Lmaoooo, I actually work at PetSmart, and whenever I see people trying to buy those a expensive bulbs and substrate I just tell them to go to Home Depot.😂😂😂
Good info... another suggestion for a large reptile enclosure... at a salvage company I found an HVAC enclosure (one of those metal boxes you find on building roofs that house air conditioning equipment).. it was about 5 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet... it had a wooden floor and on three sides it had metal doors with clamp-type latches and vent slits.. the fourth side was open. I secured a frame window screen (also from salvage) to the open side, put some sockets on the "ceiling" of the enclosure for heating and sun lamps, and for around $40 total, plus some tree limbs and other decorations, I had a great enclosure for a large green iguana I had at the time.
Thank you very much!! You’re AWESOME and EXTREMELY HELPFUL! I just recused a juvenile veiled chameleon. My husband made a large enclosure for him. We named him BRO.
Great info! You are saving me so much money and headaches 😊 I've been following your advice about putting a paper towel in my greens container, and I am so thankful for that video 😊 luv your content 🐍🦎🪳
So glad I found this video! I use cement tray for my baby turtles, big bins for my tortoises during the Winter, use tiles to put food on & to walk around on outside. Great to know about the lights! They are so expensive at pet stores.
Quick tip for craft stores like Michael's/Joann's/etc. - many of them have dried botanicals (like Corkscrew Willow branches, dried seed pods, dried mosses, dried grasses, etc. The Corkscrew Willow branches are great if you want some cool twisty climbing branches on the cheap (especially if you don't have much outdoor space to gather wild branches from, or you just don't want to have to bake them). Plus, those same stores often have continuously available coupons on their websites you can use to get a good deal. Just make sure to avoid anything artificially dyed (no neon teal seed pods!), and you're good to go! You can pop those into your bioactive enclosures for visual interest, and something for the isopods to slowly chew on over time.
Black lights in place of uvb? Is that the same thing? I have a bearded dragon that is a couple years old and I bought his UVB bulb and hub of course brand new. But I want to get a chameleon this weekend, I’m building the cage today, actually the cage that you made the video of LOL. But have you found anything out about this black light thing?
@@caseydennis9489 it is the fixture for the particular brand and style of black light sold that can hold the uvb bulb INSTEAD of the black light bulb. Do not put black light in with reptile. Still use uvb light. It's just a cheaper fixture to hold the bulb.
thank you so much my parents said a bearded dragons tank and stuff was to expensive but I showed them you video and now I am going to get a bearded dragon
Wow, this was actually a game-changer for me. I am so appreciative that you explain everything in depth because I have been asking so many questions about leopard gecko care and if typical items at the hardware store were the same! Your channel is super helpful, thank you so much! I do have one question; What are the differences in the benefits in health between Arcadia's DHP and the halogen lamp?
Nice video. Newly subscribed. I go the river to find my driftwood. I also hit up goodwill and other local thrift stores for things I also plan to buy seeds for my plants and a 4 dollar grow light.
Ik i’m late but if you need soil for cheap go outside make sure theirs no worms in it and put it in the oven at 350 for about an hour, also a bag of sand is at walmart for as much as 5 bucks! Also if u get wood from outside PUT IT IN THE OVEN TO GET RID OF ANY POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HURT YOUR REPTILE
Great video, Chief! :D It's incredible how much you can save, if you just look around and think alternatively, instead of going to a pricy specialist store. And especially in these times with inflation and all, why spend more than you have to, for something that does the same job? ;) So this is a very useful video, and I bet, that anyone who sees this, will save a lot of dollars :D
So last week my twins brought home 2 leopard geckos (absolutely adorable) however, I know nothing about them. I e been all over RUclips trying to learn as much as I can. I've gathered up all of the necessities( I think) one question I do have though, can you use your substrate mix in the bottom of the tanks? I'm not doing live plants or anything like that, but I thought the substrate would be better for them than say tile or something along those lines. Any advice or comments would be helpful about anything really lol Thank you!
Yes I only started doing living plants a year ago before that I used this substrate with just decor and they loved it! So yes go ahead use it without live plants
Quick question. I am getting my first BTS and I have a tank without a lid, would I need to get a lid or will my BTS be fine without one? Thanks, love the videos btw(:
With the basking lights, if we don't have the option if a dimmer for a 4x2x2, can we only use 1 of the flood lights that you mentioned? Or what would you recommend, and what wattage?
I got a $2000 set up for like $250 second hand and now I’ve made a custom enclosure so im gonna sell the original one and the values went up so I recon I’ll get $300-$400
Ok so maybe you said this but do the hardware stores carry uvb hubs that are cheaper? Of course I know the bulbs you can’t skimp on and I don’t but I was wondering if you knew anything about that. Your information is so so helpful and I really appreciate it!
They don’t. They do have t5 light hubs but it doesn’t have the reflective part that is necessary to disperse the uvb. However Pangea reptile sells some t5 hubs for $30 on their website
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Yee I figured, thanks man I just bought a better uvb. I have T5 grow light but I don’t have a meter to tell how much uvb it’s giving off. I had a whole grow tent set up and was gunna use the lights. Funny story how I ended up with the baby girl. She’s 15inches and I literally found her in my backyard eating bugs. lol was great. Built a whole enclosure for her “cuz I do wood work” 😉 your videos are awesome brutha! I love ppl like you! Sweet and simple and finds the alternatives to things that do the same thing!
I have a question about the bulk buying of substrate. Im only planning on having one 20 gallon pacman frog enclosure when I eventually move out of my parents house, and since you said the big bag of peat moss is essentially decaying material, does that mean it will eventually go bad even if I just leave it there or will it be fine to keep around for multiple substrate changes?
Where did you find the keeper who use the yellow and black storage tubs bc I wanna make one of those for a leopard gecko if that would be okay for me to do
PLEASE PLEASE EXPLAIN LIGHTING MORE, ABOUT WATTAGE FOR ENCLOSURES AND HOW MUCH HEAT THE THINGS GIVE OFF CMON NOW IVE WATCHED SO MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS AND LEFT WITH 0 OF MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED!!!!!
Sadly a year after this video came out, I've found it almost impossible to find halogen bulbs locally, and have to order them online. I fear we're going to have to rely on reptile-branded products eventually as no other companies will be making them. Also, most bulbs sold for brooders (aka chickens and other poultry) are unfortunately red, so just a tip for folks who might not know that red lights aren't good for reptiles.
Never buy from pet shops, buy enclosures from fb market place as so much cheaper or make them. Decoration get from nature, so long as you go off the beaten track and far from any roads you don't need to worry about cooking the decorations before using. I have never cooked any of my decorations and never had any problems. I have 5 bin bags in my garage filled with leaf litter which I collected and my decking is filled with random wood I have found from tree branches to sticks and bark with moss growing on it. It really does give my enclosures a natural look and my tarantulas seem to like and and omg my isopods and millipedes love them as the eat it all.
Exactly! I’m the same way never had problems with decor I got from outside. My isopods and springtails also love them and I feel breed better with what I got.
Yes I love my animals! But I also know that companies charge significantly higher prices by labeling things reptile. They also don’t work as well as mainstream hardware store supplies.
Sorry my audience is mainly Americans so that’s what I refer too. However I have been throwing both on the screen when I say it so both can see whatever they use. Mainly cause I have seen an uptick in non American audiences
Lmaoooo, I actually work at PetSmart, and whenever I see people trying to buy those a expensive bulbs and substrate I just tell them to go to Home Depot.😂😂😂
Haha yes! It’s so much cheaper and it’s literally the same thing just different brand and design
Thanks 😂
Good info... another suggestion for a large reptile enclosure... at a salvage company I found an HVAC enclosure (one of those metal boxes you find on building roofs that house air conditioning equipment).. it was about 5 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet... it had a wooden floor and on three sides it had metal doors with clamp-type latches and vent slits.. the fourth side was open. I secured a frame window screen (also from salvage) to the open side, put some sockets on the "ceiling" of the enclosure for heating and sun lamps, and for around $40 total, plus some tree limbs and other decorations, I had a great enclosure for a large green iguana I had at the time.
Oh that’s awesome. I’ve seen some amazing DIY enclosures out of salvaged stuff but that’s a first I heard of this. Pretty awesome
The light tips are gonna help me SO SO SO much. I've been wasting so much money on lights that die within a week, thank you!
I love plastic bins honestly, you can give them so much space for the least amount of money, it's great
Yes and they hold humidity wayyy better than glass tanks
Volatile organic compounds, look into it
Wish they made ones big enough for bearded dragons
Welp I’ve already made my trip to PetSmart and after watching this, I’m PISSED 😂😂 great information here! I’m a Beginner🥹 and I am taking NOTES !
Thank you very much!! You’re AWESOME and EXTREMELY HELPFUL! I just recused a juvenile veiled chameleon. My husband made a large enclosure for him. We named him BRO.
No problem always glad to help!
Great info! You are saving me so much money and headaches 😊 I've been following your advice about putting a paper towel in my greens container, and I am so thankful for that video 😊 luv your content 🐍🦎🪳
Thank you very much! Happy to help a lot!
So glad I found this video! I use cement tray for my baby turtles, big bins for my tortoises during the Winter, use tiles to put food on & to walk around on outside. Great to know about the lights! They are so expensive at pet stores.
Big ups for the budget recommendations.
Appreciate you
Josh frogs for feeders! They give cubes of food and Potatoes and give gift certificates and door dash and wine certificates in all their packages!
Quick tip for craft stores like Michael's/Joann's/etc. - many of them have dried botanicals (like Corkscrew Willow branches, dried seed pods, dried mosses, dried grasses, etc. The Corkscrew Willow branches are great if you want some cool twisty climbing branches on the cheap (especially if you don't have much outdoor space to gather wild branches from, or you just don't want to have to bake them). Plus, those same stores often have continuously available coupons on their websites you can use to get a good deal. Just make sure to avoid anything artificially dyed (no neon teal seed pods!), and you're good to go! You can pop those into your bioactive enclosures for visual interest, and something for the isopods to slowly chew on over time.
My Bearderd’s dragon food dish is a small pot bottom I got for like 50 cents at Lowe’s when I got his tiles ☺️
I use the same ones myself.
The Zoo Med bulbs last me 3-6 months, you just have to wear gloves when you put them in. If you touch the bulb with your hands it blows out fast.
They are expensive though.
Yeah mine last me an about the same. They are expensive
Thank you for the glove info! I couldn't figure out why we were going through bulbs soo fast!
For UVB light I saw suggestion of buying Wal-Mart 24 inch hyper tough blacklight, taking the blacklight out and placing uvb bulb in
Ohhhh very interesting! I’m gonna try that out sometime
Black lights in place of uvb? Is that the same thing? I have a bearded dragon that is a couple years old and I bought his UVB bulb and hub of course brand new. But I want to get a chameleon this weekend, I’m building the cage today, actually the cage that you made the video of LOL. But have you found anything out about this black light thing?
@@caseydennis9489 it is the fixture for the particular brand and style of black light sold that can hold the uvb bulb INSTEAD of the black light bulb. Do not put black light in with reptile. Still use uvb light. It's just a cheaper fixture to hold the bulb.
This was crazy helpful! Wow, thanks for sharing all the. I did not know other places sell these items. You are a blessing!
keep these type of videos going. I have a room full and I need to save money.
Will do! Thank you!
I use the halogen lights from walmart too and it lasts way longer as well!
Yes I use those as well for some of my lizards. Works great 👍
i am really enjoying your videos. your enthusiasm with your knowledge is making me so much more excited for when i pick up my first beardie tomorrow!
Thank you!
thank you so much my parents said a bearded dragons tank and stuff was to expensive but I showed them you video and now I am going to get a bearded dragon
Wow, this was actually a game-changer for me. I am so appreciative that you explain everything in depth because I have been asking so many questions about leopard gecko care and if typical items at the hardware store were the same! Your channel is super helpful, thank you so much! I do have one question; What are the differences in the benefits in health between Arcadia's DHP and the halogen lamp?
One mimics daylight which is great for a natural look and the other doesn’t produce any light but the heat.
Nice video. Newly subscribed. I go the river to find my driftwood. I also hit up goodwill and other local thrift stores for things I also plan to buy seeds for my plants and a 4 dollar grow light.
Me too! Found some great finds at thrift stores!
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse ugh! I absolutely love the thrift stores. Lol
Looking to get a leopard gecko when i move and this vid will help remember. Thank you!
I got an almost perfect 50 gallon tank off market place for $50, only issue is the locks are broken but you can just get clips for that
Ik i’m late but if you need soil for cheap go outside make sure theirs no worms in it and put it in the oven at 350 for about an hour, also a bag of sand is at walmart for as much as 5 bucks! Also if u get wood from outside PUT IT IN THE OVEN TO GET RID OF ANY POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HURT YOUR REPTILE
Found hydro balls half price just because it’s different brand other than zoo med. on Amazon.
love your advice!
Great videos. I newly found your channel and you have helped so much in helping me getting my tank set up for a uromastyx.
Thank you glad to help
Great video, Chief! :D
It's incredible how much you can save, if you just look around and think alternatively, instead of going to a pricy specialist store. And especially in these times with inflation and all, why spend more than you have to, for something that does the same job? ;) So this is a very useful video, and I bet, that anyone who sees this, will save a lot of dollars :D
Thank you Jen! Yeah with inflation I’ve seen prices double it’s crazy
Could you do a step by step tutorial on making an enclosure the next time you decide to make one? ❤
Yes I have 3 up now but I’m editing one as we speak
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse okay thanks!!
So last week my twins brought home 2 leopard geckos (absolutely adorable) however, I know nothing about them. I e been all over RUclips trying to learn as much as I can. I've gathered up all of the necessities( I think) one question I do have though, can you use your substrate mix in the bottom of the tanks? I'm not doing live plants or anything like that, but I thought the substrate would be better for them than say tile or something along those lines. Any advice or comments would be helpful about anything really lol Thank you!
Yes I only started doing living plants a year ago before that I used this substrate with just decor and they loved it! So yes go ahead use it without live plants
This was awesome information. Thanks!!!
Happy to help
And for enclosers for big reptilles use grow tents
Quick question. I am getting my first BTS and I have a tank without a lid, would I need to get a lid or will my BTS be fine without one? Thanks, love the videos btw(:
So I need a uvb and basking light during the day? Do the light bars produce uvb? What would you recommend for a 20g leopard gecko cage?
Excellent video!! Thanks.
Happy to help
Thank you so much for this video this video helped so much
No problem. I’m glad to be of help
With the basking lights, if we don't have the option if a dimmer for a 4x2x2, can we only use 1 of the flood lights that you mentioned? Or what would you recommend, and what wattage?
Do you have the plans/instructions for the enclosures you’ve made?
I got a $2000 set up for like $250 second hand and now I’ve made a custom enclosure so im gonna sell the original one and the values went up so I recon I’ll get $300-$400
Heyo that’s awesome 👏 I love getting deals like that
Hi! I have a question, from where you have the labels for your terrariums?
Great tips! Thank you!
Happpy to help
Where do you get your Arcadia uvb kits from ... I cant find them anywhere?
What wattage bulb would you recommend for a 10 gallon tank with glass sides, mesh top?
Ok so maybe you said this but do the hardware stores carry uvb hubs that are cheaper? Of course I know the bulbs you can’t skimp on and I don’t but I was wondering if you knew anything about that. Your information is so so helpful and I really appreciate it!
They don’t. They do have t5 light hubs but it doesn’t have the reflective part that is necessary to disperse the uvb. However Pangea reptile sells some t5 hubs for $30 on their website
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse oh ok! I’ve never been on there yet but I’m checking everywhere now and I will look! Thanks so much
What about UVB lights.. you only talked about heat and LED lights.. or does the led give off the UV the bearded dragon needs?
For uvb there really isn’t a alternative unfortunately
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse Yee I figured, thanks man I just bought a better uvb. I have T5 grow light but I don’t have a meter to tell how much uvb it’s giving off. I had a whole grow tent set up and was gunna use the lights. Funny story how I ended up with the baby girl. She’s 15inches and I literally found her in my backyard eating bugs. lol was great. Built a whole enclosure for her “cuz I do wood work” 😉 your videos are awesome brutha! I love ppl like you! Sweet and simple and finds the alternatives to things that do the same thing!
I’m building a 4x2x2 do you still recommend 90w flood lights ? .. and if there that hot would 50w halogen lights get hot enough?
Do the bulbs you mentioned produce UVB?
Halogen bulbs are being discontinued and phased out. So what can be used now?
What’s the dimmer that you used for the setups?
This is it. amzn.to/3AqTRo7
I have a question about the bulk buying of substrate. Im only planning on having one 20 gallon pacman frog enclosure when I eventually move out of my parents house, and since you said the big bag of peat moss is essentially decaying material, does that mean it will eventually go bad even if I just leave it there or will it be fine to keep around for multiple substrate changes?
If it’s dry shouldn’t go bad but if it gets wet it may. The trick is to let it dry out when storing it and it’ll be fine
where do you purchase your isopods & springtails?
great video
Thank you
because my son wants a bearded dragon and does not know what uvb bulb to get from petco
Where did you find the keeper who use the yellow and black storage tubs bc I wanna make one of those for a leopard gecko if that would be okay for me to do
DIY reptile enclosures on Facebook
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse for a leopard gecko I know they don’t need a lot of humidity but how much ventilation should I use for a 30 gallon tub enclosure
Thank you for this
hi
Happy to help!
This is helpful but the one question I have is how do you use the lamps
If you use a heat mat I don’t recommend using a lamp at the same time
The rocks and branches online are ridiculous 😂
What brand was the heat mat?
Hey man where can I buy halogen bulbs? I can’t find anywhere that sells them, even online.
Yeah unfortunately the government banned them as they aren’t energy efficient. So now you can only get reptile ones
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse thanks for the reply Bud
What’s the timer for
PLEASE PLEASE EXPLAIN LIGHTING MORE, ABOUT WATTAGE FOR ENCLOSURES AND HOW MUCH HEAT THE THINGS GIVE OFF CMON NOW IVE WATCHED SO MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS AND LEFT WITH 0 OF MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED!!!!!
Working on one now
where are you guys getting halogen lights, they have been ban in the US.
This was made before the ban. Now it’s impossible
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse an updated version is needed
Very helpful
Thank you 😊
I need to figure out the substrate thing 😂😂i dont wanna spend alot
Haha Home Depot and Lowe’s is a lifesaver
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse I'm finally doing this ! I put play sand and top soil together for my aft
Would one of those flood lights work for a 75gal?
Yes they would
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse awesome thank you so much, would you recommend the dimmable switch light still?
Link for led bar?
Updated it’s there now
Sadly a year after this video came out, I've found it almost impossible to find halogen bulbs locally, and have to order them online. I fear we're going to have to rely on reptile-branded products eventually as no other companies will be making them. Also, most bulbs sold for brooders (aka chickens and other poultry) are unfortunately red, so just a tip for folks who might not know that red lights aren't good for reptiles.
Yes I know what you mean. The halogen ban really sucks. Amazon is the only place I find reptile bulbs cheaper than reptile stores.
I see that mini nuke tucked back on that shelf.
Oh yeah I have a pip boy as well
I get repti home heat bulbs
At the beginning i didn't want plastic but seriously a step drill wow 😂 good video so true they came from outside & baking and boiling is horrible!
Thank you.
i am looking at amazon and found a tank for $185 and am going to get it
my father got a 55 out of the garbage with stand but an eight foot enclosure it’s gonna cost me
I buy 40 crickets from Petsmart or Petco, and ten of them die before I get home.
facebook marketplace tho. I got two 40 gals for $60 each. Then I sold my 20 gal for $20. Facebook is def a hit
Facebook is definitely a hit
I just looked on eBay and found a 50 gallon tank for 180 dollars
If you look at petco on sales they have them for $75
Thats fuckings autokorrekt man 😅🤙
i got 6 tanks off facebook for 75$ best decision ever
Nice! Lets go!! Love Facebook marketplace
Never buy from pet shops, buy enclosures from fb market place as so much cheaper or make them. Decoration get from nature, so long as you go off the beaten track and far from any roads you don't need to worry about cooking the decorations before using. I have never cooked any of my decorations and never had any problems. I have 5 bin bags in my garage filled with leaf litter which I collected and my decking is filled with random wood I have found from tree branches to sticks and bark with moss growing on it. It really does give my enclosures a natural look and my tarantulas seem to like and and omg my isopods and millipedes love them as the eat it all.
Exactly! I’m the same way never had problems with decor I got from outside. My isopods and springtails also love them and I feel breed better with what I got.
🤝🏻
😁
reget not findind your vids till know bought zilla halogen 50 wat fixture with four lights only two work what a waste
They did ban halogen lights so now we have to get reptile special ones
Hit me up
I like plants more than I like the reptiles. You like Reptiles more.
Where is your love coming from , Aniamls or what?
Yes I love my animals! But I also know that companies charge significantly higher prices by labeling things reptile. They also don’t work as well as mainstream hardware store supplies.
u r going to send me a skink for free that will save me money
😂 if I had Mr beast money I would
You know that only 5% of the world uses gallons, feet, Fahrenheit and whatever you're talking about?
Sorry my audience is mainly Americans so that’s what I refer too. However I have been throwing both on the screen when I say it so both can see whatever they use. Mainly cause I have seen an uptick in non American audiences
@@ChiefSweetsUniverse It's alright :) I just never understood how you lot have defeat the Imperialists yet refuse to give up their ways :P
@@Shhzhxjsjznxn haha that’s a government issue and I will tell you they put 0 effort and money into education in the states haha