i made a dark brown pottery waterdish, but i have access to a pottery kiln. its almost the color of the cocopeat substrate and doesn't look out of place.
Im best friends with my small local reptile shop. I honestly love them and it's gotten to the point where they're worried if we don't come in for a week. Can't tell you how much they've either given me for free, or given me super discounted. Plus I made life long friends
Dollar Tree suction cup soap dishes make great crested gecko feeding ledges! I also buy a pack of 12 little cups for a buck that fit in the dish perfectly!!
"Gotta buy a job" hahaha ;) In all seriousness though get into DIY if you have the tools to do so and also collect materials from the outdoors if you can sanitize it properly. Branches and rocks at a pet store are super expensive. Also if you have friends/family that work in construction you can luck out and get some really great stuff from demo's of buildings such as large panes of glass for building your own enclosures.
Oh god haha, I definitely made the dumb "let's spend $15 on a reptile water dish because it's made to look like a rock" instead of just buying a regular old bowl as a waterdish haha.
I wanted a spooky theme for my snake, so I took old decorations I didn't use and made them snake friendly! ( Washed, disinfected, and made sure he couldn't hurt himself on them )
I highly recommend sealing any decor plants before putting them in the tanks. Something as simply as a spray sealant will save an enormous amount of effort in getting these things clean, and something like a clear spray flex seal will reinforce them well, and it's even aquarium safe.
I swear one of the local petstores my town has is the best. They get off brand but high quality stuff that's very cheap and they actually care for the animals they sell. I'm actually happy that they're doing good, they are the only store this small company has and others tried to do this before but went bankrupt very fast. I just love to go by there. They also have stuff that was opened or with tiny scratches (from shipping) at insane discounts.
I have gotten tanks from my local reptile shop for cheap. I also have a side hustle breeding different species of isopods and culturing fruit flies which I bring to the local reptile shop for either cash or trade.
This probably falls under DIY, but i print most of my hides and bowls on my 3D printer. I've designed most of my own as i can custom fit them to my enclosures, but there are loads published and shared online. It's particularly useful for humid hides as I can make them the perfect size for a good layer of substrate and my geckos and snakes prefer them to any others.
Just remember that pla dissolves in water and also dissolves in heat which is not great considering tropical or desert enclosures so if you're printing for reptiles definitely make sure to use either ABS filament or an animal safe resin for resin printer
You highlighted something that bothers me in the reptile industry, and that's rebranding hardware store and garden center supplies as "reptile specific" (despite being the same exact thing), thereby massively inflating the cost. You can get coco coir, coco husk, halogens, domes, fixtures, organic cypress mulch, etc etc from these places at a fraction of the cost. It just grinds my gears lol
I use the same thermastat lol so much cheaper and love them. Use them for all my reptiles. I also enjoy making things for the reptiles. And I'll sometimes find stuff at hobby lobby when they have things on sell.
Great video as always! One thing that I find can help save you a lot of money is just connecting with other reptile keepers in your area via places like Facebook groups. Maybe someone in your local community has an empty terrarium that's the exact size you need, and you can get it for cheap or even do a trade! It's also just good to know other keepers in your area so you can support each other, for example by babysitting each other's animals if needed, & of course by sharing advice & experiences. OH also, THRIFT STORES! If you need stuff like plastic containers, shelves, furniture you can upcycle into an enclosure, or even fabric for a lizard hammock, local thrift stores are 100% the way to go.
Great video, we actually use all five of these hacks! If you can build enclosures look at the furniture in the classifieds for something that you can convert. Our Ackie Monitor enclosure was a $20 cabinet that I converted and can now be seen in the Ackie Monitor care guide on ReptiFiles.
@@cydneebrockett9153 in Canada we have Kijiji and in the US it's Craigslist. The conversion wasn't very difficult but you do need to ensure that it is safe from moisture by waterproofing. There's many RUclips visit on how to do it.
When you think you want to own a reptile because of its pretty colors, think: Do you though? I love my ball python that only cost 120 euros, since butter cinnamon isnt a rare morph. But if I was as wealthy, as I have been on my best times, I might have paid ten times that much. Just to get a shinier sausage, that always wants to chill in the darkness anyways.
Great tips! I never thought to look for hoods at the hardware store. I get a lot of good deals at Restore (Habitat For Humanity Charity Store) for all sorts of building materials, bulbs or other stuff for enclosure builds. $1-$2 for a can of spray foam or tube of silicone. You can't beat that!
Buying used/local has saved me SO MUCH money honestly. This weekend I'm getting 2 tanks (40 gallon and 50 gallon) with a bunch of hides, bowls, a heat mat, some light fixtures and I think some decor all for $200. All that at a pet store would likely be over $400 here at petsmart
The dollar store plant advice is the best tip, it also lets you do a little more with customization for how the enclosure looks (I found a fall foliage vine for my tree frogs and it's adorable).
DIY all the way! Recently made a whole bunch of hides and decor for my leopard gecko with styrofoam, grout and sealant! Plants courtesy of the dollar store. Themed it to Horizon Zero Dawn 😎
I ordered my heat tape from Reptile Basic’s today! Thank You 🙏 I almost have everything for Lucy’s Kages enclosure, just need a few more decorations. Their machine that makes the swing doors (ya I bought the expensive one lol) broke, so I opted to wait the extra time for their new machine to come in! All good things to those who wait 😃 You ALWAYS have the BEST recommendations! Stay awesome 😎
I got a full beardie light set up and enclosure for free as appose to being charged €250-€300 for it. I completely agree with getting free or cheap second hand, its cost effeftive and usually is a great help
Dont forget etsy, I find so many dishes, hides and more off of etsy. Stroodies, LagunaReptiles, GECKOPIA, and more and most of there simple items like bowls, arboreal dishes, etc are cheap. And goodwill, I've found reptile stuff before but I've also found shelves and cabinets that can be used for bin racks or the cabinets be converted into enclosures. Ive seen a cabinet that was almost completely sided with glass and only would have needed doors put in and sealant on the wood, it was only $2 for this giant entertainment center/cabinet. Wouldve been great for a crested gecko or day gecko etc. Etsy also has allamericancages, Ive seen the same dimensions front opening as an exo terra for like 150 almost half the price. And iheatgeckos has conversion kits to convert a 20 long or 10 gallon etc into arboreal or 20 long to a terestrial to be front opening, if you need more ventilation remove the panel of glass and put a screen lid. RUclips has videos of removing aquarium rims and glass panels. Also aquarium tanks tend to be cheaper than reptile tanks, if you dont need front opening check offerup, facebook marketplace, or craigslist. Tons of tanks for cheap
This is a super good topic~ I bet everything will go out of stock at the dollar store as soon as people find this video. Thanks always helping everyone 😊
For species that eat a lot of greens like bearded dragons, uromastyx, and tortoises, consider growing your own if you have the space/climate for it. I bought a 3-dollar arguala plant (pretty much the same price as a bag of arguala) and its been providing my beardie with tons of arugala for her salads. In the warmer months, I hardly spend anything on her greens (obv she also gets feeder insects and other veggies) because I have dandelion, arguala, parsley, mint, and a few other herbs in my garden. She really loves the tiny new dandelion leaves and the dandelion flowers. You can even set up a bed in a windowsill or balcony and grow microgreens and edible herbs.
For going bioactive there are a lot of gardening clubs and Facebook groups all about trading or buying sometimes the trade can be almost anything like I’ve traded a pond liner for a handful of exotic plants that I couldn’t find in the average garden center! And sometimes just taking snips of plants that propagated easily from random outings. Just make sure to rinse the plants because who knows how other keep their gardens!
Completely agree I use all of these tips :) I also breed rats (for pet and show, not feeders) shame all my snakes eat mice 😅 I got my hognose because someone had one for boarding and never came back from it and my local reptile shop knew I would be interested and asked me when I bet in for crickets.
I buy off brand, second hand and build it myself. My favourite example was when I needed a fogger but there's no way I'm paying the ridiculous price they go for when I could use an ultrasonic module and aquarium air pump I had lying around along with tubing and some tupperware from the pound shop to build one that works perfectly. I needed a small feeding dish that mealworms couldn't escape from so I found on ebay a set of two for a few pounds shipped straight from China, don't overlook cheap Chinese goods as an option because honestly these days 90% of the time its from the exact same factory that's producing the name brand goods. There are drawbacks such as shipping time and risk of poor description etc but imo its worth it still
I'd honestly love to see a DIY enclosure video, I'm thinking of building a pvc one eventually for when my baby corn snake and boa grow up, and although I can build a box no problem with the right measurements and everything I'm really curious as to what to do with ventilation, how to properly set up a door whether it be sliding or pulled up/down, settting up an area for the heat panel but also the probe, the lighting, ways to make it stackable, etc. All these little things might be a little advanced but I've been trying to find ways to build something that is both practical and aesthetic
Couple years late on this but I will say, your local hobby/craft store is your best friend when keeping reptiles. You can find 10x more stuff then the reptile shop would own and its all super cheap in comparison. On the east coast here in the US Jo Ann Fabrics and Hobby Lobby have built half my enclosures haha
Interesting, that it’s hard to find permethrin where you are. I mix my own from concentrate and use it when going in the woods. No ticks! I really wasn’t aware that it was safe for animals, though. It’s a great idea to make local connections at expos!
GREAT video Adam thank you so much for the tips and tricks! I'm new to being a beardy owner (don't think I even rate as a hobbyist) but this is very helpful!
Buy Local is great advice for anything. I buy from a local store for my plants and not only do the plants I buy from the greenhouse last well she also hand-mixes organic soil and sells me a gallon of it for a buck (I live in an apartment so I don't need a big bag). Plus she has a bunch of antiques for sale too so it's always a blast to stop in and see what she has (Found some really neat edwardian hat-pins last time I went there!)
I'm soon going to be getting some of the plants at the dollar store cause I need more for my crested geckos tank since he got an upgrade a couple weeks ago.
i think a really important tip is *online shopping* petco and pets mart etc; have high prices for all the tanks, decor and hides. buy online for cheaper and better deals.
I literally just did one of these on Tuesday... I was like I am not paying 166 bucks for a led light strip for my live plants in my cart frog enclosure. Went to Lowe's and got a led light strip that doesn't need the bulbs replaced for 40 bucks with a dimmer !
I use canned foam to shape my hides and then put wax paper over is and then concrete. Once dried, I can pull the foam out, and I have a template for multiple hides.
Btw, if you are starting off, and you're on a struggle budget, then any heat-resistant "dome" with aluminium foil glued to the inside will do a nice job of reflecting those rays just like any $40 Exoterra Lightdome would have. I wouldn't skimp on the ceramic bulb fitting though. Respect the melting heat.
All of my leopard geckos came a few yrs old with kitted out enclosures for less than it could of cost to by them as individuals. Mourning geckos came as a colony for around £6 each and love there homemade enclosure. Great tips. It can be done on the cheap
Some of my hacks is using styrofoam cement cheap acrylic paint and safe sealant for hides and furnishings and also extra tight nylon pond netting that catches debris for bioactive barriers you get loads and works out alot cheaper than commercial brands
Hi Adam, I’ve been shielding from Covid-19 for the last year!! About to go out for the first time to raid the local £1 shop!! Just bought 3 x 3ft second hand vivariums for £40 in total for my 3 leopard gecko, also piking up 2 x exo Terra small tall vivariums for £25 BARGINS!!! 🤪
also, another quick hack anything slate - slate is stupid expensive for basking spots, but i went to a store and bought a set of slate dinner place mats and coasters (4 for £3?) and smashed them up, ground off the sharp edges against brick/concrete whatever so its safe and wont cut, and made loads of slate hides, basking spots etc
I was curious about this channel and No joke I'm a regular at a third-party pet store I breed mice to the point where I have an overpopulation issue. I usually bring them to the pet store and I get discounts on whatever I need whether it be feeders, substrate, tanks, etc. Not many stores order specific items on demand which proves your point make friends don't be just another customer. I can't wait to see what else you have on your Channel.
I thought it was funny how you said that there was some smart 16 year old but not often. I'm a 15 year old reptile breeder that used to be my hobby but now is my favorite thing I do and i love my reptiles thanks for the videos that you make.
I get the mini halogen bulbs for $6 at lowes while the same thing is $10 at petco. I also use the pottery plates from lowes for food bowls too. Coconut fiber bedding is also cheaper.
Livestock dogs & cat all of course require entirely different doses but in mammals it’s a heart worm preventative and or mange red spot healer and so on .
Me and my partner are in the middle of making a wooden corn snake and bearded dragon rack enclosures as up grading size ,very excited for the finish result ,struggling with the exact heating and light to put inside the bearded dragon enclosure tho as new to bearded dragon keeping not got the bearded dragon yet by the way
DIY and make huge savings. I'm building a new rack now (progress will be uploaded on YT soon). I made some clay hides or for bigger hides just adapt tubs from the pound shop/dollar store.
If you get the exo terra created gecko starting kit, don’t get the Pangea ledge, just get some soda/water bottle caps. They fit in the little hole on the decor perfectly
Yeah there this local reptile store were I live and I love it! All the people that are there are around 20 that are super into the hobbie and you get the absolute greatest bugs there. First they check the meal worms for you and make sure that there alive and gut loaded. Also when I get dubias I can ask them to get like the smallest of the mediums (the roaches are so big there were the could prob eat me btw) When I go to a chain pet store and get food most of the mealworms are dead or about be, the biggest size isn't even that big, and the dubias are so small and you can only get like 10 for 20 bucks.
Ivermectin really is fantastic, and I never hear reptile people talk about it. I've had to get it a couple times for my guinea pigs, and it kills mites super fast and effectively, and is one of the safest treatment options. Small mammal people all know ivermectin, but I think this is the first time I've seen it mentioned in a reptile video. I was starting to think maybe there was some reason it wasn't safe for reptiles or something.
I'm in Ontario and minus feeders, online or " second hand" is crazy expensive, enclosures reptiles, people ask crazy amounts, which makes me happy I can build my own enclosures lol
On the cement rock hide thing, another option i've found to work well is decomposed granite either with gorilla glue, or if you really want to go out spray foam and adhered with silicon. I've used this method for my backdrops, and seen it done to make fake rocks as well. there's a youtuber Connor Long who did a leopard gecko build using a similar method for fake rocks. if you're going bioactive you don't need to worry about sealant, but I used water based varathane to seal my backdrops to hold up to light cleaning. Ths proably is only a money saving method if you were to buy the materials in bulk, but even ordering online its still reasonable if you enjoy the hardscaping aspect and want something that will look better, or at least custom to your build.
I used to be friends with the old manager and some of the employees at my local reptile pet store. Used to get stuff from the a little cheaper or sometime they would give me a couple of the cheaper items I would buy for free. They would give me a discount on any reptile/amphibians I would buy. It wasn't a huge discount,cause they had to make money to, but it was a discount nonetheless.
We've used ivermectin for years! People always thought it was only for cows and freaked out when we used the lower dosages for our animals. Vet-approved, of course, and it's basically like buying in bulk due to being so much cheaper.
Southeast Tx man ivermectin is everything , from horses/ chickens , cows & pigs . Fo Dogs is what I use it for and wow . Thanks now I’ll lookup how to administer it for my reptiles given I need to in the future ivermectin in a feed store is about 40-60$ but it’s a lot more than canada bottles . No veterinarian needed
I buy a round cork about 7-8 inches high and cut it in half. It's about $8cds. I drill two holes (not all the way to the buttom) on them to fit a 0.5 cup. I us it as a hide and a feeding ledge. I would post a pic but can't here :)
what is your favorite money saving hack?
I breed my own bugs
I also use containers from food we eat and make it useable
"Buying a job" -wwr
i made a dark brown pottery waterdish, but i have access to a pottery kiln. its almost the color of the cocopeat substrate and doesn't look out of place.
Got my first leo not too long ago and I’m having a try at breeding some worms, as of now I got a bunch of pupae no beetles yet
Im best friends with my small local reptile shop. I honestly love them and it's gotten to the point where they're worried if we don't come in for a week. Can't tell you how much they've either given me for free, or given me super discounted. Plus I made life long friends
I love hearing stories like this. Buying local is often a great option and it's cool getting to know the people!
if only there was a reptile shop anywhere near me. all I have is petco. I only get supplies there like food
@@fuzzymelon1261 good on ya mate! Don’t support the pet smart or petco reptiles. Because they are abused and won’t live long
Pro tip for plants: craft stores! Places like michael's also usually have 20-30% off coupons on their websites!
Yes! And the quality (aka, how real they look) is so much better at craft stores vs the dollar store
Craft stores have a fantastic selection and they are high quality. I got branches and silk vines and plants and flowers there.
Dollar Tree suction cup soap dishes make great crested gecko feeding ledges! I also buy a pack of 12 little cups for a buck that fit in the dish perfectly!!
"Gotta buy a job" hahaha ;) In all seriousness though get into DIY if you have the tools to do so and also collect materials from the outdoors if you can sanitize it properly. Branches and rocks at a pet store are super expensive. Also if you have friends/family that work in construction you can luck out and get some really great stuff from demo's of buildings such as large panes of glass for building your own enclosures.
Oh god haha, I definitely made the dumb "let's spend $15 on a reptile water dish because it's made to look like a rock" instead of just buying a regular old bowl as a waterdish haha.
oh we all have for sure
I wanted a spooky theme for my snake, so I took old decorations I didn't use and made them snake friendly! ( Washed, disinfected, and made sure he couldn't hurt himself on them )
I highly recommend sealing any decor plants before putting them in the tanks. Something as simply as a spray sealant will save an enormous amount of effort in getting these things clean, and something like a clear spray flex seal will reinforce them well, and it's even aquarium safe.
Looking to get a gecko on a budget, so this really helps!
:)
As the owner of 2 snakes, 2 geckos, a tarantula, a red eared slider, and 2 frogs, I needed this video 😂
woooooooo
I swear one of the local petstores my town has is the best. They get off brand but high quality stuff that's very cheap and they actually care for the animals they sell.
I'm actually happy that they're doing good, they are the only store this small company has and others tried to do this before but went bankrupt very fast.
I just love to go by there. They also have stuff that was opened or with tiny scratches (from shipping) at insane discounts.
I have gotten tanks from my local reptile shop for cheap. I also have a side hustle breeding different species of isopods and culturing fruit flies which I bring to the local reptile shop for either cash or trade.
Most people know I love reptiles and just give me tanks
This probably falls under DIY, but i print most of my hides and bowls on my 3D printer. I've designed most of my own as i can custom fit them to my enclosures, but there are loads published and shared online. It's particularly useful for humid hides as I can make them the perfect size for a good layer of substrate and my geckos and snakes prefer them to any others.
Where can i find the designs?
Would you help me design a perch for baby carpet pythons?
My boyfriend recently got a 3D printer and has been printing hides for my critters. Definitely saved me money 🤣
Just remember that pla dissolves in water and also dissolves in heat which is not great considering tropical or desert enclosures so if you're printing for reptiles definitely make sure to use either ABS filament or an animal safe resin for resin printer
You highlighted something that bothers me in the reptile industry, and that's rebranding hardware store and garden center supplies as "reptile specific" (despite being the same exact thing), thereby massively inflating the cost. You can get coco coir, coco husk, halogens, domes, fixtures, organic cypress mulch, etc etc from these places at a fraction of the cost. It just grinds my gears lol
Got my first snake yesterday and I am beyond happy. It's a baby Dalmatian pied ball python! She is so super cute!
Congratulations!
@@xandermin thank you so much:)
I use the same thermastat lol so much cheaper and love them. Use them for all my reptiles. I also enjoy making things for the reptiles. And I'll sometimes find stuff at hobby lobby when they have things on sell.
100%
Great video as always! One thing that I find can help save you a lot of money is just connecting with other reptile keepers in your area via places like Facebook groups. Maybe someone in your local community has an empty terrarium that's the exact size you need, and you can get it for cheap or even do a trade! It's also just good to know other keepers in your area so you can support each other, for example by babysitting each other's animals if needed, & of course by sharing advice & experiences.
OH also, THRIFT STORES! If you need stuff like plastic containers, shelves, furniture you can upcycle into an enclosure, or even fabric for a lizard hammock, local thrift stores are 100% the way to go.
Great video, we actually use all five of these hacks! If you can build enclosures look at the furniture in the classifieds for something that you can convert. Our Ackie Monitor enclosure was a $20 cabinet that I converted and can now be seen in the Ackie Monitor care guide on ReptiFiles.
Just searched it up and it looks awesome!
@@Tink00 Thank you!
What are “the classifieds” ? Is it hard converting furniture into enclosures? Does it save a lot of money?
@@cydneebrockett9153 in Canada we have Kijiji and in the US it's Craigslist. The conversion wasn't very difficult but you do need to ensure that it is safe from moisture by waterproofing. There's many RUclips visit on how to do it.
When you think you want to own a reptile because of its pretty colors, think: Do you though?
I love my ball python that only cost 120 euros, since butter cinnamon isnt a rare morph. But if I was as wealthy, as I have been on my best times, I might have paid ten times that much. Just to get a shinier sausage, that always wants to chill in the darkness anyways.
Great tips! I never thought to look for hoods at the hardware store. I get a lot of good deals at Restore (Habitat For Humanity Charity Store) for all sorts of building materials, bulbs or other stuff for enclosure builds. $1-$2 for a can of spray foam or tube of silicone. You can't beat that!
That concrete hide hack is genius
Yes, it would be great to have a DIY enclosures video, thanks
Coming soon!
Buying used/local has saved me SO MUCH money honestly.
This weekend I'm getting 2 tanks (40 gallon and 50 gallon) with a bunch of hides, bowls, a heat mat, some light fixtures and I think some decor all for $200. All that at a pet store would likely be over $400 here at petsmart
The dollar store plant advice is the best tip, it also lets you do a little more with customization for how the enclosure looks (I found a fall foliage vine for my tree frogs and it's adorable).
Very true!
DIY all the way! Recently made a whole bunch of hides and decor for my leopard gecko with styrofoam, grout and sealant! Plants courtesy of the dollar store. Themed it to Horizon Zero Dawn 😎
wicked
That's cool. I want to make a gothic themed terrarium for my gargoyle gecko.
I ordered my heat tape from Reptile Basic’s today! Thank You 🙏 I almost have everything for Lucy’s Kages enclosure, just need a few more decorations. Their machine that makes the swing doors (ya I bought the expensive one lol) broke, so I opted to wait the extra time for their new machine to come in! All good things to those who wait 😃 You ALWAYS have the BEST recommendations! Stay awesome 😎
I got a full beardie light set up and enclosure for free as appose to being charged €250-€300 for it. I completely agree with getting free or cheap second hand, its cost effeftive and usually is a great help
Where did you find that deal?
Dont forget etsy, I find so many dishes, hides and more off of etsy. Stroodies, LagunaReptiles, GECKOPIA, and more and most of there simple items like bowls, arboreal dishes, etc are cheap.
And goodwill, I've found reptile stuff before but I've also found shelves and cabinets that can be used for bin racks or the cabinets be converted into enclosures. Ive seen a cabinet that was almost completely sided with glass and only would have needed doors put in and sealant on the wood, it was only $2 for this giant entertainment center/cabinet. Wouldve been great for a crested gecko or day gecko etc. Etsy also has allamericancages, Ive seen the same dimensions front opening as an exo terra for like 150 almost half the price. And iheatgeckos has conversion kits to convert a 20 long or 10 gallon etc into arboreal or 20 long to a terestrial to be front opening, if you need more ventilation remove the panel of glass and put a screen lid. RUclips has videos of removing aquarium rims and glass panels. Also aquarium tanks tend to be cheaper than reptile tanks, if you dont need front opening check offerup, facebook marketplace, or craigslist. Tons of tanks for cheap
good call!
This is a super good topic~ I bet everything will go out of stock at the dollar store as soon as people find this video. Thanks always helping everyone 😊
For species that eat a lot of greens like bearded dragons, uromastyx, and tortoises, consider growing your own if you have the space/climate for it. I bought a 3-dollar arguala plant (pretty much the same price as a bag of arguala) and its been providing my beardie with tons of arugala for her salads. In the warmer months, I hardly spend anything on her greens (obv she also gets feeder insects and other veggies) because I have dandelion, arguala, parsley, mint, and a few other herbs in my garden. She really loves the tiny new dandelion leaves and the dandelion flowers. You can even set up a bed in a windowsill or balcony and grow microgreens and edible herbs.
For going bioactive there are a lot of gardening clubs and Facebook groups all about trading or buying sometimes the trade can be almost anything like I’ve traded a pond liner for a handful of exotic plants that I couldn’t find in the average garden center! And sometimes just taking snips of plants that propagated easily from random outings. Just make sure to rinse the plants because who knows how other keep their gardens!
Completely agree I use all of these tips :) I also breed rats (for pet and show, not feeders) shame all my snakes eat mice 😅
I got my hognose because someone had one for boarding and never came back from it and my local reptile shop knew I would be interested and asked me when I bet in for crickets.
I'd love to see a Pac man frog care guide because I'm thinking of getting one but I also love watching your videos!
These are some pretty good ideas on saving money while it doesn't affect the care if your animal greatly, especially reptimite hack, great video
Glad it was helpful!
I buy off brand, second hand and build it myself. My favourite example was when I needed a fogger but there's no way I'm paying the ridiculous price they go for when I could use an ultrasonic module and aquarium air pump I had lying around along with tubing and some tupperware from the pound shop to build one that works perfectly. I needed a small feeding dish that mealworms couldn't escape from so I found on ebay a set of two for a few pounds shipped straight from China, don't overlook cheap Chinese goods as an option because honestly these days 90% of the time its from the exact same factory that's producing the name brand goods. There are drawbacks such as shipping time and risk of poor description etc but imo its worth it still
great tips
Thanks Adam awesome video!
Glad you liked it!
I'd honestly love to see a DIY enclosure video, I'm thinking of building a pvc one eventually for when my baby corn snake and boa grow up, and although I can build a box no problem with the right measurements and everything I'm really curious as to what to do with ventilation, how to properly set up a door whether it be sliding or pulled up/down, settting up an area for the heat panel but also the probe, the lighting, ways to make it stackable, etc. All these little things might be a little advanced but I've been trying to find ways to build something that is both practical and aesthetic
Couple years late on this but I will say, your local hobby/craft store is your best friend when keeping reptiles. You can find 10x more stuff then the reptile shop would own and its all super cheap in comparison. On the east coast here in the US Jo Ann Fabrics and Hobby Lobby have built half my enclosures haha
Interesting, that it’s hard to find permethrin where you are. I mix my own from concentrate and use it when going in the woods. No ticks! I really wasn’t aware that it was safe for animals, though. It’s a great idea to make local connections at expos!
i’m thinking abt getting a snake , is permethrin something i should get or is it only important if your snake has mites?
Used double hung windows from home renovations make a great sliding front for large homemade enclosures
great idea
GREAT video Adam thank you so much for the tips and tricks! I'm new to being a beardy owner (don't think I even rate as a hobbyist) but this is very helpful!
Happy to help!
Buy Local is great advice for anything. I buy from a local store for my plants and not only do the plants I buy from the greenhouse last well she also hand-mixes organic soil and sells me a gallon of it for a buck (I live in an apartment so I don't need a big bag). Plus she has a bunch of antiques for sale too so it's always a blast to stop in and see what she has (Found some really neat edwardian hat-pins last time I went there!)
I'm soon going to be getting some of the plants at the dollar store cause I need more for my crested geckos tank since he got an upgrade a couple weeks ago.
nice!
I love you're videos, they always make my day😊
You are so kind
I love the ipower thermostat! I use them as well. I have even got heat mats from them and they work great!
After much research I've come to the conclusion my man Adam has been blazing hard before his videos good man love the content
hahaha
i think a really important tip is *online shopping* petco and pets mart etc; have high prices for all the tanks, decor and hides. buy online for cheaper and better deals.
Great tip!
I started a dubia breeder bin to save money. Also, unfortunately my local pet shop is more expensive than the chain stores as well.
Wicken has now made me understand the importance of caring for your reptile( SO FAR).
Yes please do a build things video
I go to goodwill and find some SUPER cheap furniture, and convert them into enclosures. I’ve converted two display cases that are working beautifully
Thrift stores are another great place to get stuff, specific or to repurpose.
for sure!
I literally just did one of these on Tuesday... I was like I am not paying 166 bucks for a led light strip for my live plants in my cart frog enclosure. Went to Lowe's and got a led light strip that doesn't need the bulbs replaced for 40 bucks with a dimmer !
you inspired me to make mi own youtube videos about snake's in Czech language ☺😍😘🐍🦎🐢
that is so cool
Thank you I'm getting a corn snake and it's out of my budget for all the supply thank you this helps alot
so glad it helps
You're gonna love your corn snake! My favourite snake!
@@WickensWickedReptiles you don't know how much just a reply from you means to me 😊
@@Textile_Courtesan thanks
@@Textile_Courtesan yea to me it’s the best pet snake by far and I have several species but I love my corns the most
I use canned foam to shape my hides and then put wax paper over is and then concrete. Once dried, I can pull the foam out, and I have a template for multiple hides.
Btw, if you are starting off, and you're on a struggle budget, then any heat-resistant "dome" with aluminium foil glued to the inside will do a nice job of reflecting those rays just like any $40 Exoterra Lightdome would have. I wouldn't skimp on the ceramic bulb fitting though. Respect the melting heat.
1:40
Reptile Breeding Season: Commences
Reptiles: Looks like it's *FORNICATIN' TIME*
Absolute king advice with the tips about finding substrate and light fixtures at the hardware store for less.
I have really enjoyed the last couple of vids...though all are fun. Thank you!!!
All of my leopard geckos came a few yrs old with kitted out enclosures for less than it could of cost to by them as individuals. Mourning geckos came as a colony for around £6 each and love there homemade enclosure. Great tips. It can be done on the cheap
wicked!
Breed your own bugs like meal worms and crickets. Mealworms are super easy to breed
Thanks for the tip
Great tips dude
Any and all DIY videos you can share would be awesome!!!
I love these vids
thanks :)
Some of my hacks is using styrofoam cement cheap acrylic paint and safe sealant for hides and furnishings and also extra tight nylon pond netting that catches debris for bioactive barriers you get loads and works out alot cheaper than commercial brands
Buy old aquariums from craigslist or offerup and cut them apart for the fronts on enclosures!
for sure
Hi Adam, I’ve been shielding from Covid-19 for the last year!! About to go out for the first time to raid the local £1 shop!! Just bought 3 x 3ft second hand vivariums for £40 in total for my 3 leopard gecko, also piking up 2 x exo Terra small tall vivariums for £25 BARGINS!!! 🤪
Great hacks! Especially love the tip on buying off brand, I swear petco/petsmart are such a rip off 😒. Awesome video man!
also, another quick hack anything slate - slate is stupid expensive for basking spots, but i went to a store and bought a set of slate dinner place mats and coasters (4 for £3?) and smashed them up, ground off the sharp edges against brick/concrete whatever so its safe and wont cut, and made loads of slate hides, basking spots etc
I was curious about this channel and No joke I'm a regular at a third-party pet store I breed mice to the point where I have an overpopulation issue. I usually bring them to the pet store and I get discounts on whatever I need whether it be feeders, substrate, tanks, etc. Not many stores order specific items on demand which proves your point make friends don't be just another customer. I can't wait to see what else you have on your Channel.
Hello great video information Adam
I thought it was funny how you said that there was some smart 16 year old but not often. I'm a 15 year old reptile breeder that used to be my hobby but now is my favorite thing I do and i love my reptiles thanks for the videos that you make.
Top Tips Mate 👌
Glad you enjoyed
I get the mini halogen bulbs for $6 at lowes while the same thing is $10 at petco. I also use the pottery plates from lowes for food bowls too. Coconut fiber bedding is also cheaper.
Livestock dogs & cat all of course require entirely different doses but in mammals it’s a heart worm preventative and or mange red spot healer and so on .
Me and my partner are in the middle of making a wooden corn snake and bearded dragon rack enclosures as up grading size ,very excited for the finish result ,struggling with the exact heating and light to put inside the bearded dragon enclosure tho as new to bearded dragon keeping not got the bearded dragon yet by the way
DIY and make huge savings. I'm building a new rack now (progress will be uploaded on YT soon). I made some clay hides or for bigger hides just adapt tubs from the pound shop/dollar store.
If you get the exo terra created gecko starting kit, don’t get the Pangea ledge, just get some soda/water bottle caps. They fit in the little hole on the decor perfectly
I couldn't comment when this video came out, so I just hit the like button. I was working at the time.
thanks :)
Yeah there this local reptile store were I live and I love it! All the people that are there are around 20 that are super into the hobbie and you get the absolute greatest bugs there.
First they check the meal worms for you and make sure that there alive and gut loaded. Also when I get dubias I can ask them to get like the smallest of the mediums (the roaches are so big there were the could prob eat me btw) When I go to a chain pet store and get food most of the mealworms are dead or about be, the biggest size isn't even that big, and the dubias are so small and you can only get like 10 for 20 bucks.
Ivermectin really is fantastic, and I never hear reptile people talk about it. I've had to get it a couple times for my guinea pigs, and it kills mites super fast and effectively, and is one of the safest treatment options. Small mammal people all know ivermectin, but I think this is the first time I've seen it mentioned in a reptile video. I was starting to think maybe there was some reason it wasn't safe for reptiles or something.
Thank you so much for the amazing quality vid as always 🙏🙇🏼♀️
Yesss I'm so glad you made this one, thank you!
You're so welcome!
I'm in Ontario and minus feeders, online or " second hand" is crazy expensive, enclosures reptiles, people ask crazy amounts, which makes me happy I can build my own enclosures lol
Listen up bois, knowledge time.
yeaaaaaaa
I've seen a keeper buy diy hamster tubes for their ball python and they seemed to love the heck out of it!
Every time I watch one of your videos, I always end up clicking another one before I finish the first one bc I’m too excited to learn everything 😭
you are too kind
On the cement rock hide thing, another option i've found to work well is decomposed granite either with gorilla glue, or if you really want to go out spray foam and adhered with silicon. I've used this method for my backdrops, and seen it done to make fake rocks as well. there's a youtuber Connor Long who did a leopard gecko build using a similar method for fake rocks. if you're going bioactive you don't need to worry about sealant, but I used water based varathane to seal my backdrops to hold up to light cleaning. Ths proably is only a money saving method if you were to buy the materials in bulk, but even ordering online its still reasonable if you enjoy the hardscaping aspect and want something that will look better, or at least custom to your build.
I used to be friends with the old manager and some of the employees at my local reptile pet store. Used to get stuff from the a little cheaper or sometime they would give me a couple of the cheaper items I would buy for free. They would give me a discount on any reptile/amphibians I would buy. It wasn't a huge discount,cause they had to make money to, but it was a discount nonetheless.
Please make a video about make in a reptile enclosures
Yes
i always use vivosun plant heat mats. used them for bettas, still use them for herps
We've used ivermectin for years! People always thought it was only for cows and freaked out when we used the lower dosages for our animals. Vet-approved, of course, and it's basically like buying in bulk due to being so much cheaper.
Yeah, we use it for our guinea pigs too. It's tolerated by just about anything in the correct dose. Great stuff!
Also good if you get a parasite.
Southeast Tx man ivermectin is everything , from horses/ chickens , cows & pigs . Fo Dogs is what I use it for and wow . Thanks now I’ll lookup how to administer it for my reptiles given I need to in the future ivermectin in a feed store is about 40-60$ but it’s a lot more than canada bottles . No veterinarian needed
That idea of making a hide out of concrete and tupperware is a great idea!!
Got a healthy Leopard Gecko, enclosure, lights and everything else for $60. Also got a 10 gallon aquarium extra he used for crickets.
This came on my recommendations as I'm looking upgrade my gecko. 😀
I buy a round cork about 7-8 inches high and cut it in half. It's about $8cds. I drill two holes (not all the way to the buttom) on them to fit a 0.5 cup. I us it as a hide and a feeding ledge. I would post a pic but can't here :)
When I was low on money I would make the hides out of thick cardboard lol it worked very well for a short amount of time