diy hides?

So unless my plans fall through before then, I'm getting my boy a new tank next week! I found an AMAZING deal on a used 24x18x12 exo terra ($28!!) and I'm going to pick it up next friday
The new tank is obviously quite a bit bigger than the 10gal he's currently in, and I don't have enough hides/clutter to fill up the space. I would like to make this tank look nice, probably a little more 'natural', with fake plants and the like. Thing is, I'm a little short on cash at the moment, so I was wondering if there were any good ways to make some natural looking hides?
And if all else fails I'll make do with some classic blacked out tupperware haha ;)
So yeah if anyone has made anything like this, please share pics/how you made them! Thanks! <3

I have made hides from Fallen tree limbs around the property and hemp string. So it gives the natural environment feel, just make dang sure it’s not a pesticide sprayed area. Just have to be creative Everyone has their own preferences.

Natural items from your yard will work if they haven’t had any chemicals sprayed on them. When I used branches in the past, I thoroughly scrubbed them with dish soap and a stiff bristled brush, but also baked any that fit in the oven at 250F for 30 minutes or so. I really have a thing about bugs...they wig me out...so no bugs in branches allowed. If you go the baking route, do keep an eye on it....no burning the house down. :colbert:

If you have a hot glue gun, you can glue small branches together to make a hut or use it to disguise your tupperware with dollar store fake plants. Another idea is coconut shells. I just ordered a pack of coconut shell hides from Amazon (link below) to use with my hatchlings to give them hides with a more snug fit that also had some texture to help with shedding. I know they’ll outgrow these pretty quick, but I’m getting 6 for the price of a couple of plastic hides, do I figure I’ll spend more when they have some size on them.

https://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Hide-Reptiles-Fish-Pack/dp/B01IQKN6WY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1543203629&sr=8-6&keywords=coconut+shells+halves

Another idea is to use some broken up flagstone or similar flat rock hot glued in a formation that is stable with a hollow. Again, as everyone has stated, be sure it is chemical and pest free before use, but I've seen many hides that have been done this way and they look amazing

Thank you everyone for your replies! I live in the woods so finding chemical-free sticks and rocks is pretty easy, I've done it before with a few sticks (disinfected in the oven) but I'm not sure why I didn't think of making them into hides lol. Is hot glue okay to use, then?

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Originally Posted by Ditto

Thank you everyone for your replies! I live in the woods so finding chemical-free sticks and rocks is pretty easy, I've done it before with a few sticks (disinfected in the oven) but I'm not sure why I didn't think of making them into hides lol. Is hot glue okay to use, then?

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I’ve used hot glue in the past. If you’re going to be putting the hide under or above a heat source, I’d recommend using the high temperature glue just to make sure everything stays together. I’m probably too paranoid, but better safe than sorry, particularly if using stone.

As already mentioned hot glue is fabulous stuff !!

I've made some great hides by hot glueing bark pieces together . You can make them to size and look far better than anything you can buy .. imho


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