Quick answer: For most Canadian keepers, front-opening glass terrariums from Exo Terra, Zoo Med or REPTIZOO are the easiest place to start, because they are widely stocked in Canada and suit most bioactive builds. For larger reptiles, or rooms that are hard to keep warm in winter, PVC enclosures from makers such as Zen Habitats, Animal Plastics, Kages or Custom Reptile Habitats hold heat and humidity better. Chameleons need screen or hybrid enclosures, such as those from Dragon Strand. Whichever brand you choose, the enclosure's material and size matter more than the logo.
Choose the material first, then the brand
Most enclosure decisions come down to the material. The right one depends on your animal, your room and your budget.
| Material | Strengths | Weaknesses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glass (front-opening) | Clear views, easy to clean, holds humidity, widely available in Canada | Heavy; loses heat through the glass in cold rooms | Dart frogs, crested geckos, small tropical and semi-arid builds |
| PVC | Light, insulating, holds heat and humidity well, handles heavy bioactive substrate | Usually ordered online; larger sizes are costly to ship | Ball pythons, boas, blue-tongued skinks, bearded dragons, large builds |
| Screen (mesh) | Maximum airflow | Very hard to keep humid or warm in a Canadian winter | Chameleons in suitable rooms, some day geckos |
| Hybrid (solid sides, screen panels) | Airflow with better humidity control | Fewer off-the-shelf options | Chameleons, arboreal lizards in dry homes |
| Wood or melamine | Cheap, insulating, easy for DIY | Swells and rots in humid builds unless fully sealed | Arid builds only, with careful sealing |
If you are new to terrariums, our beginner's guide to terrariums explains closed, open and bioactive setups in more detail.
The top 10 terrarium brands
These are real brands used by keepers in Canada. We are not affiliated with any of them and do not sell enclosures. Availability, shipping to Canada and current product lines change, so always check the maker's or retailer's current information before you buy.
Glass terrariums
1. Exo Terra
Exo Terra, part of Hagen, makes some of the most popular front-opening glass terrariums in Canada. The doors open from the front, which makes daily misting and maintenance much easier and is less stressful for animals than reaching in from above. They are widely stocked in Canadian pet stores, so there is no cross-border shipping. Common sizes suit dart frogs, crested geckos and small tropical builds. For bioactive use, many keepers add a deeper substrate barrier at the front.
2. Zoo Med
Zoo Med makes glass terrariums with front-opening doors as well as the ReptiBreeze screen cages that many people use for chameleons. Like Exo Terra, Zoo Med is easy to find in Canadian stores. The screen enclosures are best used in rooms where you can control humidity and temperature.
3. REPTIZOO
REPTIZOO sells glass terrariums with front-opening doors, often at lower prices than the bigger names, mainly through online retailers. Check the specific model's dimensions, ventilation and lid design before ordering, and inspect the glass and silicone when it arrives.
PVC enclosures
4. Zen Habitats
Zen Habitats makes panel-style reptile enclosures that ship flat and are assembled at home. That makes large enclosures easier to deliver and move. Check whether the model you want suits high-humidity bioactive use, and what options are available for shipping to Canada.
5. Animal Plastics
Animal Plastics builds PVC enclosures that are popular with snake and lizard keepers in North America. PVC holds heat well, which is useful through a Canadian winter. Factor in cross-border shipping, duties and the exchange rate when comparing prices.
6. Kages
Kages makes PVC enclosures and racks used by many snake keepers. Its enclosures suit species that need stable heat and humidity, such as ball pythons. As with any enclosure ordered from outside Canada, check the delivered cost first.
7. Custom Reptile Habitats
Custom Reptile Habitats offers enclosures in a range of sizes, including larger options for species that need more space. It is worth considering when off-the-shelf sizes do not fit your animal or your room.
Screen and hybrid enclosures
8. Dragon Strand
Dragon Strand is well known among chameleon keepers for screen and hybrid enclosures designed around ventilation. Hybrid designs, with solid panels on some sides, are often a better choice in dry Canadian winters than all-screen cages.
Specialist and frog-focused options
9. Carolina Custom Cages
Carolina Custom Cages makes front-opening terrariums in a range of sizes, including taller and longer options than many standard lines. They are worth comparing for arboreal species and larger tropical builds.
10. Josh's Frogs
Josh's Frogs is a long-standing name in the dart frog hobby and offers vivarium kits and enclosures for frogs and other small animals. It is worth a look if you want a frog-focused setup, though, as always, check shipping options to Canada.
What to check before buying any enclosure
- Size for the adult animal. Buy for the animal's adult size, not the baby. Each species care sheet lists a minimum enclosure size, such as the ball python or crested gecko.
- Front-opening doors. Much easier for daily care and safer for animals than top-opening tanks.
- Substrate depth. Bioactive builds need room for a drainage layer, barrier and 8 to 15 cm of soil. A tall front lip or added barrier stops soil from spilling when you open the doors. See how to structure a terrarium.
- Ventilation. Bioactive enclosures need some airflow to prevent stagnant air and mould. Our guide to humidity and ventilation covers how much.
- Lighting fit. Make sure UVB and plant lights can be mounted at the right distance. See our list of terrarium lighting brands.
- Waterproofing. Glass and PVC are fine for humid builds. Wood and melamine need careful sealing, and even then are best kept to arid builds.
- Delivered cost. For enclosures from outside Canada, add shipping, duties, brokerage and the exchange rate before comparing.
Turning an enclosure into a bioactive habitat
The enclosure is just the shell. Once you have it, the layers make it bioactive:
- A drainage layer of clay bio balls in humid builds (see clay balls vs false bottom).
- A mesh barrier, then a living soil such as Jurassic ABG Terrarium Mix for tropical builds or Jurassic ABG Semi-Arid Blend for drier ones.
- Leaf litter, hardscape such as cork bark, plants and a clean-up crew.
Our bioactive build planner calculates how much of each layer your enclosure needs, and the complete bioactive terrarium setup guide walks through the full build.
FAQ
What is the best terrarium brand for beginners in Canada?
Front-opening glass terrariums from Exo Terra or Zoo Med are the easiest starting point because they are widely sold in Canadian stores, so you avoid cross-border shipping and duties. They suit dart frogs, crested geckos and many small reptiles.
Is glass or PVC better for a bioactive enclosure?
Both work. Glass gives the best view and suits smaller tropical builds. PVC is lighter, insulates better and holds heat and humidity well, which makes it a strong choice for larger reptiles and cooler rooms during Canadian winters.
Can I use a screen enclosure for a bioactive setup?
Screen enclosures dry out quickly, especially in winter, so they are rarely ideal for bioactive builds. They are mainly used for chameleons. A hybrid enclosure with solid sides and screen panels is usually a better compromise.
Can I use an aquarium as a terrarium?
You can, especially for small, fully enclosed plant terrariums. For animals, top-opening aquariums make maintenance harder and stress many reptiles, and they often have poor ventilation. A front-opening terrarium is better for most species.
What size enclosure do I need?
It depends entirely on the species and its adult size. Check the care sheet in our species database, and buy for the adult animal from the start rather than upgrading several times.