Exo-Terra Flexariums?

Hey everyone

I was wondering if you could answer a few questions that I have about Exo-Terra Flexariums. Because if they come recommended I plan on getting a 260 gallon (30" W * 30" D * 72 H" one for my IJ when she gets bigger. It'd be a lot cheaper to buy, transport, set up and would give her loads of room to roam (I'd add loads of branches, plants etc.) I'd heat the base (underneath the flex-tray that you buy along with it, which holds the substrate) with a heat mat (thermostatically regulated of course) and the top with a heat bulb. I guess the top would be the warm section and the bottom the cool section, I'd put two hides on the bottom along with the water bowl, and keep it at around 78F, with the top being around 88F. Does this sound good?

So, as for the questions:

Does anyone here use them for any of their reptiles?

Are they easy to open and are they escape-proof?

How are heat bulbs and lights fitted inside?

For reptiles that require moderate humidity (50 - 60%), how often do you need to mist to keep it up?

Any other advice regarding these would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

All the best

David

my friend uses one for his bull. They don't hold humidity at all, and he's had problems shedding. I went over last weekend and worked it out with him, we put the water dish on the warm side and made a large humid-hide around the whole warm area with a tarp. My friend informed me today his snake shed perfectly for the first time (along with 3 layers of retained eye-caps).

So yes, it seems to work fine but you'll probably have to make a little extra effort to keep thing a bit more humid come shed time.

Everyone else I know who has them uses them for transport and containment at the reptiles educational shows. No escapes yet!

*edit
I didn't read you wanted it for an IJ at first. I don't know much about their husbandry, so all I can offer is the experience my friends have with colubrids. Maybe some one else can add more, I'd be worried about humidity the most. All that heat and nothing to hold the humidity in might dry it out. But 260 gallons is a great size! If it works out that will be one happy snake.

v_various said:

my friend uses one for his bull. They don't hold humidity at all, and he's had problems shedding. I went over last weekend and worked it out with him, we put the water dish on the warm side and made a large humid-hide around the whole warm area with a tarp. My friend informed me today his snake shed perfectly for the first time (along with 3 layers of retained eye-caps).

So yes, it seems to work fine but you'll probably have to make a little extra effort to keep thing a bit more humid come shed time.

Everyone else I know who has them uses them for transport and containment at the reptiles educational shows. No escapes yet!

*edit
I didn't read you wanted it for an IJ at first. I don't know much about their husbandry, so all I can offer is the experience my friends have with colubrids. Maybe some one else can add more, I'd be worried about humidity the most. All that heat and nothing to hold the humidity in might dry it out. But 260 gallons is a great size! If it works out that will be one happy snake.

Click to expand...

I can definately understand about the humidity problems and was a factor that I looked at. When the times comes I'll buy a big handheld mister and mist once a day, and keep a humid hide in there at all times. Humidity requirements are 40-60% for Carpets, so it shoudln't be too difficult to achieve. However, I'd obviously have to use a bulb (at the top), and this will also suck the humidity out. I'll keep a close eye on it but hopefully I'll figure out a good misting cycle after a few days. She currently lives in a 12" * 12" * 12" Exo-Terra, and that has a screen top. She has shed once with me, and that was a perfect shed.

Good to hear about the escape factor, thanks. The Exo-Terra site said that they were 'escape-proof', but you never know.

Oh and I know, that was one of the aspects of it that attracted me. 6 Feet tall... That'll have to stand on the floor next to the cabinet that has my Corn and my gecko on. It was about a quarter of a conventional tank of similar size, and would be really easy to set up. Besides, if I opted for, say, a 36" * 48" wooden tank, it would be about £60 for delivery (they have to use pallets, since I'm terrible at DIY and would have to ask for it to be assembled).

Thanks for the advice

You could put a seed tray (without the drainage holes...LOL) in the bottom of the viv...Fill it with water and place on top of an unregulated heat mat...Same as they do with GTP... You don't have to worry about the temps of the heat mat on your snake if the tray totally covers the mat.

Thanks for the advice, Mike.

I was going to get one the flex-trays that are designed for use with the Flexarium, and they fit it perfectly. I was going to put substrate, water bowl and the ground hides (she'll sleep in her hides on the ground during the day, then take to the trees at night) on there. There won't be any solid shelf to put any arboreal hides on either. Should I stick to the original plan and just mist twice a day or something, and keep a humid hide in at all times?

What do you do to keep humidity up in your Carpet's viv, Mike?

We have a very deep tub of water directly under the infrared, and a large shallow tray, towards the back of the viv......We also mist when blue happens, mist everything...LOL

IJ humidity requirements aren't dissimilar from a Corn's, I can understand the need for that kind of humidity with Jungles, since they live in rainforests, but I think that misting once a day or so would be okay, with a humid hide and more misting during the blue and shedding phase.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

One last question:

How could I go about using the infrared bulb. Should I just place it on top of the screen whilst it's hooked up to the thermostat? If so, I'm guessing I have to get one of those metal reflectors to balance it and focus the heat. Found one The Exo-Terra Glow Light, yeah that'd work perfectly and the Heat Glo bulb fits it.

What size is your tank Mike and what's the wattage on your infrared bulb?

We use a 75w bulb in the viv, covered with a guard...Our IJ likes to hang out on the branch next/adjacent to the bulb...Our viv is 3x2x3.... And harrison is about 2 1/2 ft long...maybe a bit more...

Thanks Mike. The mesh of the tank coupled with the fact that the bulb will be about 3 inches away from that mesh anyway, should negate any need for a guard right? As the mesh will be the guard.

Hmm... I really like this idea now. She's gonna love the climbing space, I'm gonna make this a real display piece too.

I would place the bulb in the viv.....It's mesh, so it won't retain any heat.....

True, but it's not going to make a lot of difference putting it inside the viv, and also, there will be no where to fit a guard or to attach the bulb.

Should I just buy a high wattage bulb, and put the perching spot about 10" away from the bulb. Obviously I'll adjust to get the temps right.

TBH I don't know... The viv is plastic.... I would place the bulb inside the viv, on a dimmer thermostat....Outside the viv the temps will be higher, to get through the mesh.....That may deteriorate the plastic....I don't know......

It's made of nylon mesh, and nylon has a minimum melting point of 190 degrees C, up to a maximum of 350 degrees C. So I think I'm safe in that department

But yeah, it will definately be on a dimmer thermostat, and I'll just adjust the position of the basking spot and the temp on the thermostat to get it to around 88F.

Cheers for all your help mate.

David

Don't know if this helps, but I keep my crestie in one of these. I put plastic wrap on the back and one side and it helps keep some of the humidity in. Having a slow drip system helps as well.

Thanks very much! That does help