What does your BTS call home?

[Susann]

I've been thinking this would be a really helpful thread, and since Karen asked about my terrariums in my Emergency Prep thread, I thought I'd throw this up sooner than later.

I've been trying to think of some way to post the question without inviting too much arguing about what the BEST is. We've had plenty of opinions about that in the past. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it can detract from and derail the discussion.

If we can state the honest pros and cons about our own terrariums, then someone who is looking can get an idea of what would work the best for them and fill the requirements they have ...and they can maybe learn from others' mistakes.

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
What size and what species do you keep in it?
Did you make it?
How much did you pay?
What do you like about it?
What do you not like about it?
Pros? Cons?
What would you do differently?

Pictures are always welcome!

We started with one skink, bought the biggest terrarium in the store, which was the ZILLA 36x18.


I don't have much at all against it. Only thing I can think of would be that the tank needs to be down lower so that a shorty like me can comfortably get my arms all the way down to the floor of the tank
And that you really need to suspend the lamps because it is a pain to take them all off the screen lid when you open the cage.

Got two more skinks, they grew out of their little baby tanks fast! Wanted them all to have some more room.
And BOY did they!
I have to say here that I am from a metric country. Even though I've lived here half my life I apparently still don't know EXACTLY what 60 inches means.

The tank I had was 36" long. Well, the next step bigger of the Showcase terrarium that I had decided on was 48". Then I started looking at how much more it would be to go to the NEXT bigger one, the 60".
Well, I decided on going all the way out since they are going to live in them for the next 30 years. So that's what I ordered.

Imagine my surprise when the delivery truck comes and the guy asks me where I want him to put the two REFRIGERATOR-sized boxes!
I had to back my car out of the garage and have him put them there!!
I call them coffins, because I'm pretty close to being able to stretch out in them!



I LOVE them. They are 60 x 24 x 24, and I have my Meraukes in them. I think they are pretty. I think the features they have work well. Easy to reach in, easy access to everything in them, easy to clean, easy to regulate temps.

I wish they had better ventilation. And I wish you could access the heat lamps from the sides instead of the back, since we have two on top of each other. You can access the fluorescent lights at the front of the tank from the sides, but not the two lowered lamp areas towards the back.
Under cons I guess I also have to say that I payed $599 each.

[Karen]

Thanks so much for posting pics and all. I'm afraid the 60" long is too rich for my blood at this point, so I would have to go for the 48". I definitely look forward to seeing everyone's enclosures to compare to my short list of the brands I'm considering.

I've seen some people on different forums saying that for Showcase it is best to get the lock to keep the doors secure, but in most cases they were talking about keeping snakes. Have you had any issues without the locks Susann?

[Susann]

I've seen some people on different forums saying that for Showcase it is best to get the lock to keep the doors secure, but in most cases they were talking about keeping snakes. Have you had any issues without the locks Susann?

None at all. We HAVE the locks for both of them, but I really haven't felt a need to put them on. The glass "doors" are plenty heavy, the BTS can't get them open. Not at this point. Maybe as the tracks "relax" a little I'll need to put the locks on just to make sure.

Our kids are old and responsible enough that I don't need to worry about them getting into the tanks. I got the locks more with the thought of OTHER peoples children being fascinated enough to sneak in and try to get one out.

But as tight as the doors are now, without the handles (evidently I haven't nagged enough, hub still hasn't put them on) it's a little hard even for me to get them open if I don't have both hands free. Leaves uggly smudges too.

[Linnea]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
i house my BTS in a custom made glass terrarium. wood pieces for substrate, a big fake plant, a big guinea pig house, a 60 cm long piece of wood, and a brick as decoration/hide.

the terrarium is in my room, beside my scanner and tv, on top of three bookcases.

What size and what species do you keep in it?
its 100 x 50 x 50 (cm). I keep my northern Litchie in it, hes 46 cm long.

Did you make it?
nope, the store called "tropikhuset" did.

How much did you pay?
1500 sek, 224 usd.

What do you like about it?
it fits exactly into my room, doesnt look all too small for him, easy to heat.

What do you not like about it?
i had to shield myself from the blinding light from his lamps, so i cut one of our bedsheets in smaller pieces and put on top XD

What would you do differently?
make the height to 40 cm instead, make it a bit wider so he could get more space. add an artistic rock background. i wanna add something to the sides as well so he will stop climbing.




note: i have a water bowl on the right side of the pic, and a termometre and brick on the left side of the pic. this pic does not show the entire terrarium.

[PlinkoPachinko]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
I have a 36.75"x18.75"x17 " 40 Gal breeder with a sliding front and about a 4 inch lip.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... d=11363667 It was designed for turtles but I liked the lip so substrate wouldn't get everywhere and I could put lots in for her to burrow. She's on the floor in front of the main door next to the couch.


What size and what species do you keep in it?
Plinko is a northern BTS and she's just a baby right now

Did you make it?
Nope!

How much did you pay?
I think about $120

What do you like about it?
The sliding door is wonderful. I hate tanks that have a top you have to take off, they're such a pain. It also has a screen top so I can put lamps on it!

What do you not like about it?
It has this little plug in the bottom so you can drain water. It makes it so anything I put near it won't lay flat. A pain for water dishes :/

What would you do differently?
I'd make it a little bigger. I think this was the largest one the store had.

On to the details~!

She has a cardboard box and a half log on the cool side, and a rock hide with a flat top (for basking), a piece of cork board and a fake plant on the hot side. I'm using this obnoxious bright red aspen I found cause it was the only aspen that wasn't all shredded and stringy.

She really likes hiding under the cardboard box and inside her rock cave. yesterday I found her on top of her cardboard box digging at it (I think for attention?). It was really cute! I came over to take a picture and she slid off and looked up at me.

[Kurt]

Susann are those real plants in your enclosures?

[Katrina]

Another great thread, thanks Susann!

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
I have stacking enclosures of PVCX plastic - all black plastic with sliding glass fronts.

What size and what species do you keep in it?
I have three Northerns and five Meraukes, enclosures are 48" x 36" x 18".

Did you make it?
No, got them from here: http://www.cornelsworld.com/home

How much did you pay?
About $400 each, with all lights installed and a base for each stack.

What do you like about it?
Love the lightweight, they are super easy to clean, they look great. The glass is easy to remove. Only one glass side and front opening gives them more security. No locks on glass, no issues with blueys getting them open.

What do you not like about it?
We had the same problem as you, Susann - poor ventilation. We solved this by drilling a hole (i.e. hole saw) in the hot end and installing little computer fans - small, quiet, covered so lizards can't get near. It keeps the air circulation to get the perfect temp gradient with a nice hot basking area.

Pros? Cons?
Pros:
- look
- weight
- convenience to clean, move etc
- good size for blueys

Cons:
- cost
- ventilation (solved with the computer fans for about $6 each plus transformers and some wiring).

What would you do differently?
With the little fans installed I am really happy with them. I actually really like the 36" depth, seems to give them lots of room. I know everyone has seen these pics, but here are a couple more anyway.

[Susann]

Susann are those real plants in your enclosures?

Nope, got them at IKEA (aaahhhh, home sweet home ...well, not IKEA.... but Sweden ....where I'm from ....and IKEA's from).
Think I payed like 6 or 7 bucks each. They look good, huh?

Maddie thinks they are her personal play grounds.

[KateBeer]

Hi, Im pretty new here, but I have:
2.2 Irian Jayas
1.1 Merauke
0.1 Nothern
and 4 baby Tanimbars.

An interesting thread because I am planning big changes. So...

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
They are all housed separately aside from the Meraukes and the baby Tanimbars are 2 in a vivarium, glass sliding doors at the front.
Size is 4"x18x12 or 120cmx45x30

What size and what species do you keep in it?
Everyone is in one. Its a friends old boa stack.
Irian jaya, merauke, northern, tanimbar. Want some indos too...

Did you make it?
No, I wish I was that good.

How much did you pay?
£300 bargain of the century!

What do you like about it?
No wasted height. As they stack next to each other Ive drilled a hole out to fit a UV tube between 2 enclosures. Also I use ceramic plates so no hanging fittings.

What do you not like about it?
Perhaps not enough height. I would like more space for them too.

Pros? Cons?
They are all happy stressfree in their own houses. As they are all stacked I guess it saves on electricity bills.

What would you do differently?
Im interested in the 'German' way of keeping. Using a much bigger enclosure and housing 2 skinks together. Id like maybe 150cmx60/75 floor space (5x2/2.5') respectively.

Photos can follow?

[Susann]

KateBeer, that sounds cool, I for one would LOVE to see pictures of them!

[ExtremeJustin]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
I have a 40 Gallon Breeder Tank on an iron stand.
Currently I have several 20 longs on a custom built shelving unit (built by Ray Gurgui).
Future: There will be a 36"x18" located in the armoire that has our current TV when we get a flat screen. It will have to have a sliding front.

What size and what species do you keep in it?
Thora, my 18" Eastern, is in the 40 Gallon Breeder. It is 36"x18"x17".
The Indo is one of the 20 Longs. They will also be housing any baby skinks I may have in the future.
(The shelving unit will also be housing a tortoise or 2 in the future and possibly a 3 striped mud turtle or 2. I will also be moving my leopard gecko to the shelving unit.)

Did you make it?
No. The shelves were made by Ray and used by him for years.

How much did you pay?
The 40 Gallon + stand was purchased at a yard sale (really ironic story here I could tell in the off topic section one day) for $60 back in 2000.
The 20 longs were all $20 each.
I can't remember how much the shelving unit cost but it was a really good price.

What do you like about it?
The 40 Gallon is right at the perfect height for viewing with the iron stand.
The shelving system takes up very little space 4'x2'x6' (it takes up either 4'x2.5' or 4'x3' when tanks are stored sideways depending on tank sizes.

What do you not like about it?
40 Gallon: It has a sliding top and the screen is starting to get old. Thankfully Thora doesn't press up against the screen to try and get out. I had to switch from a light just sitting on the screen to one that was suspended above the screen. The screen also needs an 18" clearance to slide toward wall OR (my current setup) you have to slide it out toward you and either take it off or reach all the way it. I am seriously considering moving to a sliding front tank.


Pros? Cons?
Pros:
All this really didn't cost much.
I can use a single 48" UVB bulb for any of the 3 shelves allowing me to use on UVB bulb for multiple tanks.
The iron stand can hold a similar sized tank on the bottom.
Cons:
The sliding top on the 40 Gallon Breeder.



What would you do differently?
For the 40 Gallon: I would either use a sliding front system or I may put a hinged top on it. I still have to work out how I will do the lighting then. Honestly one of the biggest things I would change is heating. It would be much cheaper if I could keep them all in a warmer room. I would love to add an outdoor setup as well but we have a LOT of predatory animals in the area (racoons, hawks, etc). I am already working on this for future redfoot tortoises so I may throw in something like an outdoor bluey playpen as well.

[Plimpy]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
I use a ProHerp black melamine enclosure, it's 5ft long, 2ft deep and 1.5ft high.

What size and what species do you keep in it?
I keep a Centralian Blue-tongue in it, and he's about 23cm.

Did you make it?
No.

How much did you pay?
$300 AUD or $311.37 USD.

What do you like about it?
The black makes it look clean, and it also holds heat well.

What do you not like about it?
It could be 2ft tall... or 7ft long... or 4ft deep...

Pros? Cons?
Pros:
It's nice and big and easy to heat.
Cons:
Not too many really, only the fact that it could be a bit bigger.

What would you do differently?

Nothing really.

[MiMi]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
Icky lives in a 50gal(I think?) glass aquarium - 48"L x 13"D x 20"H, in my plant-filled office/studio room.
Being one of the smaller rooms in the house, it allows me to keep temperatures where I want them to be,
without blowing the utility bill (it can get scary up here in the north)
and the toad paludarium, also here in the office, helps keep humidity at a decent consistent level.

What size and what species do you keep in it?
Icky is an Irian Jaya BTS, approx. 18"

Did you make it?
no

How much did you pay?
It was free. A friend of a friend was on his way to the dump to chuck it.
Thankfully, they were diverted to my house. The UV balast was from another aquarium (also a freebie from another friend)
and I think I paid around $100 bucks to pick-up the rest of the light fixtures, the screen top, plants, bowl, substrate, etc.

What do you like about it?
Well....it *was* free.
And given that the BTS was a bit of an impromptu purchase, it does the job, for now.

What do you not like about it?
It's too tall, doesn't have enough "privacy" for a creature like a skink,
and the all glass aspect has made it difficult to get the temperature conditions correct.
I'm still modifying his "landscaping" so that he'll have more hides, and an elevated spot for better basking.

What would you do differently?
We're planning on building a custom enclosure. One with only 2 glass sides.
Not as tall, and with a larger footprint. 68"L x 28"D x 18"H

(once the new enclosure is done, this aquarium will be "retired" to the TV room, and I'll plop some shubunkin/koi in it)

Here's a shot:

[WanderingChai]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?

I use a glass terrarium(36x18x18)

What size and what species do you keep it in?

I have a 12 1/2" Irian Jaya, Tea Cup. She turns 2 in April.

Did you make it?

Nope! I hope to make one in the future though.

How much did you pay?

I'm not totally sure, as this used to be my snake Kuandra's tank(she escaped and we never found her about 2 years ago.), and she was a gift from my mom.

What do you like about it?

I like the price. It is very well-built tank.

What do you not like about it?

We had to build a makeshift top to it, which unfortunately is mesh(50% of UVB is taken out). Tea Cup thinks it is far too small.

What would you do differently?

I would move out and live in an apartment with heating. It's difficult when the seasons change to keep her temperatures correct. When I build/buy a new tank someday(...someday...) It will be 4-5'x3'x16". Possibly shelving. Tea Cup definitely needs more space in her tank(At least she thinks so).

[Katrina]

Great info and great enclosures everyone!

Mimi - love the decor and look of your setups.

[MiMi]

Mimi - love the decor and look of your setups.

ah, merci.

My friends laugh at how weird I get about "stone vs wood balance", and making sure wires are hidden as best they can be, and backdrop artwork and other such nonsense.
lol, I cannot stop being a decorator, I suppose.

[Katrina]

Haha - you can come over and work on my wood vs stone balance anytime. And my enclosures could use a little more Asian influence as well... actually, you could come over and decorate my whole place! We have a similar style.

Instead of hijacking this excellent thread further, I'm going to start another thread in the off topic forum!

[sjericho]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?

I use a glass terrarium(60x30x30)

What size and what species do you keep it in?

I have a 12 1/2" Irian Jaya, Mr. Darcy. But it is really young and turning three months in a couple of days.

Did you make it?

No, I did not.

How much did you pay?

I got it as a present from my parents for my moving out. I am so in love with it.

What do you like about it?

The sentimental feeling of thinking of my parents every time I look at it.

What do you not like about it?

It is very big (even though I have the space).

What would you do differently?

I would love to use some topiary frames and different plants maybe. I think about getting a friend for my Mr. Darcy. I will call her Elizabeth.

[iJoker]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?
A tank in my bedroom.
What size and what species do you keep in it?
45 gallon. Irian Jaya BTS.
Did you make it?
Nope.
How much did you pay?
Came with her when I adopted her.
What do you like about it?
Durable.
What do you not like about it?
Way too small for my baby.
Pros? Cons?
Durable. Accidentally dropped it down the stairs while carrying it inside. No cracks or scratches. Awesome :3
What would you do differently?
Get a new tank.

[Kbell31]

Where/how do you house your BTS, what kind of terrarium, tank, cage, tub do you use?

I use a glass terrarium(60x30x30)

What size and what species do you keep it in?

I have a 12 1/2" Irian Jaya, Mr. Darcy. But it is really young and turning three months in a couple of days.

Did you make it?

No, I did not.

How much did you pay?

I got it as a present from my parents for my moving out. I am so in love with it.

What do you like about it?

The sentimental feeling of thinking of my parents every time I look at it.

What do you not like about it?

It is very big (even though I have the space).

What would you do differently?

I would love to use some topiary frames and different plants maybe. I think about getting a friend for my Mr. Darcy. I will call her Elizabeth.

Oh, if only all men could be Mr. Darcy's.....