How Do I????

[Jewly]

Hi all,

I'm setting up a big plastic tub to house my woodies and I need to know how to cut a large hole in the lid of the container so I can solder some flyscreen onto it.

Would a sharp stanley knife work?

Cheers,

Julie

 

[falconboy]

I've CAREFULLY used a stanley knife. However, put a new blade in, otherwise you will have no end of trouble and loose a finger (you may anyway if you aren't careful)

I also use 'hard as nails' to stick the flyscreen over the hole rather than melt it on.

 

[cjpossum]

Hi this is a copy of a reply to a woodies thread from earlier this week. You have to be careful putting a lid on woodies at they can overheat quickly and die.
I will add a pick soon
PS:- FLUON can be purchased at herp shop for $30 for 250ml so I have been told
Cheers


To stop the woodies from getting out you need to paint the top inside of the tank with FLUON. Paint a strip about 50mm wide. The woodies cant walk across it. It is not poisionous so you wont hurt the woodies or the reptile.
It is expensive but lasts a long time. I have a bottle here that I have had for 2 years and paint the top of my woodies boxes about once a year or so. If you dont scratch it off it could last longer. The bottle I have would last me about 5 or more years before I have to get another one. The big woodies breeders use this stuff
You can get it at www.entosupplies.com.au it will cost about $100.00 for 100ml.

To breed woodies all you need to do is give them heaps of places to hide like egg cartons and food like apple, carrot, zukini, cabage etc. Dont give soft fruit as it will go off quickly.
you also need to put in water. The best way is a small bottle lid with some cotton wool in it (so the small woodies dont drown in the water) and fill it with water. You may have change the water every 1 - 2 days.
Then wait they will do the rest. The baby woodies will take about 50 days (I think) from hatching to adult.
Good luck.
PS some pepole use vaseline to stop woodies from getting out but I think it is messy and you may have to touch it up more often. The FLUON dries like paint.

 

[Jonno from ERD]

G'day,

Go down to Bunnings and grab yourself a little electric multi-tool...it comes with a variety of different attachments for cutting/grinding/polishing etc. They start at around $50 and they work perfectly for this sort of thing.

 

[falconboy]

A lid is fine as long as its a decent size mesh section. I found the biggest problem to be smell due to high humidity (damp veges etc). The last lot I used I never actually gave water, just rat and mice (or rabbit/guinea pig) pellets.

The multi tool is a good idea, however don't buy the 'Force' brand (not sure what bunnings sell, I got mine from Mitre10), as the mechanism to keep the cutters and heads in was dreadful and they had a habit of slipping out at 2500 RPM, scary stuff. On the other hand, the proper Dremels aren't cheap!

 

[cjpossum]

This is a woodies colony and you can see the FLUON painted on the side
The woodies cannot escape past the FLUON barrier.

 

[mb_64]

Hi

Use the soldering iron to cut out the hole!

Just leave an edge of about 2.5cm (1 inch) on the inside of the lid.

Then use metal flyscreen (not fibreglass) and melt it into the plastic using the soldering iron.

Michael

 

[Jewly]

Go down to Bunnings and grab yourself a little electric multi-tool...it comes with a variety of different attachments for cutting/grinding/polishing etc. They start at around $50 and they work perfectly for this sort of thing.

That sounds great Jonno, but I've spent a fortune this week (I'm on holidays) and I'm trying to get out of it as cheaply as I can. Will keep it in mind though cause it sounds like a great little tool to have around the house.

I've CAREFULLY used a stanley knife. However, put a new blade in, otherwise you will have no end of trouble and loose a finger (you may anyway if you aren't careful).

I did think to get some new blades so I might give that a go and if I find it too hard, I might try using the soldering iron.

This is a woodies colony and you can see the FLUON painted on the side
The woodies cannot escape past the FLUON barrier.

There is no way I'm bringing 2000 cockroaches into this house and not having a lid on them..lol I also have cats so I don't want them trying to get into them.