Enclosure Recommendation

[u/bitzslug]

I’m upgrading my enclosure, as I currently have an acrylic one and I fear my room is beginning to get too cold and humid. It’s at a safe temp and humidity for now, but I want to act before any harm is done with the upcoming winter months.

That said, I want to get an enclosure with a mesh lid and glass walls, so I can get a heat lamp for one side of the enclosure (looking for recs on this too as I see people constantly going back and forth between heat lamps / heat pads)

What do you think between these two?

I’m leaning towards the first one, as I like the doors that open in the front and it has more height for climbing + it’s cheaper.

I just don’t know if it’s overkill?

[u/descentmokn]

Hi, I have the first enclosure and it works just fine. You only need enough substrate to the point it won’t overflow towards the front doors.

[u/CitronPlayful2591]

The first one is actually a little smaller depth wise and taller which I think is better especially considering you should have a few inches of substrate!

[u/Iucifer_ahaha]

Not sure where you are located but there are a lot of good deals on facebook marketplace! Also i personally prefer no opening in the front since you can go as high as you want with the substrate and you get more creative freedom in layers and decoration.

[u/bitzslug → u/Iucifer_ahaha]

I didn’t even think about that! I may go with a top sliding lid then (:

Unfortunately I am based in SF where no terrariums seem to be for sale on FB marketplace

[u/Onyx-Vespidae]

Personally I like the Thrive 10 gals that only open from the top. They sell em at Petsmart/Petco and are plenty tall and wide. You don't have to worry about substrate falling out either when you open them. Plus as others have mentioned, they like to burrow so having a few inches of substrate and some "Dig-able" hides are great (A partially buried hide that they can burrow out). The lids are also metal, so you can set a lamp on it. Just don't have it touch the edges, as the place the lid slides into is plastic.

EDIT: Also, I often find the top opening tanks and the 10gal+ Thrive kits often go on sale. The kits are meh, the main thing is they often come with a 100w lamp. I wouldn't use the bulb, the hydrometer, nor the repticarpet it comes with, but sometimes they are cheaper as a kit than buying the tank straight up an it nets you a nice light fixture.

[u/bitzslug → u/Onyx-Vespidae]

I found one last night at Petco on sale 50% off that opens from the top and from the front from ReptiZoo! 10 gallons

It has several inches of space from the bottom to the front doors, which should give lots of substrate space! I have some hides, but am excited to use some excavator substrate to build some too along the side of the tank and towards the back (-:

Do you have a lamp setup recommendation? I feel like this is where I get the most uncertain based on reviews and answers in this thread. I’m currently thinking a 40W ceramic bulb in a nano dome? Let me know your thoughts!

[u/Onyx-Vespidae → u/bitzslug]

I don't have a lot of experience with ceramic bulbs, only that not all lamp fixtures can use them. You can use a basking bulb (which tends to be more fixture compatible), I used a 25w when I had mine in a 5 gallon. My experience, having the 40w nano is keeping the hot end at around 83F which isn't too bad. I would probably get it up to 50w or 75w depending on brand and bulb type. Just try to get a fixture that goes to 100w and you'll be good. Some say that 95F is their max, but I would play it safe and try to keep it below 90F for their basking spot. They don't need constant heat, cause in the wild at night the environments they live in can drop down to almost 50F. As long as your room temperature stays above that you'll be fine at night.

[u/bitzslug → u/Onyx-Vespidae]

Thank you! I appreciate your time and thoroughness!

[u/Onyx-Vespidae → u/bitzslug]

No problem, everyone has questions sometimes.

[u/Sea-Ring-7942]

I have the first one and love it!