Great Water/Food Dishes!

[LeapinLizards]

I, like a lot of people here, was always on the search for functional, INEXPENSIVE water/food dishes. IMO, $3.99 is WAY too much for a tiny little ceramic dish, especially when I plan on breeding this year, and would need almost 50 of them. Someone mentioned checking Home Depot, so that day I went in and looked through the whole store, finally coming to the PVC and plumbing area.

I found what is called a 2" PVC Plug for $1.50ea. It stands about 1.5" tall. I bought a box of 10, brought them home, and with our chop saw (and help from the hubby) cut off a 1/2" from the top, making it stand 1" tall. The bottom is filled up with 1/4" plastic, making the interior depth 3/4". It has a slick finish on it, making it VERY easy to clean, and hard for the mealworms to get out of. I feed giant mealies, and only have a few escapees in my whole rack come cleaning time. They are also white, making it easy for the leos to see the worms.

After I ripped them all on the saw, I took a dremel bit to the inside and outside edge, as they were a bit sharp.

Finished product works great, and really cheap! All 12 of my leos are eating from them, even the few that have never had dishes before. I'm glad I finally found something that isn't way too expensive, and isn't so short the mealworms climb right out.

Just thought I'd share for any do-it-yourself-ers out there!

 

[LizMarie]

i was just looking at little ceramic bowls online but the prices were ridiculous.

What a great find Heather I wish I had a saw a dremel bit because I would soo use those for Lana but I don't

 

[LeapinLizards]

I can understand that Liz! I went over to my father's house and borrowed his saw The dremel isn't super necessary, just made it a little quicker to smooth the edges. Sand paper would work, but just take a bit longer.

 

[Libby15]

Those look very nice! Great idea! :main_thumbsup:

 

[Haligren]

These would make excellent Secret Santa gifts! I'm pretty happy with my more natural-looking meal worm bowl, but I agree. These would be a dream to have at my work place.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Well I can make them in bulk lol I just made 55 of these dang things last night for my group!

 

[OhioGecko]

Ingenious! Those look to be perfect, a wide base to keep them from tipping over and deep enough to keep the bugs in.

I know what I'm getting the next time I go to Lowes.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Hopefully they have them there Thad! I know NOT ALL Home Depots carry the flat based plugs.

I have yet to see one of them even close to topple over, even with my fatty pants 8 year old gecko leaning on one side

 

[hoppslover]

Heather that is a great idea. One would think that since I work construction I would be able to think of something like that. I had been getting mine at walmart. Just ceramic bowls paying like 1.99 for them I think. But I will be changing now.

 

[happy gecko]

Sorry for my daft moment, but what is a chop saw? Is it the rotating circular saw or a hack saw

 

[LeapinLizards]

Technically, it is a RIDGID Sliding Compound Miter Saw...

 

[LeapinLizards]

Heather that is a great idea. One would think that since I work construction I would be able to think of something like that. I had been getting mine at walmart. Just ceramic bowls paying like 1.99 for them I think. But I will be changing now.

Lol Tim no worries. I never would have thought of it, but I've been blessed with a husband like MacGyver...he can rig something out of ANYTHING :main_rolleyes:

 

[happy gecko]

Thank you for the pic. Isn't it kinda hard to secure that tiny piece of PVC to the saw base and get such an acurate cut?

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Well I can make them in bulk lol I just made 55 of these dang things last night for my group!

Sounds like you might have a new buisness on your hands :main_yes:

 

[LeapinLizards]

Thank you for the pic. Isn't it kinda hard to secure that tiny piece of PVC to the saw base and get such an acurate cut?

Nope, we rigged up a piece of wood that was viced onto the saw, that held the PVC securely, so our hands would not be anywhere near the blade. I about had a heart attack when I saw my husband cut it without it the first time!!!

 

[happy gecko]

I agree with THE WHISPERER, I think you have a new product (besides your baby geckos). I think I'll just stick to a hack saw I have, as I only need to make 2 and have a pre fab guide for a strait cut. Awesome idea BTW, and good thing you rigged up the wood piece.

 

[Shadraak]

thanks for directing me to this thread, another thing u can use that 1" piece you cut off as a holder for those 2oz little sauce dishes can't you? to keep them from flipping over? i've seen them used for the big deli cups to hold water so they dont flip over... might be a good use for the leftovers, instead of having to use 1 for each ?

 

[Shadraak]

ugh can't edit sorry just thought, how much did he box cost you or do you hav a price each? and i think it's cool cause you can cut them even smaller for hatchlings etc it's an excellent idea i was thinking of doing pvc pipe and cutting in half and using that in the ridges of the steralite totes to make it easiwer for the leo's to get in but this might be better .

 

[LeapinLizards]

Gosh, I really don't remember what I paid for them each...I think it's like $1.80-ish? Somewhere in that ball park, but I have seen that fluctuate. You'd be better off checking your local Home Depot

 

[Alliemac]

Great idea! I lucked in at our dollar store a few months ago and scored the perfect size dishes in green and blue for 3/$1.