Make your own?

[Crasher_Insane]

I was at the pet store today and I was looking at those deep dishes for mealworms and such but the price is outrageous! $9 for a hunk of molded plastic?

I was thinking I could perhaps make my own. I've got Super Sculpey ( http://www.sculpey.com/Products/products_poly_supersculp.htm ) which is a clay you can bake in your oven at home.

I was wondering if perhaps I could safely make my own mealworm dish out of it. Once baked it's quite hard, so I doubt the worms could actually eat it. Should I coat it in something afterwards? I've got acrylic paint, but is there something non-toxic I could seal it with?

 

[runko]

use a tide cap wash into well thou...

 

[Crasher_Insane]

Okay, I looked up some stuff and found out this:
"Even though polymer clay has the non-toxic label, it is still not safe for food. The reason for this is because after the polymer clay is cured, it is still porous, making it very difficult to sanitize. Bacteria and mold spores found in food products cab settle and proliferate in the pores. Not only will this spread disease, but it will damage your clay work."
(source: http://www.makeplaydough.com/clay/index.php?page=8 )

So I'm thinking that it still might be possible but I need a good sealant that will keep anything from touching the actual clay.

 

[RepBex]

i just use a plastic lid that i have to tape to the tank floor so they dont tip it but no worms can get out

 

[acpart]

Check the forums because someone posted a lot of info about food dishes you can get very cheaply from places like Walmart. I make my own food dishes out of glazed ceramics for my adults and use a lot of caps and covers for the babies.

Aliza

 

[astronut1885]

small glass ashtrays are a good and simple solution for mealies. They can't climb the glass, and the geckos can see 'em through it.

 

[SLB1989]

I just used a ceramic hamster food bowl and it was the right size and much cheaper than the proper reptile bowls.

 

[Roaming Reptiles]

I went to target and I saw these little dishes that come in red or black. They cost .99 cents and they work great.I will try to put a pic on here later when I get home from work

 

[cuomop]

i am using a pickle jar lid and the mealworms climb right out, it sucks

 

[Crasher_Insane]

I actually found something the other night, it's a ceramic dish i used to use for a gerbil. It works perfectly, and I've got superworms in it now so if they can't get out I doubt mealies will. Thanks, though, for the suggestions and all. ^_^