Flexarium Questions

[jojackson]

Have just scored a nice Freebie, An exo-terra flexarium, 260 size, brand new!
Not sure weather they are any good as a sunning cage? does uv degrade them?
I was considering using it inside but though my lights are relatively lightweight, hanging chains from my ceiling is not an option, is there any other way to safly mount the basking light? The uv would sit on top I thought since it dosent weigh much and dosent generate enough heat to burn a cham
unless it was trapped against the ballast, but thats not possible on top.

A thought a board across one corner (ontop) will support a hanging plant
But Theres not alot to mount to except the plastic framework.

Any ideas/pics? its 72'x30'x30', my refridgerator would fit inside it!
Im tempted to use it, my own DIY cage is only 48' x 24' x24' (4ftx2ftx2ft)

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/flexarium.php

 

[moody232002]

i have got a 100g flexi and both me and mista love it.I did burn a hole on the one i had before with a basking light but this one i keep the lights further away and so far so good
don't know how you ar going to position yours but my husband made me a wall bracket to fix my lights to .
i took a pic and turned the lights out so you can see

 

[Julirs]

I have used many, many 75 watt lightbulbs directly on top of Reptariums and have never had an issue.

 

[codiwatkins]

I also have my 60watt heating bulb sitting directly on top of my mesh cage and it hasnt caused any problems

 

[moody232002]

yeah i made the mistake of using a too high wattage and one that protruded the fitting and it was that ,that burned the material

 

[Fidel]

I have a 150 watt heat bulb sitting on mine with no problems. I hate the cage though.

 

[SliK JiM]

They're great for outside mate. The colour may fade a little if you leave it outside constantly, but nothing drastic! They can take quite a bit of weight on top of them. I've made a frame to sit on mine to hold all my lights and dripper.
Here's a pic (it's only the 175 mind you):

I've used PVC coated wire before from corner to corner to hang things from with no problems!

 

[chambabysitter1]

I was warned by another member that those things can radiate alot of heat in direct sunlight. I guess the surface area and black, would absorb alot of heat.

Anyways, I still plan on getting one for outside as well, guess I just gotta keep a closer eye on the flex temps, and keep it in shade.

 

[hallenhe]

I bought mine for outside, and only later used it indoors (with a light on top) when my panther was too little to free range. Have had no problems with it. I wouldn't leave it unattended outdoors, or where there was no place in it for the chameleon to get shade.

 

[Titan]

I would think in time the Plastic parts would become aged and brittle? as do most plastics outside. Unless the plastic is already made for UV Sun?

 

[Murrdox]

I've used several different screen cages over the years... this type was my least favorite.

First of all the screen obscures your beautiful animal. You have to be right next to the screen to see him. It's ugly.

Second the screen mesh eventually decays. You end up with little loose bits of thread popping out here and there over time.

Third the zipper can tear the net if you're not careful, leading to more of #2.

Fourth I found the zipper much more annoying than a door of a screen cage for access when cleaning, etc.

The only real good thing about this cage is that if for some reason you're not using it, it collapses to nothing and is very easy to take apart and re-assemble.

I dunno, just my personal taste. I'm never buying one of these again.

 

[SliK JiM]

I've used several different screen cages over the years... this type was my least favorite.

First of all the screen obscures your beautiful animal. You have to be right next to the screen to see him. It's ugly.

Second the screen mesh eventually decays. You end up with little loose bits of thread popping out here and there over time.

Third the zipper can tear the net if you're not careful, leading to more of #2.

Fourth I found the zipper much more annoying than a door of a screen cage for access when cleaning, etc.

The only real good thing about this cage is that if for some reason you're not using it, it collapses to nothing and is very easy to take apart and re-assemble.

I dunno, just my personal taste. I'm never buying one of these again.

You're not wrong with almost all of these, but they're not that bad looking... from a distance! They do the job well so they're not particularly bad in terms of the chams needs! Although, the point about the zipper needs stating more! My cham really hates it when you open the zipper as it causes the cage to shake quite a bit! I do it as slowly as possible so it doesn't shake much! I'm looking to get my guy out of his as soon as possible, but it's been good for a year now and I imagine it will last for a few more of my chams yet! I know a guy who literally only use flexariums! His collection is huge to, so they must be fairly good!

 

[moody232002]

You're not wrong with almost all of these, but they're not that bad looking... from a distance! They do the job well so they're not particularly bad in terms of the chams needs! Although, the point about the zipper needs stating more! My cham really hates it when you open the zipper as it causes the cage to shake quite a bit! I do it as slowly as possible so it doesn't shake much! I'm looking to get my guy out of his as soon as possible, but it's been good for a year now and I imagine it will last for a few more of my chams yet! I know a guy who literally only use flexariums! His collection is huge to, so they must be fairly good!

my guy loves his enclosure...it looks great and meets all his needs.the zip IS the main issue.depends what you want and what you can afford

 

[Syn]

I plan on using one of these for my future crested gecko "colony" hehe.

 

[SliK JiM]

my guy loves his enclosure...it looks great and meets all his needs.the zip IS the main issue.depends what you want and what you can afford

Especially over here in the UK! There aren't many suitable alternatives!

 

[jojackson]

Thanks for the Imput Folks. Im with you on the whole zipper thing, it is a bit inconvenient, among other drawbacks. Its size impressed me though.
I think ill just use it for something else, maybe my tree frogs in summer, could be a great rain chamber with a waterfall /pond in the bottom, some vines.

Ill stick to my diy for now, maybe build another Diy in spring, the same but with the flexariums dimensions.

Thanks for the decider!

 

[Malicious]

Here is the 260gal....AKA "The Phone Booth". The zipper is a minor issue, but not a huge turn off. I made a light bar for the top, works well. It took me (2) 75w Sun Glo basking bulbs to get the temps right, and 2 mistking premium nozzles to keep it watered. All in all it was a good buy, esp since LLL had an overstock, and they were $69!

-Jay

 

[jojackson]

Here is the 260gal....AKA "The Phone Booth". The zipper is a minor issue, but not a huge turn off. I made a light bar for the top, works well. It took me (2) 75w Sun Glo basking bulbs to get the temps right, and 2 mistking premium nozzles to keep it watered. All in all it was a good buy, esp since LLL had an overstock, and they were $69!

-Jay

LOL The Phone Booth! Yup, thats the one alright. Why the two heat globes?
Poor gradient? didnt warm ambient air in the top half enough? Is it cold where you are? Just curious.

Still sorta thinking about it, would need bricks under bottom frame, so I could put catch trays beneath, two slats to sit plants on so they dont stretch the fabric (zippers again) at bottom.

Getting in and out without insects escaping a problem? I could probably build a frame for lights/dripper (thanks for that idea the person who posted the pic) It would have to be sitting on bricks on the carpet though (top would still be above my eye height, my table is smaller than the flex floor area.

 

[moody232002]

Especially over here in the UK! There aren't many suitable alternatives!

exactly.i would love one of the alluminium ones but they are so expensive

 

[SliK JiM]

exactly.i would love one of the alluminium ones but they are so expensive

Tell me about it! I was looking into building one, and I didn't realise in the USA they're actually just sold as kits you can go and buy from the equivalent of homebase and B&Q over here! Man, I wish we had that sort of stuff! I'm looking at building one now anyway!