Guest Author - Christina Borders

Written by a previous editor: Christina Borders

In my opinion, these are great enclosures. They allow for movement of fresh air throughout and are easy to get in and out of. I personally used the 260-gallon size for my green iguana, Bob (a rescue ig). He had previously been in a glass aquarium, and while it was large enough to accommodate his size, I noticed a marked improvement in his growth, color, appetite, and tail regeneration once he had been in the Reptarium for a few weeks.

Set-Up: Reptariums come in several sizes and can accommodate anything from the smallest of tree frogs up to 3-4 foot iguanas and snakes even. They are especially great for herps that are arboreal or like to have the option to climb, like bearded dragons. It arrives ready to assemble, all you have to do is put the frame together (super easy) and slip the screen over it like a sleeve. The front zips and unzips for easy access.

If you enjoy seeing your reptile in something similar to his ‘natural’ habitat, this is the way to go when looking for an enclosure to create one. Misting systems, waterfalls, and plants are no problem for these screened in enclosures. They allow for a nice basking area with heat and full spectrum lamps, and in a temperature controlled room, the humidity is easily kept at the right level.

Clean-a-bility: While you may be wondering just how you would clean this screened in cage, let me assure you, it’s easier than you think. The ‘door’ opens large enough to carefully move items and animals in and out and the bottom can be lined with any substrate that suits your needs. Just be sure to line the floor beneath with a mat or some other protective covering as the bottom of the Reptarium is screen mesh as well. Or you can purchase Reptarium Soft Trays, which are moisture and puncture resistant liners made for the Reptarium.

I believe with the air being able to filter through, clean up is not as tedious as in glass cages and aquariums that can become stagnant and have lots of crevices and corners for gunk and bacteria to hide. My Reptarium would have some spots where mineral build up or dirt would occur due to the waterfall or plants, but other than cleaning up the fecal matter and leftover food, it was pretty maintenance free.

Final Rating: Overall, I would have to give the Apogee Reptarium 4 and a ½ stars out of 5. It has been the best of all the cages I have experimented with thus far. I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a nice enclosure to house his or her herps in.