Setup Costs Thread

smy_749 · 04-08-13, 07:07 PM

Ok guys, so I guess I'm just going to do a thread where people can list what they are using on their setup and how much it cost them for everything. Can also function as a checklist for people starting fresh. I listed underneath stuff that I wasted money on. Try to keep it simple and easy format for people to go through.

Used Animalplastics Cage 48" x 36" x 24": = 125$ (New - 350$)
2 x Zilla Ceramic Bulb Housings: = 22$ about (bought at petco)
Large half log: = 11$ (petsmart) - not needed
Large rubbermaid tub for water dish: = 10$ (walmart)
10 Plastic plants .80 cents each: = 8$ (walmart)
60 watt Ceramic bulb: = 20$ (petsmart)
Dubia Colony (40 females, many nymphs): = 45$ (craigslist)
50/45 Halogen flood lights (1 is spare): = 15$ (walmart)
Dirt: = Free (outside)
Other logs: = Free (outside)
Large ceramicpot(broke in half for hides): = 8$
Temp Gun (much better than zoomed stuff): = 29$ (home depot)
Digital Hygrometer/Thermometer: = 13$ (homedepot
Probe Therm (used for ambients): = 8$ (petsmart)-not needed
2 tub system (to seperate nymph roaches): = 20$
CVS heatpad for roaches 3 settings: = 20$
Tongs: = 7$? (dont remember)
Outlet Timer (1x3 prong only): = 5$ (walmart)
Spray bottle: = 4$? Just a guess

Total: = 370$ (may have forgot something)

Stuff that I bought which was a waste:
Reptile hammock
Cocoa fiber substrate
Sand (I just ended up taking outside dirt)
The prob thermometer
Sticker thermometer
Analog thermo and hygro
50 Gallon tub (housed my roughneck in there :-/)
120 Watt bulb
Large 30 gallon tub for roaches
(I put them in a 2 tub system with holes drilled in the bottom of one, nymphs fall through to the second one and adults stay in the top)

Grendel · 04-10-13, 09:15 PM

Enclosure with lighting fixtures (2 fluorescent) 2 regular
6x4x4 ft. Craigslist find $120
Additional dome lights x2 $20 ($40) bulbs x2 $10 ($20)
Substrate : dirt from back yard -free
Logs and cypress knees - free from florida forest
50 frozen mice - 50$ ( currently lasts 1 month)
Large Water pan $8.
Total $238

RandyRhoads · 04-10-13, 10:33 PM

Custom enclosure- $400
Heat lamp-$30
Flex watt-$50
Temp gun-$40
Burmese python-$200
Years of getting to experience a very exotic animal a lot I people can't- priceless
Something's cost money- for everything else there's MasterCard. Wait what.

Total $720. Not counting the things bought along the way that were a waste.

DeadlyDesires · 04-11-13, 02:49 AM

all together i spent around 1 grand on my enclosure, most of that was the wood, and OSB, then about 200 for the wiring, 20 for the florescent fixture and 60 for the tube uvb bulbs to go in it. 50 for ceramic heat emitter. 20 for all the flood lights (needed different wattage's for optimal heat gradient and basking temp) i prob spend close to 300 on sand/soil alone lol.. 100 for the monitor (too much) and 100 for the vet bill the next day lol..

smy_749 · 04-11-13, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadlyDesires

all together i spent around 1 grand on my enclosure, most of that was the wood, and OSB, then about 200 for the wiring, 20 for the florescent fixture and 60 for the tube uvb bulbs to go in it. 50 for ceramic heat emitter. 20 for all the flood lights (needed different wattage's for optimal heat gradient and basking temp) i prob spend close to 300 on sand/soil alone lol.. 100 for the monitor (too much) and 100 for the vet bill the next day lol..

1000 for wood is alot...how did you spend 200 on wiring? And what wattage ceramic did you pay 50 dollars for? 300 on sand and soil, you could have got for free outside no? And savannahs are 15-20 $ ....

It seems like you overpaid for most of the stuff you bought. The idea of the thread was to give exact numbers so people can get an idea, some sort of checklist.

stephanbakir · 04-11-13, 06:46 AM

Monitors need bigger cages then corn snakes... I payed close to 1600 on my first monitor enclosure... His numbers aren't far off, and they were for a smaller species.
I built an 8x8x4 H/W/D for a client... Just the box and insulation was close to a grand...

smy_749 · 04-11-13, 07:17 AM

Edited. I changed my mind I don't want to argue with you. But still, thanks for letting me know that monitors need larger cages than cornsnakes.

stephanbakir · 04-11-13, 07:37 AM

A good monitor enclosure will be 2 layers, you make an 8/8/4 box then add 2x4s for support, and to make room for the insulation then line it with another layer of plywood, then seal the thing

smy_749 · 04-11-13, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grendel

Enclosure with lighting fixtures (2 fluorescent) 2 regular
6x4x4 ft. Craigslist find $120
Additional dome lights x2 $20 ($40) bulbs x2 $10 ($20)
Substrate : dirt from back yard -free
Logs and cypress knees - free from florida forest
50 frozen mice - 50$ ( currently lasts 1 month)
Large Water pan $8.
Total $238

Nice find.

smy_749 · 04-11-13, 07:41 AM

What thickness of plywood do you guys typically use, if doing 2 layers.

stephanbakir · 04-11-13, 07:45 AM

3/4 inch on the inside, the same for the outside.. The cage has to support several hundred pounds of soil, and with my big snakes that roam my reptile room while I'm working in there, they have to be bombproof.

DeadlyDesires · 04-11-13, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

Monitors need bigger cages then corn snakes... I payed close to 1600 on my first monitor enclosure... His numbers aren't far off, and they were for a smaller species.
I built an 8x8x4 H/W/D for a client... Just the box and insulation was close to a grand...

thank you

, the only thing i overpaid for was the monitor, another story,

and its illegal here to go outside and get that much dirt from the ground i couldn't find anywhere that would allow me and didnt have any way to transport that much anyway nothing to put it in, so i had to buy it. the heat emitter (petstore) im sure i could have found it cheaper somewhere else dunno where though. i was wrong it was about 150 for the wiring.. and it gets expensive when you have to run wire from one side of the cage to the other.. my wiring is ran around my cage so i had to get more wire because my cage is so long. so its charged by the foot. gets expensive, and we got all the heavy duty wire because we weren't taking any chances on anything happening. i also used 3/4ths OSB around my enclosure. i have insulation the put on the outside and have some more wood to board up the outside with like he is saying with the 2 layers. these cages aren't cheap. i think Wayne spent around 1200 on his if im correct.

Toothless · 04-11-13, 11:46 AM

My enclosure is probably going to cost over $1000 total once it's completed (finishing it up this weekend). I havn't exactly added everything up yet, but it is definately not cheap.

smy_749 · 04-11-13, 11:59 AM

again I was suprised because you said the wood was most of the 1000. I checked for like 100 feet of 2x4 and 16 half inch 8x4 sheets only came to 3 something. I never heard of that dirt thing, Ill just go in the woods somewhere no big deal. they have mines that sell top soil by the cubic yard cheaper than that

DeadlyDesires · 04-11-13, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

again I was suprised because you said the wood was most of the 1000. I checked for like 100 feet of 2x4 and 16 half inch 8x4 sheets only came to 3 something. I never heard of that dirt thing, Ill just go in the woods somewhere no big deal. they have mines that sell top soil by the cubic yard cheaper than that

i was exaggerating on the wood. i probably spent close to 400 on wood but while i was there we got other things as well too so i dunno, i also spend 180 on my window i put in the cage because its double pained and its locks and slides so it seals once i close it.