For this Money saving hatchling setup you will need:
Tools:
- Soldering iron (Drill will do but you'll need to sort the rough edges out.)
- x1 10ltr Whitefurze tub (Really Useful box, standard 9 can be used too).
Completely up to you but this is what i have used :) let your imagination run free
- Bamboo canes
- Fake plants and flowers
- Corkbark
This is really basic to do and nothing at all special...what it will do if give a cheaper, smaller alternative for baby cresties up to approx 15g :) I've so far made 4 of this for a grand total of....£35! thats £8.75 each! I already had bamboo canes and spare leaves (had to buy the flowers which is included in the total) but an extra £5 would do that completely if you shop wisely and look for the bargains!
I used the soldering iron to melt holes for the ventilation....just top ventilation in this manner may not be enough on its own, so i also did a 5x5 square of holes on the top right side, a 5x5 square bottom left side and a row along the lid at the bottom. what this will do is create an air flow, Many invert keepers will do this with arboreal T's as for some cross ventilation is essential...so i've applied that here :)
The soldering iron will STINK and give off fumes so i fully recommend doing this outside so you don't go passing out on me!! The other way of doing this is with a drill....the holes will need the rough edges filing down and remember! let the drill do the work and don't force it!
The same shop also gave me the lily's at £1 for a bunch (x6 heads on each) of which i got two to separate and divide amongst the tubs :)
When dealing with cork bark try and find a place that sells by the weight as this can work out cheaper than buying individual bits! x1 large bit and x2 medium bits gave me enough for all 4! I just broke (read as stomped :P ) the large piece into a few pieces and again, divided it up. £15 was enough to do all 4 of mine. My local aquatics charge at a rate of £11 per 1kg...there are cheaper places and the rate will vary (mines for expensive then some places i've heard off but easy as i can go and pick myself) so ask about! buy in store if you can so you can feel the weight and choose the bits yourself :)
Cheap places for foliage include:
- Dunelm Mill
- Ebay
- Discount/pound shops
- The range
- Amazon
Shop around before committing, and don't be put of with buying from Hong Kong/China! a 2 week wait is approx how long it'll take but it will save pennies!! Things like flowers and fake plants can we looped through s ventilation hole so its secured into place but not permanently fix.
Bamboo canes can be bought very cheaply from any garden center or online store :) The tub or RUB will give enough *give that you can wedge in and still get the lid on and off :) Other alternatives is gathered wood from outside...please read Got wood? if you would like to use gathered (applies to the UK, mite issue may be different in other countries) :)
I'll be using good old kitchen roll for these enclosures so i can monitor feeding and poop with the babies to bed :) I may give the good old table protector one more shot (see previous blog posts) but i haven't fully decided yet.
And Walla! Home made baby enclosures...or go bigger and have a cheap emergency setup for separation (in cases of cohab gone bad)/quarantine uses!
Other ideas i may be using at a later date/you could try....silicon a glass or perplex viewing window to the lid and/or cover the back with silicon and press dry eco earth onto it to a create a cheap and easy background!
I will be fixing lighting up in that space at a later date to help my day and night cycle...not a must! but i do love a bit of lighting :P
Thanks for reading!