Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Budsteam · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject: Flexariums

Has anyone else had trouble with the zips on the larger flexis?
After a while the zips just come apart and won't close anymore.
We are on our second one (got a free replacement from shop after first one went) and this time one of the zip ends has come right off the teeth. Evil or Very Mad

Needless to say that after the problems;ems with the first one we have bee extra careful this, even to the point of not taking the zip around the corners to minimize strain on the teeth, but the whole thing has fallen apart again which means we have to build Bud a new home again Evil or Very Mad

!

JStroud · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:34 pm Post subject:

Have heard of people having the same problems with them, personally I've never used them have always built my own wooden ones with mesh sides. I had a friend who kept having the zips jar so was just using safety pins on them in the end...
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Regards James Stroud

Rickeezee · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

Yep the zips are crap allegedly, bulk manufactured not high strength and dont do the job, allegedly, have to be carefull what one says! The zips on two of mine are complete crap in fact they are so crappy they are just crap!

I would even go so far as to say they are probably the worst zips in the world. Laughing

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www.rickslivefood.co.uk

Budsteam · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:22 am Post subject:

Thanks guys, didn't think it was just being clumsy or unlucky. Going to put some Velcro on for now and think we' need to build a custom home as Bud will soon suss out how to open the Velcro! Rolling Eyes

Jan O · Key Member Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 360

I have 2 of these and can honestly say I wish I'd saved my money. The zips do stick at the corners, they do snag annoying bits of thread and simply jam up, they do make the whole damn flexarium shake like a mini tornado as your'e struggling to open them. I have smeared cooking oil on them and this helped for a day. Now they are confined to the garden as my chams summer cages because I have come to the conclusion that they are fit only for occassional use.
I had awfull problems with my big one- it never seemed bright enough inside, keeping humidity in was a real problem even when I lined the back and 2 sides with polystyrene sheet, the spot lamp burned a nasty brown patch on the roof and in all honesty it was just a pile of overpriced pooh. The chams are in proper cham vivs now but will soon be moved when my new fan dabby dozey ones arrive from vivbuilder.
Love Jan

Budsteam · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

Jan, you just reminded me of another fault- the roof has rotted where we put Buds water dripper Rolling Eyes

Yep these are also going to be retired to summer garden use once I've sewn the Velcro in.

Jan O · Key Member Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 360

Oh God yes forgot the rotting, also when you sprayed did you notice how the residue water left nasty brown stains? When I dismantled my big one the wall behind it and the poly sheet were stained a really nasty tea-brown.I have come to the conclusion that like a lot of reptile equipment, these things were actually designed by someone whos never actually kept reptiles. They are great summerhomes though and my Chams enjoyed their garden days in them, also make great emergency cages and when dismantled take up hardly any space.
love Jan

brittone05 · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:

I have *touch wood* probably got the only flexis that have working zips lmao

our large one used to be a pain in the rear with the zips and what not but I ended up getting rid of that - problem solved lol

I use the 38g ones (i think) for the chams and after rubbing a candle on the zips to help with the movement and putting the mesh through a cool wash to allow some give to the fabvric, mine seem okay Smile