds like visionariums are a no-go for sand boas, tortoises, uromastyx, or any thing that might require 2-3" of substrate. I may still get one or two for my other snakes however. thanks for the information.

are you dead set on something with a display type characteristic? I've found nothing works better than a good storage tub terrestrial rack for sand boas.