Thoughts on exo terra terrariums

[CharliePython]

I have a glass Dalbarb enclosure and it is fine with the cold. I have the 150w ceramic heater in one side it keeps that side of the tank at 28c at night and raises to 32c during the day. Night time temps in room are droping to about 6c

 

[Smithers]

I Like them but they are pretty poor for heat retention as already said. They are not escape proof the holes in the top for your cords to go through is large enough for a hatchie Antaresia to go through.
I have 4 Spiny-Tailed Geckos on a 60x45x60 in the loungeroom.

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[littlemay]

Thanks for all the great replies guys, seems pretty clear that there's some mixed feelings on glass enclosures, it's hard to know which opinion to go with... While they do look lovely i really don't want to compromise the health of the snake, so i might go with something that retains heat better. Ugh, feels like a waste though!

 

[snakeluvver]

I like exo terras a lot, apart from the price. My spotteds in one and I havent had any problems.

 

[littlemay]

^ Can i ask how cold it gets where you keep it and what you do for heating?

 

[bucket]

i have two there fine and easy to sell if your your snakes out grows it.i have mine in my herp room its hotter in there than any where else in my place might have something to do with my three melamine enclosures with 150 watts ceramic heat lights and i use 50 watt reptile one fan heat light cost afew bucks but good for exo terras no chance of burn or melting the exo terra lids.
i have picked up so cheap ones on ebay cause some people put heat lights on top and burn the lids then there useless unless you know someone that can get lids for cheap

 

[littlemay]

Sorry if i misunderstood, but what do you do for heat at night when you presumably turn off your fan heat light? Are you saying the high room temp is enough?

 

[bucket]

i use a exo terra heat mat on one and the other one i put on top of my enclosure right above the ceramic light it heats the floor of my exo terra to 30 degrees
the room is double brick and is about 23 degrees during winter

 

[littlemay]

That's one toasty room! I don't get close to those temps in winter =/ Thanks for the input, food for thought

 

[Kizzthatis]

Exo tetras are great, like people have said they are almost un escapable. The only time their are genraly escapes is human error

 

[bucket]

or if the the lids have to much heat lights on them they warp and the gaps for power cords at back of the lids can leave a gap big enought for baby geckos get out i tape mine with heavy duty duct tape so my reptiles don't get out

 

[Stilla]

Exo terra's are escape proof! your snake wont get out. and taking as it is for free, id take ot! they go for 300+$

 

[littlemay]

So i took it (as if anyone wouldn't!), still deciding on what to do with it. Mulling over ways it could become snake suitable... say i positioned a basking shelf below a ceramic heat emitter and then placed a heat mat underneath this (the enclosure, not the shelf), i would imagine that the basking shelf would remain quite warm despite the overall ambient heat loss (which would be lessened with the aid of the heat mat). I've read both on these and other forums that some people believe this creates a more natural thermal gradient, though it isn't the most electrically efficient set up.

Of course i have no idea if these people knew what they were talking about or if it's applicable to this particular enclosure, would love to know what people think.

EDIT: i apologise if this thread seems to be going around in circles, it can be difficult when you get conflicting information on an issue, just wanting to suss out all the options