Dart Den

Your personal favourite style of enclosure or product brand, for Vivarium design.

I really love the look of protean tanks but just don't have the patience to have one built.

As far as zoomed or exo it depends on the tank size. For 12x12x18 I prefere the single door of a zoomed but for anything larger I would go with Exo terra as I just dont like the idea of that big of a door being open. I feel moderately safer being able to keep one most of the way shut if necessary.

I voted for Exo. All of my current tanks are 2ft wide or bigger. I like the double doors.

Im currently building a 75g aquarium style and love the view, but the top access is already a pain.

I plan on building my own, sometime down the road.

I love the Exo-Terra terrariums. They have a better latch system and come in more than 3 sizes. Two doors helps out with quick little frogs and keeping air moisture in when doing hand misting. You can find them in most pet shops, so easy availability. (I voted Exo-Terra.)

Zoo Med terrariums work well for many reptiles since you can use dome fixtures for additional heat support. Their use for amphibians is personal preference. I help a friend set one up, I was not that impressed. I may purchase one for a GTP's since I can use the dome heat fixture for ceramic heat emitters. Many pet shops carry them so this often influences the use between Exo-Terra and Zoo Med terrarium.

Aquariums are always nice. Most people have had fish at some time so you can often find used ones cheap or even for free. I acquired a nice 55g acrylic from a buddy. It was free! Garage Sales, nearly new shops, and classified there is easy access to aquariums.

Custom tanks take time for production. You have to plan in advance your terrarium and wait for delivery. I know I like to just run to the shop pick-up a tank and have a nice weekend or week project instead of wailing a 1-2 weeks for production, then 1-2 weeks for delivery. I really don't like the wait, and I see additional cost as an issue for widespread use. I hope to custom build one myself this summer.

Good summary, Jason.

I think that one of the Major advancements that we have in the Hobby, and we have Europe to thank of course, is the "Front Opening Viv".

The Front opening enclosure model in all it's forms, has made all Exotic animal care and husbandry 1000 times easier than top opening traditional enclosures.

Front opening vivs allow for ease of cleaning, feeding and just about every single facet of care over the top opening vivs.

I love the cube tanks as it provides a lot of floor space and sq ft for the frogs. My favorite tank I have had is when I had my 2' cubed tank...it was awesome. That being said I also love the two door exoterra tanks because it s nice to open half the viv vs the whole viv when feeding/ cleaning.

Chris,
What are your cubes, dimensions? Are they acrylic, and if so how is scratching? I know my acrylic tank was a pain to buff out a few scratches.

JJuchems Wrote:Chris,
What are your cubes, dimensions? Are they acrylic, and if so how is scratching? I know my acrylic tank was a pain to buff out a few scratches.

It was a 2' cube and it wasnt that bad to buff out...used to doing wet sand/ polish on cars...lol. I babies it and never really scratched it...it's now a display reef tank at my work.

The cubes by far look the most unique. Ive had both glass and acrylic cubes in a few sizes, The latest will be a monster 4' custom cube for a build project.

Michael

interesting inital poll sampling....

There is no way any of those vivs beat an acrylic cube unless you haven't seen them, they come with front doors, custom rounded corners and they can be drilled and customized easier than glass. Plus a cube holds way more options with its depth.

Michael

I saw a few 10 year old cubes at Sean's the other week and some of them looked really rough and scratched.

Price-wise, they are pretty salty too, I would think.

True on the price but brass polish will clean the acrylic cubes up and the scratches disappear. They are also more break resistant when it comes to normal screwups like bumping corners and sitting them down too hard.

Michael

I've only got the converted aquariums- but that's only because it was cheaper and easier for me to get my hands on. I only paid for 2 of the tanks, and the others were given to me by friends.

JJuchems Wrote:Chris,
What are your cubes, dimensions? Are they acrylic, and if so how is scratching? I know my acrylic tank was a pain to buff out a few scratches.

I just made a glass 2' cube tank...have a few different sizes I can make them in. Showed the people at the philly meet today my design and asked for feedback. Ill be shipping them as kits for you to glue yourself to save on cost and shipping risk. I will have pre-built ones for sale at frogday.

I definitely prefer Euro-style vivs, but I am no longer endorsing everyone's favorite brand after my experience working there. :wink: For now I am modding Exo Terras.

Euro style without the front air vent. I think they're similar to protean terrariums.

Here is what mine look like...making two changes though...one more magnet and a handle


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My custom made one is by far the best that I like.

Seen Here:

This is a very representative polling IMO. The main feature that makes everything 100 times easier for our hobby is that the enclosure be "front opening" as opposed to "top opening" such as found in the common fish tank.