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Designing a Vision Cage is an exciting and rewarding project.
You have the power to create a beautiful habitat and a comfortable home for your pet!
Are you an avid Do-It-Yourself-er? Do you want the most functional reptile enclosure while creating an environment that you and your pet will love?
Well, look no further.
This post outlines the basic supplies and reptile enclosure decor for Vision Cages.
You’ll also find videos from reptile enthusiasts who’ve blurred the line between reptile enclosure and natural habitat!
Reptile Supplies and Equipment
There is some overlap between “equipment” and “decoration”, but there are definite distinctions.
These essential pieces of equipment include:
- UVA/UVB lighting
- Heating Attachment
- Thermostat
- Humidifier
- Humidity Gauge
Each of these reptile supplies serves a specific purpose for the cage’s climate.
Read further to learn their importance and the specific products we offer at Vision Products.
UVA/UVB Lighting
It can’t be overlooked how important proper UVA/UVB lighting is for a reptile’s health.
UVA rays are the visible light that brightens up the enclosure. It is mostly used to regulate behaviors, like activity level, eating, and mating, for example.
A lack of UVA rays can result in:
- Stress
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Inconsistent eating patterns
UVB rays, on the other hand, are not visible to the human eye. It’s still very important, as reptiles use it to synthesize vitamin D3, which helps them metabolize calcium in their bodies.
A lack of UVB light can result in:
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Weakened immune response
- Fragile bones
- Shorter Lifespan
Make sure to turn these lights off at night so your pet has a normal day/night schedule. Otherwise, it would be an unbearable 90°+ and sunny 24 hours a day.
Heating Attachments
High temperatures are usually a priority, but each reptile has specific needs.
Since reptiles can’t regulate their body temperature, every reptile enclosure should have a temperature gradient, consisting of a cool area, a warm area, and a basking spot
Here are a few recommended products for controlling heat:
- Heat lamps
- Ceramic heating elements
- Radiant heat panels
- Rock heaters
- Thermostats
Humidity Attachments
Why is it important to control humidity in a reptile enclosure?
Humidity is more than a comfort requirement; it can dictate the long-term health of your pet.
Many reptiles need to absorb moisture through their skin and lungs. If humidity is too low, these reptiles may get dehydrated and catch life-threatening sicknesses like pneumonia.
If your reptile requires low humidity but gets a lot of it, it can develop respiratory infections and other related issues.
Thankfully, you can use misters and a humidity gauge to track and control these levels within a Vision Cage.
Essential Reptile Enclosure Decor
The Substrate
Substrates are the most important reptile enclosure decor.
Options range from natural soil, to bark, to crinkled-up paper towels, and they all impact the environment differently.
Here are some factors to consider before buying and implementing a substrate:
- Your specific reptile’s requirements (natural habitat/behaviors)
- How a substrate affects its environment
- Desired aesthetics
- Cleanability
- Reusability
- Budget
Each reptile has its own needs, so certain substrates may be better than others.
Many arboreal reptiles will be fine with carpet as a substrate, while more terrestrial reptiles enjoy burrowing, so they’ll need more depth from clay, sand, or a bark-based substrate.
Below are links to the substrates we offer at Vision Products:
Branches and Elevated Surfaces
If your reptile likes to climb, you should add some branches to support that activity. Installing shelves and rock platforms allows for this, too.
But exercise isn’t the only benefit. Your reptile may also feel more comfortable.
Placing surfaces at different elevations allows your pet to relax closer to, or farther from, the primary heat source.
Moreover, natural-looking reptile enclosure decor adds to the aesthetic that most hobbyists strive for.
So, with a simple installation, your pet can exercise, choose their favorite spots to relax, and feel more at home.
Hides and Bowls
Hides are very important for the physical and mental health of reptiles, as they provide an area for safety and comfort.
Reptiles will go underneath a hide if they’re stressed, frightened, or because they want to rest and cool down.
You can also include our new artificial reptile rocks to add some cover for your pet and realism for the habitat.
Water and food bowls are also a necessity, but a standard plastic bowl may not suffice. We offer bowls made from HDPE, just like our Vision Cages.
The main benefits of these bowls are:
- Durability
- Stability
- Ease of cleaning
- Natural and Aesthetically pleasing
Background Images
A background image can add depth and enhance the aesthetic of your enclosure. We print each background image on a sheet of PVC plastic and cut it to fit precisely in any size enclosure.
This material makes it impervious to water and difficult for animals to claw and tear it.
Reptile Enclosure DIYs on YouTube
Now for the fun part.
For inspiration to create a diverse and elaborate habitat, check out the sections below.
We’ve included videos of reptile enthusiasts crafting natural environments for tropical and desert-dwelling species.
Tropical Bioactive Vivariums
Will Nace, otherwise known as “The Barefoot Builder” on YouTube, has made a few stunning habitats using our Vision Cages.
In his video below, he provides a detailed, step-by-step process for creating a bioactive vivarium.
You’ll also learn what products, materials, and tools he uses to develop it.
Another excellent DIY example is thanks to Elle O’Shea, also known as “Elle’s Reptiles”, on Youtube.
She created a moderately warm, high-humidity nano vivarium for her Chinese cave gecko.
Decorative Low-Humidity Habitats
The friendly folks at Snake Discovery decorated their Vision Cage for a few of their garter snakes.
The humidity in their natural habitat is relatively low, and the design of their enclosure reflects that.
Looking for more inspiration?
Here’s another video of a simple Vision Cage being transformed into a gorgeous, mostly dry, habitat.
“Simply Betta” will show you each step in her build, along with all the items and tools she used for it.
Visit our YouTube Channel for more helpful videos for set-ups, additional decorating, and more!
Conclusion
These are only a few of the ways you can decorate a Vision Cage.
Their adaptability makes them an excellent choice for nearly any reptile and climate.
Take a couple of minutes to see all of our enclosure sizes and a list of reptile enclosure decor.
You’ll be one step closer to creating a habitat you and your reptile will love!