Enclosures.
A terrestrial desert dweller will have different requirements to that of a tropical, arboreal reptile and understanding the specificities of your reptile and it’s location will determine what kind of enclosure you will need and the type of heating and lighting required.
As a general rule of thumb, the size of your enclosure should allow for the reptile to stretch out to at least 2/3 of it’s total body length at each stage of it’s growth cycle. While some reptiles benefit from smaller enclosures as they grow, there’s no reason not to shoot for the stars and provide your reptile with an enclosure that will last its lifetime.
Once you have an understanding of the needs of your reptile, the general rules of reptile husbandry are fairly straightforward. Heating, lighting, humidity, food and water. Additionally, a place to hide, a place to bask and some furnishings will help provide a comfortable home for your reptile.
Glass.
Glass enclosures offer an affordable and highly visible option for housing reptiles. Glass enclosures come in a large variety of shapes and sizes, some with front opening doors or a single front door, or top only access with vented or closed lids. A large variety of brands and configurations are available at most pet stores across the province.
Exo Terra is a Canadian company, located at 20500 Trans Canada Hwy, Baie-d’Urfé, Quebec. Their terrariums are a prime example of a ‘glass enclosure’ with front opening doors, mesh screen lids and plenty of light. Terrariums like these are available at Tails and Scales, Petsmart, Big Al’s, All Reptiles and most pet supply stores across Ontario. Featured here are three of their terrariums from the Exo Terra Pro Terrarium line of enclosures. The Exo Terra Pro Terrarium, Medium Wide at 24 x 24 x 18″, The Exo Terra Pro Terrarium, Large Tall at 36 x 18 x 24″ and the Exo Terra Pro Terrarium, Large Wide at 36 x 18 x 18″.
Pros
Glass enclosures are by far the most popular enclosure for reptiles kept in captivity. They come in a variety of sizes, are easy to keep clean and offer great visibility, all at an affordable price point. A variety of heat and light options can be easily added and cage dressings can make for an aesthetically pleasing environment. Glass is relatively easy to keep clean and with regular cleaning/scraping, limescale and calcium buildup can be kept at bay. Fingerprints and dust are easily removed with Windex classic.
Cons
While glass enclosures offer excellent visibility, they can lack thermal retention. For reptiles and amphibians that have moderate environmental requirements, a glass enclosure is a great option. For animals that are a little more specialized and require higher humidity and higher temperature gradients throughout their enclosure, additional measures may need to be taken to ensure the enclosure will be up to the task. With the addition of heavier, sealed lids and/or plywood siding or PVC panels, or even simply positioning the enclosure against a wall or in a warmer part of the house, simple measures can be taken to mitigate heat loss. The use of a thermostat and hygrometer are highly recommended. Glass can also be easily broken, so exercising caution around the enclosure will be an ongoing discipline.
Supplies & Suppliers
A large selection of glass enclosures and aquariums are available in a variety of pet stores and suppliers across Ontario. From open top fish tanks to front opening double doors, there’s a glass enclosure to suit any situation. Separate lids are also available in a variety of sizes for custom builds, which is handy for installing overhead heat and light.
A good selection of glass enclosures and aquariums can be found through the following stores and suppliers in Ontario:
Enclosure Screen covers:
Thrive Reptile Habitat Screen Covers are available at PetSmarts across Ontario and come in 20.7″L x 10.5″W, 24.7″L x 13″W, 30.6L x 12.9″W, 36.75″L x 18.75″W.
A variety of lids are also available to order at Amazon.ca.
Screen covers manufactured by the following brands are available in Ontario.
Wood.
For many years, wooden enclosures have been the go-to for reptile keepers and herpetologists around the world. From laminated particle board, plywood, solid timber, to Medium Density Fibre Board (MDF) and even bamboo, wood offers the flexibility of size and thickness, excellent insulation and is about as budget friendly as it gets. Wood and wood based products can be found at any reputable hardware store and can be easily cut to size. Home Hardware, The Home Depot and other hardware stores that sell lumber across Ontario will have plenty of options to choose from.
Although once extremely popular throughout the 80’s -90’s, the use of wooden enclosures has declined over the years with the influx of lightweight, budget friendly glass and PVC alternatives. However, the aesthetically pleasing nature of wooden enclosures still captures something of a reptiles natural habitat and can make for furniture grade, one of a kind enclosures.
Pros
Wood in its various forms is a great option for building a reptile enclosure. It’s budget friendly, available just about anywhere and it can be cut to any size to suit a variety of needs. Sliding glass panels can be added along guide tracks, or front opening doors can be added for ease of access. Venting, heat and light are easy to install and cable management is a breeze with cable clips and screws. Customizable in any size imaginable, wood offers the most flexible and readily available material for building a custom reptile enclosure.
Cons
Moisture management is the biggest issue when it comes to building with wood. Raw wood, MDF, timber, plywood and particle board need to be sealed in order to be waterproof. Laminated particle board is a common solution to the water problem and is available at most hardware stores across Ontario. Various animal friendly water based sealants and silicones are available and care will need to be taken to ensure the enclosure is free of fumes or gasses before placing reptiles inside. Additionally, as wood is naturally pourous, special attention needs to be taken when sealing the edges and corners. Bathroom silicones in a variety of colours are often best for the job and pet friendly versions are available.
Supplies & Suppliers
Medium Density Fibre Board (MDF), laminated particle board, plywood, various timbers, sealants, screws, silicones and building supplies are available at The Home Depot, Home Hardware and most lumber yards in Ontario. It is always best to gravitate toward non-toxic materials where possible and water based sealants to prevent noxious gasses inside the enclosure. Glass panels can be custom cut at various outlets in Ontario and can even have fingertip handles ground into the face of the glass.
Quality materials can be found at:
The Home Depot and Home Hardware or any reputable lumber yard.
Expanded PVC & EcoFLex.
Expanded PVC enclosures have exploded onto the scene in recent years, offering a lightweight, fully customizable and extremely durable material with superior insulating qualities. It is available in a range of different colours and thicknesses and can be screwed together and sealed with silicone or chemically bonded. While it’s not as common to find sheets of expanded PVC in hardware stores across Ontario, it can be ordered online and cut to size. Additionally, there are several manufacturers of high quality custom PVC enclosures in Canada with enclosures available to order online.
Pros
Expanded PVC offers exceptional insulation, it’s lightweight and mould resistant and comes in a plethora of colours and thicknesses. It’s easy to assemble and can be chemically welded to eliminate the use of silicone or simply held together with screws. Enclosures can be stacked without warping due to the lightweight nature of expanded PVC.
Cons
Expanded PVC sheets can be harder to locate in Ontario as it’s not a common in-store item for The Home Depot, Home Hardware or hardware stores in general. Your best bet is to order your PVC sheets online. Additionally, PVC can be softer than glass and wood and can dent easily if knocked hard or scratched.
Supplies & Suppliers
Expanded PVC sheets are available online and instore at the following retailers in Ontario.
Plastic World – Foamed PVC, Sintra & Komatex
PVC and eco flex Enclosures are available in Canada through the following manufacturers and distributors.
Expanded PVC:
Eco Flex:
Storage Tubs.
Made popular as an intermediate enclosure for short term stays, transport or quarantine, plastic storage tubs are as affordable as it gets. A simple enclosure can be easily engineered from plastic storage tub such as a Rubbermaid, available at most big box stores like Walmart, Costco or Canadian Tire. Heat tape can be added to one side along with a thermostat, some air holes and a tight fitting lid and you’re off to the races. Avoid heat sources such as light bulbs or overhead ceramic heaters when using plastic tubs as even though there might be a market for plastic coated reptiles, it’s shouldn’t be your first goal!
Pros
Rubbermaid tubs and their equivalent competitors are available at every big box store across the province. They come in all shapes and sizes, retain water and moisture well, can be easily vented, heated and lit and cost mere dollars. The heat tape and thermostat will set you back more than the tub, that’s how economical the tub method is.
Cons
Although Rubbermaid and alternative tubs make for a budget friendly option in a pinch, they are far from ideal for the long term. You should aim to provide your reptile with adequate daylight and a day/night cycle where possible. The nature of these tubs often makes this tricky unless they’.re transparent or clear tubs and ideally, large enough for a light. A more permanent home should be the end goal when keeping reptiles long term.
Supplies & Suppliers
Rubbermaid and alternative type containers can be found at the following retailers in Ontario.
Heat tape, temperature controllers and thermostats can be found at the following reptile retailers in Ontario.
THG Heat Tape – available at: