Boaphile or Vision?

ssscales · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 02:21 PM

OK, after a few months of researching I'm down to two cages!
I need honest opinions from actual owners with expiriences.

1) Boaphile 421D (48X24X11.5) for $199.00 each shipped, I'm looking at 10 cages for a total price of $1990. Most likely I would go with two 421D Combo cage sets, 10 cages including the pedestals for $2058.

Or

2) Vision 400 (48X26X14) for $199.00 each shipped, the 10 cages would actually cost $1900.00 shipped, volume discount.

The biggest plus I see with the Vision cages is that it's one solid mold of polyethylene, compared to pieced PVC with glued edges. I like the look of the Boaphiles, but I want something that will out last my boas! The most important things for me are quality, durability, strength & then price!

I'm not going to drop these cages from a 10 story building or throw them around like cardboard boxes! But I want to make sure if I bump into them, lay a gallon of Virosan on them or just from daily usage, that they are not going to fall apart, leak or buckle.

Thanks

PS

Hopefully I can see some of these cages at the Daytona show before making my decision and placing an order.

pathfinder36 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 04:19 PM

I've never owned a Vision, so I can't compare for you. That being said, I love the 5 boaphiles I do have. They are sturdy, easy to clean, attractive and managable. They hold heat and humidity extreamly well and hold up to the stacking weight like a champ. All in all, I have zero complaints with them.

hisba · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 05:53 PM

I've never used visions, but there are some of the things I have heard (bad) about them:
the molded bottom (?) not a flat bottom (I think?)
they tend to warp/sag over time when stacked
I don't know anything else about them tho sorry.
Boaphiles, I have 4. They can sometimes break in shipping (I had one get a large crack) however, Jeff is good about replacing them if the break (out of 4, I had one break). But overall, they are very sturdy, They are lightweight (a plus for me). I have been happy with them, I ran a 11" flexwatt up the back on one side for heat. For additional cost, they come with the flexwatt already installed, I would probably go with this option in the future. The *only* problem I have had with my boaphiles is if you put too much, too heavy in them on the top cages, the bottom one can sag a little in the middle. Of course, I am talking about 20lb+ snakes and large ceramic (heavy) water bowls that caused this. I changed out the water bowls and it's ok now.
The other cages I use are:
neodesha (not bad, but not my favorite, it was a pain to run the flexwatt IMO)
barrs (herpcages.com) I am very very happy with my barrs cage and will get more
reptarium (glass cages) good cage, but it's glass, screen top
I have not tried the animal plastics cages, for some reason I can't get their website up?
I would lean towards boaphiles simply because I have heard bad things about the visions sagging, but a plus for the visions is the fact they are a few inches bigger, more space. so not sure if that helps you at all... but good luck!

BWSmith · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 06:54 PM

With a choice of Boaphile or Visions, I would choose a bag

Dbutton · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWSmith

With a choice of Boaphile or Visions, I would choose a bag

Well that all depends on what you want to put in the cage. I understand the concerns by you hot keepers about the lip above the door opening in the vision cages. But for boas or any other type of non venomous snake it really isn't a problem. AND visions have tempered glass doors instead of the cheap, warping, scratching plexiglass doors found on boaphile cages, barrs, AP and most every other company. CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP!
Oh yea, what is the deal with the little plastic tabs that are supposed to hold the door shut on some of those cages?
All you need on a Vision is a 10 dollar case lock and you are set for the life of the cage.
Yes they do have some flex in the bottoms, but nothing to worry about and I have never had any problems with any of mine. And so what if there is a little bend in the bottom? You or the snake will never notice it. My giant vision dispay cage has been moved all over my house, up and down the stairs, out side to be scrubbed out etc... and is just as solid as the day I got it. And you can drop them and not worry about any cracking.
And one of the main things that I like about my Visions is that when I want to clean a cage all I have to do it lift the glass doors out of the track and set them aside and the entire front of the cage is wide open for me to reach in and clean. With other types of cages like the Boaphiles you have 2 small doors that are about 20" wide by 7" high for your opening. It is a pain in the butt to get snakes in and out of there and cleaning the cage is no easier.
I will go with the 13" by 45" opening for ease of cleaning myself.
I have some of the model 400 cages and I plan on buying about 6 more this winter. You just can beat them at $389.00 for 2 including shipping. I can't wait to see what kind of deal they will give me on 6.
Oh yea, only order Visions from the factory to get the best deal.

David

David

hisba · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 07:38 PM

so visions have a bulk purchase discount? hmmm.... maybe I will try them out...

I have a buddy that is going to build me the new cages for my GTPs out of acrylic, but when I gave him the dimensions and told him it would require an entire 4x8 sheet, he decided to do it with ABS. Anyone have any good/bad words about ABS? I was going to buy some BARRS but he said he could build it cheaper for me.
I will agree about the CHEAP doors on the boaphiles.. they scratch easy and I would not trust them with something stronger like a retic withouthbetter locks. I have the cage where it's all one door not the two split doors, I do like the single door better.
ok this is turning into a general cage question thread now, sorry!

ssscales · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 07:49 PM

Thanks everyone, I have built my own custom cages that I have used for years and have not had one complaint in using them. I've just always wanted a reptile room with Vision style cages neatly stacked, take out side and hose down after a messy boa birth, light weight, plastic cages for the longest.

Here are some of my current cages that cost less than 1/2 the price of both boaphile or Vision cages:

This is just an upgrade I am doing not for any necessity or lack of, just personal preference. Plus I'm selling these Melamine cages to my neighbor which will pay for almost 1/2 of my upgrade to plastic cages. I just want something worth the upgrade, I don't want to upgrade and then feel like I actually down graded in strength and durability at twice the price. If I make this upgrade I want to make sure these cages will outlast my boas!

Here are the pros I see with Vision IMO:
Vision cages have been around for 10+ years, Vision cages are made of one piece polyethylene mold and not pieced together with glued edges, I've seen Vision cages first hand and know a few breeders and shops using them without any complaints.

Vision cons: I've read a few negative reviews about bowing and some of the sliding glass doors jamming with weight when stacked. Problem is the complaints for any cage is usually followed by plug for Boaphile or AP or it's one of their competitors depending on the forum.

Boaphile pros:
I like the look of the black boaphiles stacked, I've read very good reviews on the cages, I have not read any negative reviews about the cage quality or workmanship.

Boaphile cons: I've yet to see and feel a boaphile first hand. I've read some negative feedback on Boaphile CS and delivery time lines. I'm not too concerned with being pampered with CS or need the cages next day, I need and want a solid product whether it arrives in 2-4-8-10 or 12 weeks! This is all I really care about.

My problem is,
I'm just not 100% convinced yet on these glued together PVC cages or how strong they are. I have some boas that are 30-40lbs + water bowls that will be going in them and I need them stacked 5-6 high. I don't want to have 5-10 of these cages (ether boaphile or Vision or any other) sagging, bowing, cracking, etc.

I'll be at the Daytona show next months and hope to see and feel both cages side by side.

ssscales · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:09 PM

David, what is the # to Vision directly?
I only got a $90 discount on 10 cages thru a distributor!!

ssscales · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:13 PM

I just called the 1-877-577-7717 off their website http://www.visioncage.com.

It rang 20X with no answer or even a voice mail option.

Dbutton · #10 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:36 PM

I don't think that site is their real site. Just someone selling their cages. The actual vision company site is

http://www.visionproducts.us/

And their number is: 818-999-3192

ssscales · #11 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:44 PM

That's the site I originally got the quote from, Visionproducts. I guess I should actually call and negotiate rather than go back & fourth on email!

Thanks!

I still would love to see some boaphile cages first hand at Daytona.

Dbutton · #12 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:45 PM

Oh yea, they don't have the model 400 breeder cages listed on their website, but I know they still make them so just ask. And they have the model 622's that are the 6ft. stackable breeders also.
I have the 400's and really like them. They are 48X26X14.

David

ssscales · #13 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:46 PM

By the way, how are the Vision cages at resisitng stains?

ssscales · #14 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:47 PM

Can you post pics of your Vision cages?

Dbutton · #15 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 08:57 PM

I have never had any problem with them staining and/or discoloring. That is one thing I don't like about PVC cages. I have a moonstruck exotics cage that was given to me with one of my boas that is white and it turned orangish brown where the heat tape is. I guess that wouldn't be a problem with a black cage though. Give me a few minutes and I will take a coupel pics of my visions inside and out.

David

Dbutton · #16 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:22 PM

Ok, here you go. The first pic is of my big vision display cage. It is 80X44X28 and the only thing wrong with it after 5 years are what I have done to it which is drill a bunch of 3/4" holes for more cross ventilation which I wish I hadn't done. The cage is still rock solid though and will be with me for many more years.
The others shown are the model 400's. And I tested the theory of weight causing the doors not to slide properly by putting all my 250lbs of weight on top of the front of the top cage and then trying the door and it slid open just as smooth as you please. Please excuse the mess as it is breeding season for my female boa and I have been moving the male up to her cage periodically and have made quite a mess with the cypress mulch in the process. I normall use newspaper in their cages except for during breeding time. And unless you really try to pack the mulch into the track with force it doesn't impede the doors at all. It just pushes it to the end of the track where you can easily brush it out with you finger. I also took some shots of the cage ends which is what I think most people are complaining about with bowing. It personally doesn't bother me since I am more into functionality than appearance for the most part. Now if they were really bad and it impeded the use of the cage I would be bothered, but you really don't even notice it in my opinion. I guess you could pick appart just about any of the cages if you really wanted to.

Dbutton · #17 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:26 PM

I made a mistake above. The 6ft. stackable breeder cages are the model 600, not the 622's.

ssscales · #18 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:34 PM

Those look great!
Thanks!

You are going to have to point out that bowing effect because I couldn't see any signs of it. I wonder why more Vision owners have not spoken on these cages? I know thousands of them are out there! I'd like to hear more from Vision owners.

louise · #19 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:39 PM

i think you should show us daisys cage with her in it

louise · #20 (**permalink**) 07-20-2005, 09:46 PM

or out of her cage either way is fine :P

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