Hey guys! Im looking for some new pvc enclosures for my kings, but I’m stumped on what brand to go for. What are y’alls favorites?
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I can recommend All American Cages. I’ve had my ball python in one of those cages for a long time and it works perfectly.
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I have a lot of admiration for Custom Reptile Habitats, their work ethics and attention to detail, even though I don’t own one of theirs yet.
I do have one from Kages, and it’s clean and simple and an absolute dream to put together.
Just don’t gesso then paint the panels, and leave them to dry in the sun… Not smart of me. Under massive heat like that they warp a bit because that’s a property of PVC- no fault of theirs. I used heat to un-warp them (and then sealed them) and in spite of my silliness, it went together beautifully.
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S ake disczovery recently toured their facility (custom reptile habitats) and its a lretty cool look into their process.
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I second the suggestion of All American Cages. I have one for my sand boa and it’s awesome. Lightweight, sturdy, and it was only an extra $10 to get a customized screen cut-out on the top to accommodate my heating and lighting.
I just ordered a larger enclosure from Animal Plastics for my blood python. I’ve heard great things about their enclosures, but I don’t have it yet, so I can’t give a first-hand review yet. They were just a little less pricey for the larger sizes, for both the cage itself and the shipping (compared to All American Cages).
It kind of depends on what size you need and how much you want to spend. I’ve heard great things about Kages and Vision enclosures, but they’re a bit pricier.
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All American cages is what I have my bull and hog nose in. They’re probably the most affordable on the market and I love the black look. I do wish they offered them in a sliding glass but they’re amazing for the price.
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All American Cages has great prices for smaller enclosures (36" long and under), but I noticed they tend to get a little pricier for the larger sizes. Animal Plastics is actually less expensive if you want a 4’x2’ footprint.
But for a kingsnake, All American Cages is probably going to have some of the best prices, even with high shipping costs.
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I have decided to build all of my own PVC enclosures. None of the big box companies that you guys have talked about have a good lighting or heating system that comes pre-wired or pre-installed in their tanks. A lot of times those companies use thinner PVC than 1/2 in and if you install a heat bulb or a UVB fixture in the ceiling that produces heat it can melt or warp the plastic. I designed my own PVC enclosures through my company and I use support beams so that my light fixtures are a couple inches below the top panel so it allows the heat to dissipate and not be transferred into the enclosure above. I have looked at all of the big companies and I don’t see anyone that is doing lighting or Heating already installed that does not come with its own inherent issues or you have to install all your own Heating and Lighting. Also I use a 2in thick 4 inch long front wall for the base and a 2in by 2in header for the top of the front wall so I do not need a support beam or a piece of plastic in the middle of the front of my enclosure to prevent sagging. I’m not saying that those enclosures aren’t great but they are built and constructed in a manner so that they can be taken apart and shipped flat and as light as possible to avoid High shipping costs. You will get a much better enclosure if you purchase the PVC and get tracks and tempered glass from a local supplier and build it yourself.
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That’s awesome! Unfortunately, not everyone has the time, skills, or tools (or desire) to build their own enclosures. I know I certainly don’t. For what it’s worth, I haven’t had any issues with melting or warping with my enclosure from All American Cages. I have my heating and lighting on top of a heavy duty screen cut-out, and so far it’s worked great.
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Yes that’s what I see a lot of people do but when you pay 5 or $600 for an enclosure including shipping then you should not have to cut holes in the top and put screen in to put lighting. This prevents being able to stack the enclosures which is a necessity for some people with the size of their collections. My enclosures that I build have all the lights installed inside of the tank and this allows them to be stacked up to 4 high. Putting lights on top is always an easy fix but prevents stacking
Here are some other options;
Focused Cube Habitats
Black Box Cages
MP Racks and Cages
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Well, I didn’t have to put the screen in myself, the company put it in for me, I just gave them the measurements I needed. Fair point about lights/heating on a screen not allowing for stacking, although that’s not really an issue for me personally.
It’s great that you’ve come up with such a good design, and those who are willing and able to do so should absolutely consider constructing their own enclosures to suit their specific needs. I’m just pointing out that that’s not necessarily a viable option for everyone.
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I recommend Cserpent, I just them for all my PCC enclosure and incubator needs.
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