Inspired by Nature, Designed for Reptile Lovers like you!
I've had this enclosure up and running for about 2 months now, and it's quite nice. The build quality is excellent, the assembly is easy, and it has really become a staple piece in my room. I decided to go bio-active with this enclosure (my first bio-active), and I'm housing an adult northern white-lipped python (about 6 feet long); a huge upgrade from his 55 gallon tank.
The overall setup and configuration is as follows:
- Basking shelf
- Executive upgrade
- 2x 80W Arcadia Deep Heat Projectors mounted on the top, connected to Spyder Robotics Herpstat 2
- 35" Arcadia Jungle Dawn LED (Lumenize version)
- BioDude Terra Firma substrate
- Variety of plants and driftwood
Some things I've learned so far:
- 80W deep heep projectors don't reach the bottom of the enclosure. Temps down low are about 5 degrees above ambient, which end up in the upper 70s for me. It works well for my snake, as he explores the entire area and has even dug some nice tunnels in the substrate. If you need warmer ground temps, using a more powerful and directed bulb (like the PowerSun) might be necessary, or adding radiant heat panels lower in the enclosure.
- I opted for the basking shelf, and I have mixed opinions on it for this setup. It's high quality, sturdy, and easy to install, and while it makes a nice area for basking, especially in a tall enclosure, it blocks a lot of light from reaching the bottom-rear section of the cage. To be fair, that's probably true of anything large enough for basking. My snake does seem to like it, but it's worth considering. If you have a more true arboreal snake (emerald tree boa or green tree python), then I wouldn't get it.
- If you decide to go bio-active, you're not going to want use under-tank heating, so skip on the thermometer cutouts (I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I placed my order).
- If you have access to the enclosure from the side, the extra window is amazing. I am so glad I got it.
- Executive upgrade is costly (but so is the entire enclosure), but I am happy I did it. One thing to note, the side panels are really heavy, since they're a more dense material than the PVC. If you have a window cutout, they're not bad, but the solid 2'x4' panel on the other side is a beast.
- There are no feet on the enclosure. I ended up purchasing some really big felt furniture pads to raise it slightly off the ground and make it easier to slide around.
My gopher snake is growing so fast, his 40 gallon enclosure was not sufficient. Toad Ranch shipped very quickly (my order was in stock and ready to ship), and it arrived in immaculate condition.
Assembly was very straightforward, and I was able to do it entirely by myself in less than 45 min (including installing lighting and heating elements).
The end product is gorgeous, very sturdy and extremely well made, and my little buddy Elric is very pleased with his new place.
What a gorgeuos Gopher Snake!! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review! We are thrilled that you are happy with your new Toad Ranch Enclosure!!
I am exceedingly satisfied with my Toad Ranch enclosure and the Toad Ranch team. The assembly process was straightforward with the included instructions. I especially appreciated the simplicity of only needing screws for assembly due to the precise natural fittings of the enclosure pieces made by the Toad Ranch team. The use of only screws also gives me confidence in disassembling it, if I need to move it in the future. The enclosure is sturdy, looks amazing and holds heat/humidity extremely well. All my customized instructions were followed to the letter and made my life that much easier. What I appreciated the most however, was the personal attention to every order. Even after scrutinizing my order and triple checking before placing, I still made a mistake in the correct background size I would need. The morning after I placed the order I was contacted to address and fix the issue I hadn't even realized was there. Likewise when I received the order I was accidentally shipped an incorrect number of an item and contacted Toad Ranch customer service. They replied and sent the items so rapidly I hadn't even begun assembling. The customer service, attention to detail and quality of the build were beyond exceptional. I will absolutely be ordering whatever I need from here in the future. Although the interior is still evolving, Herbie (my red foot tortoise) loves the enclosure as much as I do.
Thank you Chase!! We're so happy to hear that you love your new Toad Ranch enclosure!! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a wonderful review and post pics of your red foot tortoise <3
Bought this hide because it was the perfect size. Might I say I was pleasantly surprised by it. The material is perfect and it was so simple to put together. My retic absolutely loves it. I will be only ordering these hides from now on!
Perfect addition to bare glass to help dodge fingerprints and make it easier to open.