First-time reptile owners are often put off by the upfront cost of the animal in both itself and its enclosure; however, the reality is that it is only a one-time purchase if you do things right. If you create an excellent enclosure right off the bat, you save a great deal of money and time. If you truly want to welcome a reptile into your home you have to be willing to do things the right way.
Choosing an enclosure
There is actually quite a variety when it comes to enclosure types and many people are usually unaware as they mainly see glass aquariums. The fact of the matter is is that you have OPTIONS.
1. Glass aquariums
Now, as I said earlier, glass aquariums are definitely an option and have worked for people in the past. I have also used them and I can verify that they are safe and will house a reptile or amphibian quite nicely. Here are some truths about glass aquariums:
*They are built to hold water
+They are sturdy and made to last
+Can hold a water feature if desired
-They are heavy and get even heavier as they get bigger, difficult to carry
-Glass can crack and break if you aren't careful
-Broken glass is difficult to repair and can mess up the entire enclosure
*The lids available for them are pretty much exclusively metal mesh screen
+There are lids pre-made to fit any glass aquarium
+Metal mesh allows for heat lamps to sit securely on top
+Easy ventilation means they would be good for an arid species
-Easy ventilation means they wouldn't hold humidity for a humid species
-You may need to customize the top as needed for the species in it
*They are exclusively top-opening
-You are forced to only reach in from the top, quick movements from above can scare animals and you may stress out your pet
-A large enclosure can be tall, only reaching from the top may lead to you leaning into it and causing an accident
-You'll need to move the heat lamp every time you open the enclosure, you must pay attention and do this safety because an active heat lamp can be a fire hazard on the wrong surface
*Clear on all sides
+Allows you to see the animal from all sides
-An animal prone to stress can get nervous by being exposed on all sides. Easy to remedy though by covering the sides of the enclosure
2. Glass terrariums
Glass terrariums are different from aquariums because they are built to house animals that aren't fish. They have different forms and doors, and the glass is much thinner as it isn't designed to hold water. Here's some things about them:
*Made with thinner glass
+Lighter material means it weighs less when empty
-Easier to break if accidentally bumped
*Have front-opening doors
+Easy-access for cleaning and picking up the animal
+Doesn't require you to reach for the animal from above, less stress for the animal
-You will need to get a lock if it doesn't have one already built in
-Depending how strong, large, and/or bored the animal is, it can have an easier time opening the door
*Can have a screen top or a non-screen top
+Gives options for humidity needs
-Can't have a heat lamp on top if it is glass top
*Clear on all sides
+Allows you to see the animal from all sides
-An animal prone to stress can get nervous by being exposed on all sides. Easy to remedy though by covering the sides of the enclosure
*Come in pre-made size varieties
+You have options between sizes
-They have a size cap
3. PVC or other plastic material enclosures
Enclosures can be made from sturdy plastics, the most common being PVC. This option is extremely versatile as there are even people who custom-make this style of enclosure to fit the needs of the people who need it and the animal will live in it. Here are some things to know:
*They come in many shapes and sizes
+You have many more options for size needs that suit you and your pet's needs
+There are people who make these enclosures fully customizable so you can get unique dimensions made
+/-Variety of plastics means a variety of weights, meaning it is hard to gauge how heavy they may be
-They can get pretty pricey depending on company/manufacturer and fully custom sizes are usually more expensive than pre-made ones
*There are many companies to choose from
+You have many options in pricing and quality
-Can be overwhelming, and prices can vary widely
-You'll need to research the companies you are interested in buying from to ensure quality
*They don't usually have screen tops
+None of the cons associated with screen tops
-You will need to secure any heat lamps and lights on the inside of the enclosure, which can present with some difficulty if you are unfamiliar with how to do this
-Internal heat lamps will take away some of the vertical space on the warm side of the enclosure
*There are different door options
+You can choose between swinging doors and sliding doors
-Depending on the animal and door style you may need to install a lock if one isn't included
4. Wood or other custom material
Reptile enclosures can actually be made from other furniture or custom builds, but this comes with a lot of nuances and unless you know what you're getting into it can end poorly, so plan accordingly. Here are some things about it:
*Can repurpose old furniture (cabinets/dressers/wardrobes)
+Fun upcycling project potential!
-If you're doing it to a piece of furniture you are attached to, be aware that there is potential that you damage it beyond repair if things go poorly
*If you're not hiring someone you have a lot of DIY on your hands
+Can be a fun project if you are a fan of DIY and assembly
-Mistakes can cost you a lot of money if something goes wrong and needs repair
-If it is not waterproofed properly you can get irreversible water damage and ruin the integrity of it as an enclosure, same goes for properly securing the doors to be animal-proof because the animal may escape
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