Black Scape Terrarium with sliding door | Pickup only

Black Scape Gerbilarium Terrarium with sliding door, double mesh & high rim - pick-up only

Meet the glass terrarium specially developed for small rodents and a natural interior. The Black Scape is designed for owners who are not just looking for an enclosure, but want a complete foundation for hamsterscaping , gerbilscaping , and a spacious, uncluttered enclosure with deep bedding.

While many glass enclosures are based on converted aquariums or standard reptile terrariums, the Black Scape is specifically designed for small rodents. Features include double ventilation, a high glass rim, rodent-resistant protection at the bottom grate, and sliding doors that allow you to easily work inside the enclosure from the front.

This terrarium is therefore a great choice for mice, dwarf hamsters, hamsters, and gerbils, provided the chosen size suits the animal, the group size, and the setup. At DRD, we therefore always look at the complete picture: space, ventilation, digging depth, runways, sand zone, hiding places, and ease of maintenance.

Why double ventilation is so important

In traditional glass enclosures, ventilation is often a key concern. A vent at the top allows warm air to escape, but if there is no lower supply of fresh air, the airflow is slow to get going. As a result, air can linger longer and humidity inside the enclosure can rise.

The Black Scape is therefore equipped with two ventilation openings at different heights: a grille across the top and a protected grille on the low front. This creates a much more logical air movement than in an enclosure with only top ventilation.

How does natural air circulation work?

1. Warm air rises in the accommodation.
2. That warm air can escape through the top grille.
3. This creates air movement in the terrarium.
4. Fresher air is drawn in through the low, rodent-resistant grille at the front.
5. This creates continuous circulation without the need for an open, drafty enclosure.

This principle is also known as a thermosiphon: warm air rises, cooler air sinks, and this natural difference is used to support air circulation. For owners, this is particularly pleasant because the enclosure stays fresher and is easier to maintain. For the animals, it helps to limit stagnant, humid air as much as possible.

The benefits of the double ventilation system

• Better ventilation: used warm air can escape at the top, while fresh air is supplied lower down.
• Lower risk of odor buildup: urine odor and damp air are less likely to linger than in a closed tank with only top ventilation.
• Supports a more stable indoor climate: the air remains in better motion, without the room having to be open or drafty.
• Helps limit high humidity: a drier, well-ventilated enclosure is more practical to maintain and less attractive to moisture-loving unwanted organisms.
• Pleasant for a natural setup: ventilation is especially important with deep bedding, tunnels, houses, sand zones, and scaping materials.

Whereas a single top grille primarily allows air to escape at the top, the combination of top and bottom ventilation ensures a more controlled airflow. This makes the Black Scape particularly suitable as a glass enclosure for small rodents.

Single top grille or double top and bottom grille?

A single top grille or a full grille cover can provide a large open surface area, but air exchange depends primarily on air movement at the top. In a deeper glass enclosure, the lower layer of air is then set in motion less easily.

A system with two grilles works differently. The top grille removes warmer air, and the lower grille at the front helps supply fresher air. This creates more efficient and controlled air circulation without the terrarium having to be completely open.

For natural enclosures with plenty of bedding, houses, tunnels, and decorations, this is a major advantage. Precisely in such settings, you want sufficient ventilation, but also safety, a clear view, and an enclosure that can be well-furnished.

Chew-resistant bottom grate

The low ventilation grille at the front is protected with a rodent-resistant profile. This is important, because small rodents explore their enclosure not only with their noses and paws, but also with their teeth. By protecting the grille, the ventilation opening remains better intact and the enclosure remains practical to use.

Sliding doors at the front: a conscious choice

The Black Scape has sliding doors at the front. This is a deliberate choice. The top cannot be opened, because a terrarium with both a large opening at the front and a large opening at the top would become less stable. Sturdiness is important for a glass enclosure, especially since the terrarium is large and heavy.

If a choice had to be made between opening at the top or opening at the front, at DRD we prefer front access. After all, you approach small rodents more calmly from the front than from above. Approaching from above can more quickly come across as stressful or threatening to prey animals, whereas the sliding doors allow you to work in the enclosure much more naturally.

Furthermore, the sliding doors are removable. You can carefully lift them slightly and then remove them from the guides. This is convenient when you want to clean the enclosure more thoroughly or rearrange it.

High border of 25 cm for deep bedding

For mice, dwarf hamsters, hamsters, and gerbils, bedding is much more than just a layer on the bottom. These animals use the substrate to dig, create nests, build tunnels, search for food, and feel sheltered. The Black Scape features a high glass rim of 25 cm, making it much easier to provide deep bedding.

Depending on the chosen setup, you can consider a base layer of approximately 20 to 30 cm. Especially for hamsterscaping and gerbilscaping, this provides much more freedom than a standard cage with a shallow tray.

A deep bottom helps with:

• digging and tunneling
• making nesting chambers
• build sheltered routes
• foraging in the soil layer
• more natural dwelling behavior
• creating zones in the terrarium

When using heavy accessories, stones, ceramics, sandboxes, and large houses, always ensure stable placement. Preferably, place heavy items firmly on the bottom of the terrarium or on a stable platform so that they cannot sink when your animal digs underneath them.

50 cm high: space for furnishings, exercise wheel, and decoration

The Black Scape is 50 cm high. This provides room to combine a deep base with a matching exercise wheel, sand bath, house, cork tunnel, willow bridge, bark, or other natural furnishings. This height is particularly useful for hamsters and dwarf hamsters, as a custom-made exercise wheel requires sufficient space.

For gerbils, you can utilize height for digging structures, sturdy tunnels, natural hiding places, and a sand zone. Gerbils are active diggers and builders; therefore, choose sturdy, gnaw-resistant, and stably placed furnishings.

LICG guidelines & space requirements

Sufficient continuous floor space is important for small rodents. The LICG emphasizes that an enclosure must suit the natural behavior of the species. Hamsters and gerbils are true diggers, while mice also enjoy climbing, scrambling, and using routes. More space makes it easier to effectively combine behavior, design, and maintenance.

Terrarium Black Scape floor area based on L × W:

80 × 40 × 50 cm: approx. 0.32 m²
100 × 40 × 50 cm: approx. 0.40 m²
100 × 50 × 50 cm: approx. 0.50 m²
120 × 40 × 50 cm: approx. 0.48 m²
120 × 50 × 50 cm: approx. 0.60 m²

Internal dimensions of the Black Scape terrariums

The internal dimensions are handy for choosing running wheels, sandboxes, platforms, playhouses, and decorations.

80 × 40 × 50 cm: 78.5 × 38.5 × 48.5 cm
100 × 40 × 50 cm: 98.5 × 38.5 × 48.5 cm
100 × 50 × 50 cm: 98.5 × 48.5 × 48.5 cm
120 × 40 × 50 cm: 118.5 × 38.5 × 48.5 cm
120 × 50 × 50 cm: 118.5 × 48.5 × 48.5 cm

Which size do you choose?

Choose the size not only based on the animal species, but also on the setup. A terrarium that theoretically fits can quickly become full in practice if you want to use a deep substrate, sand bath, running wheel, multi-chamber house, tunnels, and natural decorations. When in doubt, a larger size is almost always better.

• 80 × 40 × 50 cm: compact size for mice or small setups where the group size and layout suit it. For extensive hamsterscaping or gerbilscaping, larger is more practical.
• 100 × 40 × 50 cm: more layout space and a nice base for a dwarf hamster enclosure with a burrowing layer, sand zone, house, and running wheel.
• 100 × 50 × 50 cm: a solid base size for a spacious dwarf hamster or hamster enclosure and a logical lower limit for gerbils if you want to properly build up digging space and zones.
• 120 × 40 × 50 cm: extra length for more walking space and routes, with the same depth as the 40 cm models.
• 120 × 50 × 50 cm: the widest selection within this line, ideal for owners who want to create a complete scape with a deep floor, multiple zones, and a natural design.

Complete your Black Cape

The Black Scape is the foundation of the enclosure. The real added value lies in the interior design: a deep burrowing layer, fixed zones, safe hiding routes, a sand bath, a suitable exercise wheel, and natural enrichment. This is how you turn the terrarium into an enclosure that is not only beautiful to look at, but also works practically for you and makes sense for your animal.

DRD tip: think in zones

A Black Scape works best when you divide the enclosure into distinct zones. For example, create one deep digging zone, one quiet sleeping and hiding zone, one sand zone, and one compact feeding or foraging zone. This way, the enclosure remains richly furnished, but also well-organized and easy to maintain.

Would you like a natural look? Combine substrate with cork, bark, willow, dried moss, tunnels, branches, and small foraging moments. This way, the Black Scape becomes not only a beautiful terrarium, but an enclosure where your animal truly has something to do.

What do you notice about this double ventilation?

In practice, double ventilation primarily helps ensure a fresher enclosure, prevents odors from accumulating as quickly, and improves air circulation. This is pleasant for the animal as well as for you as the owner. The enclosure remains easier to maintain, and the air stays moving better than in a closed box without a low supply of fresh air.

Pickup only

The Black Scape is made of glass and is therefore heavy and fragile during transport. For this reason, this item is for pickup only . This allows us to prevent damage during shipping and enables you to safely take the terrarium with you for placement on a sturdy, stable surface.

Useful shopping links

• Terrariums for small rodents
• Hamsterscaping
• Gerbilscaping
• Bedding & nesting material
• Natural design
• Running wheels

Frequently asked questions about the Black Scape

Specialist since 2011 – at DRD Knaagdierwinkel® we help you choose an enclosure and setup that suits the animal, the space, and practical use.