@chammythechammy Dragon Strand is releasing some cages in a vivarium configuration if that is interesting to you. Different sizing, less weight, less heat retention, a little more ventilation, drainage and misting solutions included on some models when compared to a glass cage.
Okay but see once again, the full story is not be presented here. These "Pros" are really not Pros.
Different Sizing: To what? Protean cages make Custom Glass Vivs and the majority of them, are Baker's Rack Sizing, Just like DS.
Less Wieght: Ya okay, this is a Pro, if you move your cage often. I don't understand why you would, but whatever.
Less Heat Rentention: Whattt? In what world is this a pro? It's not lol. So it's better to use a 50w bulb for heat than a 25w? Okay???
More Ventilation: Yes, that is nice, especially as it's easier to block than to take away.
More drainage / misting solutions: Well this is 2 fold. For one you should not be misting in glass that much that you need Drainage. A false bottom is all you need. My DIY Viv has a drain, and it never gets used. There simply isn't enough water going in to drain any. And that's with 6 nozzles 1 min in the morning, 3 in the afternoon and 1 at night. Not enough water to drain, it keeps my soil moist that's it.
2 if you really want that a Glass shop can put a hole in an Exoterra cheap. And Protean offers both drain and misting holes as an add on. Exoterra uses the same misting mountain, the wedges or some DIY fun.
For that we then have Cons, compared to glass. (Why does no one seem to want to talk about these??)
The walls are not as strong or rigid as glass.
If they are PVC they are not see through if you want that, if they are Clearside they do not take much to bust, let your kid smack it with a broom and bye bye wall panels.
The biggest con to me. Is background, and Sideground. One of the biggest benefits of having a Glass Viv IMO is making it natural. Silicon doesn't stick to PVC very well, so how do you attach the panels. You can't attach them to clear side at all.
I know bill shows the foam, covered in Cocofiber. Ya that's great for dart frogs, that's not where Chams live. Cham cages IMO should have Cork Bark wall panels, on 3 walls. This increases humidity, gives a mounting surface for branches and a place for ephitytes to mount to, and if the Cham wishes, they can climb it. It's bark, just like they would climb in the wild.
I'm not down with pots inside of cages, definitely pots on walls (at least use cork rounds) it's not natural. If you want a Naturalistic cage, do it right IMO.
Mostly their is just similarities, and every single "Pro" of DS aside from weight is covered by Protean. The only driving factor, is the look you like best, and the cost, unless you want natural walls, you might be able to pull it off with a DS, but a Glass is easier.
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