plastic storage tub

[snakehill]

What would be a decent price for the soldering iron that you would need? They were around $5 for a 40 watt on Ebay. Would that be a good deal?

[GarterGuy17]

Well to solder through plastic i'm sure you can use any soldering iron , I have a couple my self that I use ( not for plastic ) but all get very hot so , any will due.

[Stefan-A]

Okay...I don't own a soldering iron, nor do I know how to use one.

They're plug and play. Plug it in, let it heat up and start poking holes. I don't recommend doing it indoors, or at the very least it should be done in a well-ventilated area.

[chris-uk]

I've drilled and used a soldering iron. Out of around 50 holes I drilled I only cracked one. I used a 2mm drill bit which I think is too small for even a baby to get stuck in - happy to be corrected if anyone has had problems with holes that small. My preference is to drill many more small holes rather than make one larger hole.
If you use a soldering iron I found that I ended up with lots of fine strings of molten plastic, so if you do that make sure you clear them all up.

[EasternGirl]

The plastic turtle tub that I posted a pic of...could I just use that? I used it for Seeley when he was little. I do not see any places in it that a snake could escape or get stuck. It already has a wire mesh top built in.

And what about a place for her to give birth? Should I have a birth box in her enclosure?

[chris-uk]

You know the problems to look out for with a container Marnie, have a good look at it, then look at it again. From the photo I can't see any problems, and if you think it's safe to use I think you will be OK with it.

Not sure about the birthing box, I read the same as you so I think it's a good idea, but not sure when you need to put it in.

[Stefan-A]

I've drilled and used a soldering iron. Out of around 50 holes I drilled I only cracked one.

A couple of months ago, I used a soldering iron to melt holes in 21 plastic boxes, 20 holes per box. Had I cracked 1/50 holes, that would have meant the loss of over a third of the boxes.

[snakehill]

Holes on the cover or around the sides or both?

[chris-uk]

A couple of months ago, I used a soldering iron to melt holes in 21 plastic boxes, 20 holes per box. Had I cracked 1/50 holes, that would have meant the loss of over a third of the boxes.

Not sure that I'd have to throw away a box because one of the holes cracked. It's not like the plastic doesn't hold together perfectly fine. If you're using more brittle plastic it may be different.

[EasternGirl]

Well what is vermiculite? And would you use wet straw or something else for the birth box? I don't know what I think about the birth box. But I do think I'm going to go with the turtle tub for the babies because I think it's my safest and most secure bet. Now...do most of you start your babies feeding on nightcrawler pieces? I think my fridge is too cold for my worms or something...the worms seem to be getting hard...I'm wondering if there is a way to preserve the worms better. Can't turn the fridge down. Someone mentioned coffee grinds for worms. I just have them in a little container with soil in there. I don't know if it is the fridge temp or the way I am keeping them but they seem to be drying out.