Cost efficient diy decor/clutter?

[montymiow]

I recently picked myself up a new carpet python and display cage, which is looking pretty dismal at the moment . Does anyone have any tips of busying the place up without paying the sky high reptile shop decor? I'm planning on getting some wood and making a perching runner right across the vivarium for him to climb on, would any wood from a diy store do (minus cedar and pine)? Also vines/leaves any cheap alternatives? The local store basically charge an arm and a leg for a small fake plant ect, which was fine for my little royals & corns but not for the bigger boy. Any tips are much appreciated

[ShaneSilva]

PVC pipes work great. You don't have to worry about sealing the wood and they are easy to clean and work with. I've seen other people using them for their carpets and I use them in my carpets enclosure as well. Just come up with a general plan on how you're going to build your "jungle gym" because even though the pipes are really cheap, all the fittings can add up. As far as fake plants etc craft stores are a whole lot cheaper than buying them from a pet store.

[xcjumper]

I buy all of my fake plants/decor at Dollar Tree. That way if they poo on them, I just toss it instead of trying to clean it. I also make hides using bowls I find there and cut an entrance to them

[Coluber42]

Some toys and things for small mammals are good for snakes too. I got a tube like this for my ball python's cage: https://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufact...+animal+tunnel
He was scared of it at first, but now it's positioned so that it runs from his upper level to his lower level, and he goes up and down that way all the time. He also likes to hang out in the opening of one end or the other in the evenings, sort of like an open-mouth hide that he can peer out of. It's about 4" in diameter, so no getting stuck.

Another suggestion for making shelves or multiple levels is to use stacking storage bins turned upside down, sort of like extremely oversized hides. Then they have a large platform on top, which you can put hides or leaves or whatever on top of or just leave as a basking platform, and then put other hides or tubes inside. Then the inside also has a bunch of little nooks and crannies to slither around in.

Paper towel rolls are too narrow for BP's, but if you rip them along the spiral line where they're attached, they get bigger and more flexible. You can also make tubes by rolling up pieces of reptile carpet, foam, cardboard or card stock, etc.

Another kinda fun thing is this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Plastics-Mold...oplastic+beads
It's a kind of plastic that becomes moldable at a fairly low temperature, so you can heat it and mold it by hand. I made a hide out of it by forming over an up-turned bowl, which was kinda fun and worked well. I used less than half the jar for one hide. You can't wash it at high temperatures obviously, but you can wash it perfectly well with soap and water.

[montymiow]

Loving the suggestions it never ever occurred to me to try a craft storee. Eek I'm looking forward to making it look nice now! I'm out tomorrow so I hopefully find a few goodies, thanks

[Reinz]

Coluber42 - thanks for the link on that moldable plastic. I just ordered some to keep around for repairs in this plastic world of ours.

[montymiow]

Thank you all for your input, thought I would add a little update picture. We still have more to build and add, but already he is like a whole different snake, can certainly see why people like them as display snakes