DIY Cheap Snake Hides

I believe the most important thing in your snake's tank besides the UTH or heat lap is the Hides. Most care guides will say you should have 2 of them. One on cool side and one on the warm side. 

Of course, the only harm it could do is to your wallet. Small hides cost around $10. So you would be spending at least $20 on hides at the pet store. But what happens if you have a larger snake. The only ones pet stores have for larger snakes is the half log. And those are not dark enough for the easily stressed Ball Python. 

Here I'm going to list some things that I use or have used in my own snake tanks. They are all very low in cost and will give your snake the most comfort. But not all of them are pretty looking. So beware. ;)

• Plastic Serving Tray 

I got my Pastel Ball Python when he was an adult and found a hard time getting a hide that was dark enough. So stupidly I bought the biggest size of half log. That was $17 in the garbage. 

Instead, head over to the dollarstore and spend two dollars on a plastic serving tray. They come in many different colours and sizes, so choose one that is the best for you and your tank. 

Place it in the tank and your snake will squeeze itself under it. Perfect for Ball Pythons who need very small hides. 

Total Price: $2 x 2 = $4

• Nut Containers 

After eating all those nice peanuts or whatever else is in those small metal containers, you should use them in your snake tanks. These are perfect for small baby corn snakes. 

But make sure to check all the edges. Some may be sharp, so those aren't useable. You wouldn't want your snake losing some scales. 

You can wash these out with a water/bleach solution. Use as little bleach as possible and let it dry overnight. 

Place them down on the substrate and your snake will squeeze under to get inside. 

Total Price: $3 x 2 = $6

• Margarine Tubs

These are one of the most popular cheap hides and for a good reason. Everyone has to have butter or margarine in the fridge and most people throw away the tubs. So if you don't have one handy, almost anyone will. You can get these in both small and larger sizes.

Just cut a small hole in the side, just big enough for the snake to get through. If the edges are rough, take a lighter and melt the plastic until the edges become smooth. 

Total Price: $1-$10 x 2 = $2-$20

• Rolled Wafer Containers 

If you've bought rolled wafers before you know that the snack comes in a small metal cylinder. This can be easily turned into a small hide. Just take of the lid, wash and put into the tank. Perfect for small baby corns and kings. 

Total Price: $1.50 x 2 = $3

• Your Messy Cupboards

We all have that one messy cupboard or at least know someone who does. Most of us also by a ton of those little plastic containers, thinking we're actually going to use them. Well, most of us don't and they end up sitting in the cupboard. 

So next time you need a snake hide, just look there. 

Sure, most of them are clear and not very secure. But you could use substrate or fake plants to make the hide more secure for your snake. 

Total Price: ???

Anyway, hopefully you got some interesting tricks out of this post. I also hope you get a new hide for your snake. Even if they don't need a new one. It's alway fun to see your snake explore something new. And it's very cute when you walk into the room and see it relaxing in it's new hide. 

Do you guys have any other cheap or DIY hide ideas? Well, help me and the other snake owners that find this blog! Share your tricks and ideas. 

Cheers,

Sammi 

8 Things You Need for your Snake

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• Tupperware Box with holes

At some point your snake will have a bad shed or a stuck shed. Mostly it's because of low humidity. So when this happens make sure to check your humidity and fix any problems for the next shed. But while they're having a bad shed now, there's one trick that has always worked for me. 

All you need is a small Tupperware container. It doesn't have to be too big. Just big enough for your snake to fit. My 2 and a half foot Ball Python fits in the one in the picture. 

You can get a small one at the dollar store or you can go to Walmart. 

You just take a knife or drill and make some holes. Then you take a lighter a burn the holes smooth. Place your snake in for around 25 minutes while watching and the shed will come off. 

• Pillowcase or Snake Bag

 While we're on the topic of bad shedding, your snake might have a stuck eye cap. Don't panic. There's a few tips you can try before you take them to the vet. One of this is a damp pillowcase. As the snake rubs against the pillowcase looking for a way out, the stuck eye cap will come off.  

WARNING: SNAKES ARE KNOWN TO SUFFOCATE IF NOT WATCHED. ONLY USE THIS TRICK IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE. 

You have to get a low thread count pillow case for this, so your snake doesn't suffocate. So check Walmart for this. Use this trick just like the Tupperware container trick. 

• Spray Bottle

When owning a snake you need some type of spray bottle. This can be used for upping the humidity, for cleaning the tanks or for fixing your own hair! ;)

Anyway, they're really useful and only around a dollar at the dollar store. 

• Feeding Tongs

You could go to the Pet store and get a pair of tongs. But you could get some for cheaper. For these check the dollar store, a department store or your own Mother's kitchen like where I got mine. ;)

•  Litter Scooper

Not to be over dramatic, if I didn't have my scooper I would probably die. Just take a trip to the Pet Section at your local dollar store. You can get the ones with or without the holes. These beautifully useful things can be used to scope out poop or substrate when you clean the cages. It's really useful when you have a 40 gallon tank. 

•  Small Hand Towel

  I use my small hand towel for wiping down the sides of the tank. I put it in the Tupperware and Pillow Case when they have bad sheds as well. Anyway, it's useful and if you end up not needing one, you can use it when you forget to replace your loofah. 

• Rubber or Regular Gloves

If you feel uncomfortable picking up the mice or rats when feeding for just don't want the smell of them on your hands, then use these. You can nick these from the doctor's office.....which I never do.....really or you can buy some regular gloves from the dollar store. 

• Light Dimmer

I know, very weird thing to buy. But you can use a light dimmer to replace the need for a rheostat or thermostat. The light dimmer plugs into the wall and the other side plugs into the heating pad or light. There's a little dial and you can control the temps. Just like a rheostat. You can pick one up from places like Home Depot or Home Hardware.  

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Introductions...Sammi Style!

Hello There!

This just so happens to be my first post. So, I believe introductions are in order.

I'm Samantha and I am obsessively cheap. Hence the title. I literally have an issue with spending money.
At the same time I also have a slight, okay large obsessions with reptiles.
Not a very good combo, right?

So, using this blog I will catalogue all the things I do to keep my reptiles healthy but spend as little as I can.

At the moment, I have 4 snakes and a fish. But soon I will have a bearded dragon from my cousins first go at breeding. I'm also hoping to get a leopard gecko.

Reptile introductions are also due, I guess.

This is Cedric, my bumblebee ball python! His name was inspired by his Hufflepuff colours.

This is Severus, a banded California KingSnake. You can obviously tell where his name came from.  

This is Anakin, my Pastel Ball Python. I'm a Star Wars fan and I really didn't want to explain why I named my snake Darth Vader. So I just named him Anakin instead.

And this little girl is Cactus, my little brother's snake. But guess who takes care of her. 

That's it! Thanks for reading and stay tuned! ;)

Sammi