Cheaper Alternatives

[marisa]

In regards to a thread about heating pads and such and how you can get the equivilant of reptile items cheaper at other places, I thought a thread listing some good products sold at local stores that work for us herpers would be a good idea.

For those in Ontario

If you are near Dollarama they are selling at least 3 types of pet bowls that will not knock over. One is made from ceramic, one heavy metal with a black rubber base that is far wider than the lip, and a few other types. They also sell clear plastic plant dishes that I use for disposible water dishes, these ones can tip but I use them just fine and I just throw them out since they cost 25 cents each.

Let's hear what you guys have found. I have plenty more I just gotta think of them.

Marisa

[Auskan]

Well, the obvious item is to wire your own rheostat (thanks Lisa for the directions!!!) versus paying bookoo bucks for a commercial rheostat.

Umm..for feeders. I use the walmart equivalent of carefresh at about 1/3 the cost.

I went for a walk and found tons of branches that are quite appropriate for snakes if you want a more natural looking viv. Put 'em in the oven for a couple of hours and save the $8-15 that the pet stores want for the same item.

[gonesnakee]

Loonie stores are good for cheap clay H20 dishes etc. & also have other items such as cheap tongs, heat paks for shipping, hot H2O bottles, cheap "rubbermaid type" containers for H20 or nesting boxes & it goes on & on. Watch what ya get though as some stuff from them is just crap, but there are many worthy items. I recycle all my plastic dishes etc. that come with food products in them as well as any boxes. I'm talking cereal, KD, pop, beer, toliet paper rolls everything. Why pay money for a hide that you'll have to pull poop outta & wash, when ya can just throw it all away. The big thing is what you like to see. The snake don't care if its a $30 hide or an old KD box. Mark

[marisa]

Mark- You wouldn't BELIEVE the cardboard box collection I have in my closest. Literally all staked, waist high. Everything from cereal, pizza pop boxes, frozen dinners, Kraft Dinner boxes etc. Some people don't like cardboard boxes for hides, but when you can use them for a few weeks and then toss out, I don't see why not! :)

Marisa

[Katt]

Hahah, everytime you say KD Mark, I think of Yolk and his KD Kraft box!

[gonesnakee]

Katt - Ya the little bugger has tried to attack me every time I've dealt with him since burmation. Wait til he meets his GF "White Lightning" she'll tune him in as shes huge in comparison. As long as she don't try to eat him LOL. I know quit "hijacking the thread" LOL. I can't afford KD though I buy NoNameBrand LOL

I'm glad for my bigger snakes hides that my neighbours like to drink lots of beer. Heh Heh Mark

[Ducksarefun]

I bought silk plants from dollarama instead of buying pet store ones. MUCH cheaper, but they probably won't be sturdy for an adult gecko. (We're using them for baby cresteds)

[sleddergirl]

When I took over the store I'm at now, I redid all the reptile enclosures. Thankfully there is a Dollarama in the same plaza!!! Got lots of plants there and the same water dishes you're talking about Marisa. We also have quite the collection of cardboard boxes, but use them mostly for the small animals.

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

Hehe, Sue I need to stop by next time I am in Hammy!

Aidan

[Sean_.E.]

Dollarama has tons of stuff that you can use. I've bought some of the stuff that you guys have already posted. Another good buy, from Dollarama, are those small critter keepers. I've bought tons of them for insect feeders and transportating/holding (while their enclosures are being cleaned) small herps. I also use all that handy recycleable stuff, boxes, containers, etc., they all make awesome hides, especially for messy animals.

[sleddergirl]

Hey............they don't have critter keepers at the one I go to..........that sucks............

[sleddergirl]

Originally posted by SaIiLdVaEnR
Hehe, Sue I need to stop by next time I am in Hammy!

Aidan

No prob Aidan..............:D

[Cruciform]

I just picked up 3 spray bottles at dollarama.

Plus, with the screw-on paint rollers and the plastic broomstick style extensions you can make a decent snake hook for 2 bucks.

[marisa]

So I guess Dollarama gets this years "Herper's Best Buy" award? LOL

Marisa

[HeatherK]

Great idea for a thread.

Let's see.. well a lot of the substrates you can get cheaper - and less likely to harbor snake mites ;) - at garden centres (I still use paper towels).

I get glazed terra cotta saucers for the water bowls and hides. They should be glazed to hold water, otherwise it all seeps out (not such a bad thing for amphibians however).. good to keep mealies, etc. from crawling out of, and better for cleaning. I actually just bought a large clay saucer at a crafts store for under $2. I took a hammer to the lip to make an entrance, and my corn loves it, she feels secure enough not to use the paper towel anymore to hide under during shedding and digestion. Before the saucer, I just used a paper towel tube cut in half. The hides in the stores are so high priced, and if you look at them, not very cozy!

Thought I'd also mention the reflector clamp lamps for overhead lighting/heating here in case anyone's interested. I used to think they could only be had at pet stores. Boy was I wrong :rolleyes: Hardware stores have them (I got mine at Home Depot) for much cheaper. I'm thinking you could even get heat bulbs cheaper at the hardware store, haven't been so lucky to find the right kind yet.

Auskan mentioned wood, if you live near a beach you can even get driftwood in all sizes. I get rocks as well while I'm at it. Scrub, then boil them for 30 minutes or so. The smooth flat ones are good to use for basking areas. They sell both rocks and wood at the pet store here. I returned some fancy wood after realizing how crazy the price was, not worth it (it wasn't marked). Plastic plants are also expensive at the pet stores. Cheaper in the crafts stores. Get some suction cups (dollar store item!) to affix them to the sides of the tank and you're good to go :D

[HeatherK]

Originally posted by marisa
So I guess Dollarama gets this years "Herper's Best Buy" award? LOL

LOL. Forget the pet store, I'm going to the dollar store! I already hang around the children's toy section to find toys for the rabbits.. what's the difference :D

[Danothemano]

Hey,
I found heat bulbs at home depot, you can get red and clear from 50watts to 250watts only 6 to 12 bucks!
ps
cool thread
Dan

[sleddergirl]

Originally posted by HeatherK
Plastic plants are also expensive at the pet stores. Cheaper in the crafts stores. Get some suction cups (dollar store item!) to affix them to the sides of the tank and you're good to go :D


I have used that many a time, suction cups............I find the placement that I want and clamp the hook on the suction cup (with pliers also from the Dollarama...lol) and then they stay put.

[Linds]

Co-op for stuff like shavings, medication, medical accessories, cleaning agents, etc.

Garden center for bulk substrates such as mulch, moss, and vermiculite, as well as plants.

The great outdoors for rocks and wood.

[Yness]

I am constantly perusing dollar stores and not just for herping...you can find anything you need at a dollar store...you just have to look and think laterally...

[Stockwell]

I completely agree, and am super happy to see that other herpers have discovered Dollarama.. There are other dollar stores, but it's the best by far.
I buy dozens of those little Ramakin bowls... They are 2 for a buck and just great for raising babies. They are ideal for adult rosies, and sand boas as well, things that you don't want soaking.

They even have a 3 for a buck Ramakin, with a blue lip. Those are an exceptionally good deal and great for babies in show boxes.
I might mention power cords too. If you need to wire heat tape, just get a one buck power cord and cut the female end off... They have cube taps and other electrical stuff all for a buck.
Dollarama has great tools as well for occasional herp use. They have some great tape measures for only a buck, I just bought a few... I also buy my paint brushes, sand paper and all kinds of stuff there, including brooms and dust pans, oh yeah, and incense!
And How about Mars and Snickers bars, 2 for a buck. You need that sugar kick when doing a power cleaning session. Batteries for the walkman too
They should just call the place Herp-o-rama LOL

Rens feed in Oakville is great if you can get there. I buy all my mouse chow and Beta chip and Aspen there... It's surprisingly cheap.. Huge bags of Aspen, Alpha and Beta Chip, all under 10 bucks.

I use alot of bark for hides. It gives the wife and I an excuse for exercise. We go for "bark walks" where we look for old dead elm or similar.
It's free and beats buying endangered Cork, which is very expensive. By the way, I never clean the bark other than brushing it off with a Dollarama paint brush.. LOL

[Dom]

Home depot . so many things there for so much cheaper .. from light bulbs to wiring the cerami heat lamps and all that if u can do it yourself..

Dirt .. othing is more free then outside dirt.. Rocks ... outside rocks..

[Ducksarefun]

I would not suggest buying power cords from the dollar store. Only use CAA aproved ones (or whatever approves electric things). I know a guy who's barn burnt down because he was using a dollarstore extension cord.

As for mulches from the garden centre: are they ok to use? I was concerned there may be chemicals in them.

[Jeff Hathaway]

Mulches from the garden centre are fine, but there are many different kinds out there. Cypress mulch is not available at all garden centres (Bradford Greenhouses generally carries it). Many sell cedar mulches that have been dyed different colours, and sometimes they are dyed to look like cypress. They may even have a label saying 'cypress' that refers to the colour, not the mulch! And of course, cedar is considered toxic to herps, though I know of people who've used it quite successfully with some reptiles.

Dollarama has become Jenny's favorite store! We get lots of great stuff there. We're also big fans of cardboard boxes, margarine tubs, etc. When we go to Costco, we take lots of extra small flat boxes, and occasionally one of their staff asks why we want so many- it starts some interesting conversations sometimes!

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[MouseKilla]

I've found the same thing with Dollarama but I like Canadian Tire because you can find ever single thing you could ever need, aside from feeders, there. They have a great selection of Rubbermaids, heat pads, garden stuff like perlite, vermiculite, clay pots, any electrical things you might need like rheostats, bulbs, light fixtures, tools. And better still it doesn't have that icky Walmart vibe that seems to linger also in Home Depot... I don't know, I just smell evil in those places, I'm pretty sure all the money goes directly to Satan.lol!

[HeatherK]

Originally posted by Stockwell
Rens feed in Oakville is great if you can get there. I buy all my mouse chow and Beta chip and Aspen there... It's surprisingly cheap.. Huge bags of Aspen, Alpha and Beta Chip, all under 10 bucks.

Luckily it's about 10 mins from me, I get a lot of my stuff there.. not sure what I'd do without the place. I usually use get the aspen, wasn't aware of the Alpha? They have lab block rodent chow for extremely cheap as well.

[Stockwell]

The Dollarama extension cords are fine! They are all CSA or cUL approved. I work with CSA and am involved with inspections, and getting products certified. I check that kind of thing.
It's illegal to sell electrical products that aren't approved. They'd be pulled from the shelves if that was going on in such a big chain store. cUL is also fine in Canada.
It means they have been UL approved(the US underwriters agency) but in harmony with Canadian Standards as denoted by the small c prefix

If somebody's barn burnt down because of an extension cord, it was probably overloaded or damaged, and that can happen with any make, whether its approved or not. It can also be the result of a bad plug or short in the load that plugs into the cord, and not the cord itself

[condabroad]

For my large snakes I bought a x large dog dish for them, they dumped everything we had tried. It was a deal for $8.99 at walmart.

[Drew S]

Sort of along the same lines, SuperPet often runs 50-70% off sales on lots of their reptile supplies.

Just last week I picked up a bunch of ZooMed heat pads and rheostats for 60% off. $19 for the pads, and $12 for the rheostats. It was a steal.

[HeatherK]

Oooh I saw those too, actually never noticed any sales like that before there. Great deal. Too bad I didn't need anything :p

[boydsnakes]

Home Hardware has all kinds of great stuff in the farm supply section,rubbermaid stock tanks,heat bulbs,and their mineral block holders work great for soaking dishes for Large snakes,and they will not tip over!

[wyz]

Dollarama is really great !

In addition to all that you listed I also buy
- mouse traps, to catch my escaped crikets
- dog chains and elastic rope, to secure my tanks
- odor eaters, for my crikets breeding room
- mini cutters with spring,, they are sooo greatwhen you make your own tops, easy to cut through the metal screening
- no water hand cleaner


the list is so long... it makes us think that someone is making money of our backs somewhere :)

WYZ

[seann]

I bought a huge bag i mean like huge enuff to last a year of pine bedding at pet value it was alot cheaper then the large bag of reptile bark which doesn't was tiny in comparison, and if you wanna make your tank look sweet even though you have card board boxes in them barry the boxes under the substrate to make it look like a den have the beding go exactly the same hieght as the water bowl but not as hi so you dont get it in the water. and finding rocks, drift wood and dead branches makes the tank look good too and is realy cheap