REPTI ZOO Large Tall Glass Reptile Tank 36 x 18 x 36 Inches, 100 Gallon Vertical Reptile Terrarium with Mesh for Chameleon and Arboreal Lizards Review (2026)

Who this tall tank is built for

REPTI ZOO sizes this tank at 36 inches long, 18 inches wide and 36 inches tall for a stated 100 gallon capacity, built specifically around arboreal species like chameleons, tree lizards and tree frogs that need height to climb rather than floor space to roam. The manufacturer designs the enclosure with mesh sections, either a mesh top alone or a four-sided mesh option covering the top, back and sides, aimed at the airflow chameleons in particular need more than most commonly kept reptiles. A 5.7 inch deep, leak-proof base with a drainage pipe and flow valve lets the tank double as a paludarium or planted setup that can hold standing water, extending its use to frogs, turtles or mixed live-plant builds beyond a dry chameleon cage. Keepers of ground-dwelling species that need floor space rather than height should look at a wider, shorter tank instead of this vertical build.

What the glass and mesh construction offers

The tank is built from tempered glass with mesh sections rather than being fully enclosed glass on every side, which REPTI ZOO frames as giving excellent breathability along with UVB, UVA and infrared penetration through the screen for lighting and heating equipment mounted above or beside the enclosure. A front opening tempered glass door with a safety lock provides access for feeding, misting and cleaning without having to reach in from the top, which matters on a 36 inch tall enclosure where top access alone would be awkward for day to day care. The 5.7 inch deep base is built to be leak-proof and includes a drainage pipe with a rotating flow valve, letting keepers control how quickly water drains out rather than being stuck with a fixed drain rate, which is useful for paludarium builds that need standing water at a controlled depth. That combination of full glass front, mesh top or sides, and a genuine water-holding base is what lets the same tank serve both a dry arboreal lizard setup and a wetter live-plant or amphibian build.

Setting it up and living with a large vertical enclosure

Because the enclosure is tall and open on the mesh sections rather than fully enclosed glass, humidity escapes more easily than it would from a solid glass tank, so keepers of chameleons and other humidity sensitive species should plan on a misting system or regular hand misting and monitor humidity more closely than with a fully glass tank. A 100 gallon footprint at 36 inches tall is also a lot of open space for a single animal to feel secure in, so filling the vertical space with branches, vines and dense planting matters more here than in a smaller enclosure, both for enrichment and so the animal does not feel exposed in a mostly empty tank. The leak-proof base and drainage valve make ongoing cleaning of a live-plant or paludarium section more manageable, since keepers can flush water out through the valve rather than manually siphoning or tipping the tank. Setting up branches and vines across the full height also takes more planning than furnishing a shorter enclosure.

How it compares with other tall enclosures

In the site's tall arboreal enclosures guide, this REPTI ZOO tank ranks just behind the Exo Terra Glass Large Terrarium Kit at the same 36 by 18 by 36 inch dimensions, which comes bundled as a full kit rather than a bare tank, and it ranks ahead of REPTI ZOO's own 24 by 18 by 36 inch tank and smaller Exo Terra and REPTI ZOO options that offer less overall volume. Against the Exo Terra kit specifically, this tank's main differentiator is the drainable, leak-proof base built for paludarium use, which the Exo Terra kit does not emphasize to the same degree. Compared with REPTI ZOO's own smaller 67 gallon and other tall models, the extra height and volume here suit keepers with larger adult chameleons or those who want a genuine paludarium setup rather than a straightforward dry arboreal cage.

Verdict and who should size down

Choose this tank if you are housing an adult chameleon or other arboreal lizard and want real vertical climbing space plus a leak-proof, drainable base for live plants or a paludarium build, which fits with the site's own score of 8.5 out of 10. The trade offs are a mesh design that loses humidity faster than solid glass, meaning more attention to misting and monitoring, and a large open footprint that needs a real investment in branches, vines and planting before an animal will use the space confidently. Keepers with a smaller arboreal species or less room for a 36 inch tall enclosure should look at REPTI ZOO's or Exo Terra's shorter tall tanks instead, sized closer to 24 inches tall rather than 36.

Frequently asked questions