8x3x3? Have you won the Lotto??? Mate that would cost you both arms and legs! Would prob need to be custom made from at least 15mm and probably 20mm glass. You would probably get 20 same size melamine enclosures for the same price. Brand new you would be looking at at least a grand, probably two!
I have a tank here at the moment which is only 5 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 1 3/4 and to buy that new, (custom made), you are looking at a grand.
I'd say downsize you aquatic reptile and buy mine second hand, I'll do you mates rates
Since when is 1 or 2 grand a stupid amount of money? That's only one or two black headed pythons. The animals may be worth something comparable (I don't know what you're planning to put in it) and if you look after it, it will last decades (much, much longer than a damp melamine enclosure). You'd need more than that to buy one of my limbs... You'd possibly be looking at over $500 to build it out of something else anyway if you did it properly, so I say go with the way you want it
I used to have a couple of 6ft aquariums, an 8 footer (8x3x2 I think it was, about $400 second hand, came with a bunch of stuff) and one that was 10 or 12 foot, although we never actually managed to get the long one inside, it sat on the front lawn until it was broken :lol: good thing it was only $50 or so (aquarium closing down sale thing). I sold them fully setup for fairly little (around $500 each, about what I paid, the actual tank being about half the price or a little more), the 10 or 12 footer went for free (broken) the 8x3x2 I think we sold for about $300 (just the tank). Keep your eye on the paper and you'll pick up a bargain sooner or later. Yes, this was a few years ago and inflation will have it higher now, but I can't imagine it being that bad. A friend of mine just bought a 6x3x3 glass tank for a crocodile, which was dirt cheap (under $200, although it was mates rates I think)
What kind of reptile is it for?
Anyway, I'd say it would definately be worth checking out the glass option for price if that's what you'd prefer to have. I don't think melamine would work with water on it, what will your setup be like?
Another consideration is how you will get it installed. Such tank would have to be built on site and become part of the house because you will not be able to move it. Then there is the foundations on your house which will probably need to be upgraded to support the weight.
Hehehe, you should have seen some of the stunts we pulled moving tanks
