FAQs

Unfortunately we are not able to process orders on this website.

HerpXotics products can be ordered through the Ridgeway Frozen webstore by both retail customers, and trade customers. Our products are available in many Reptile and Exotic Pet Shops across the UK, so please do visit and support your local businesses. If they do not have the product you are after, tell them to get in touch with Ridgeway Frozen!

For custom PVC enclosures it is easiest to contact Ridgeway Frozen via Facebook or email, or speak to us and order directly using Facebook messenger via our Facebook page. We can then answer any questions, explain your options, inform of wait times and quote for delivery.

Plastic is generally a more expensive material to purchase than wood and glass, and therefore this cost has to be passed down to the end consumer (the buyer). It’s production is more controlled and the processes involved are more complex making it harder to come by, with limited companies offering it.

However its longevity is second to none! If cared for appropriately, plastic enclosures and racks can last a lifetime! Glass enclosures are open to cracking or smashing and wood can quickly degrade from water and heat. Plastic is free from these problems, it will not be affected by UV, water or reasonable temperatures!

Our plastic enclosures are made from top quality PVC. It’s insulating properties help maintain a warmer tropical environment for the inhabitants than most glass or wood enclosures. Plastic vivaria will not rot and deteriorate like melamine wood, and if sealed with a reptile-safe silicon (such as aquarium sealant) then they won’t leak allowing them to be used for bioactive planted setups.

Plastic is absolutely perfect for animals that require high ambient temperatures and/or high humidity! Once the plastic is fully sealed together humidity cannot get in between joins within the enclosure. This is common in wooden enclosures where it may start to bulge and blow out eventually leading to the breakdown of the wood; and the enclosure needing to be completely replaced. Many keepers report a lifespan of only 2 years for wooden vivaria! This will not happen with plastic! 

Any vivarium under 4ft in length will come prebuilt. Unfortunately, anything larger will arrive flat packed as this is a far safer method of transporting them, and prevents the likelihood of them becoming damaged in transit. Don’t worry they come with detailed instructions on how to build them!

All our racks will come pre-built.

It is totally up to you! With most of our racks, you can choose if you’d like just the rack itself or if you would prefer a unit that is already fully kitted out! This is dependent on the individual rack, as well as our equipment availability. Please see available options on our website or speak to one of the staff via our Facebook page. 

Please note that we do not provide extension leads with the racks, these are required to plug multiple heat mats into a thermostat.

Absolutely! Our racks have our very own unique stacking design meaning they can be safely slotted onto each other, with no risk of slipping or moving about! We also have other stacking options available such as the stacking plates, these are perfectly designed plates to sit in between two racks. They hold the thermostats neatly flush with the rest of the rack, allowing easy temperature adjustment without the need to get behind the rack and tidying up the unsightly cables.

We recommend you set up your rack and leave it for a minimum of 24 hours before housing any animals in it. This will allow the mats to heat up and give you enough time to repeatedly check that the rack is staying at your ideal temperature. Locate the thermostat probe and place it through the back of the rack; ideally on the middle shelf. Place the probe directly onto the heat mat, up against the side of the rack, so the probe does not get knocked when using the rack. Stick the probe down with either duct tape or silver foil tape to prevent it from moving or falling; if the probe is not on the heat mat, it cannot correctly read and control the heat mat temperature correctly. Always be sure to secure the probe firmly in position so it cannot come away from the mat. This can quickly lead to extreme temperatures if the probe comes away. It is the customer’s responsibility to make the temperatures safe.