Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a student right now, so I don't have the time, space, or money for any more herps. BUT I am going to be graduating soon (nothing big, I'm still in high school, lol), and if I don't move away for school (I haven't decided if I'm doing university now or in a few - 5-10 - years) then I'll be working full time and looking into getting a few more chams.
SO, what I need is info from all of you cham-nuts on how you save money on things like feeders, electricity and etc. I will be breeding my own feeders by then hopefully (by the way i have a wax worm ? I'll ask in another post)... and I'm going to probably go with the energy saving light bulbs, but there has go to be a lot more that you learn from experience. Share with me please!!
~Lindsay
PS, just out of curiosity, what kinds of things do you guys do for a living? I'm in the "critical years" of figuring out what I want to do and it's important for me to have the money but also the TIME to have with my pets. That, and since you all love animals I thought maybe one or two of you would have a job to do with animals but not a vet. Thanks! I know i'm nosey...

It is a good idea to ask for money saving tips. When you have lots of mouths to feed every bit helps.

Building your own cages helps.
Using regular clear bulbs for heating instead of expensive herp bulbs (you still need UVB bulbs don't skimp on those)
Buy in bulk check out feed stores.
Reptile Depot sells lights and certain items in bulk buy once for the year.
I buy fixtures at Home stores like home depot sells shoplights for $8.00 each that hold two four foot bulbs. I put one over two cages.
Use IV bags for drippers.
Buy clip lamps at stores like Big Lots.
I posted some other ideas below for you in your last question.

Crickets are really easy to breed. You can buy cheap plastic containers for them from big lots. You can make your own gel/water mixture at home if you like (I will post the link to it when I find it again) or you can use plain old potatoes wedges or carrot slices for water.

John Lucas has plans for cham cages on his page (as well as lots of great info) http://groups.msn.com/ChameleonParadise

For a living I am Network Engineer. Nothing to do with animals but i love them anyway.
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Raf

1.2 Jacksons Adults (Frank, Patty, Lucille)
0.0.1 Jackson's baby (George, the only survivor)
0.1 Adult Sulcatta (POOPIE,I bought it from Victor at Kobey's in SD)
0.0.2 Baby Sulcattas (frick and frack)
1.0 Home's Hingeback Tortoise (SPEEDY, From Victor as well)
1.2 Red ear slider babies (Hingis, Dingis and Dorkus)
1.0 Red Siberian Husky (Harley)
0.1 Black Lab (Krissy)
0.1 English Bulldog (Alice)
0.1 Blue Merle Great Dane (Wednesday)
Saltwater Fish and Inverts too

Even more basic than saving a few $$ here and there on supplies would be for you to make some decisions about what activities/hobbies/recreation you want to do in your life. What I mean is to put the following things in a priority list:

1. Things you would spend every last dollar on (other than staying warm, housed, and fed)

2. Things you MIGHT spend extra cash on

3. Things you would only spend money on if there was nothing else on the list.

Decide where herps fit on the list. If you are only in the "keeping warm, fed and housed" category I would keep very few animals if any. Partially because you may move at any time and your animals would have to handle changes. Does this give you ideas?

Yup, thanks!
Right now I'm with my dad. He loves my animals as much as I do, so he helps out with them sometimes. i'm not going to get into anything major until i'm settled with my money (list of priorities etc). then I want to start breeding large birds.
Until them, Orion is lots for me! I'm also attempting to breed her, and any money I get from the offspring are going to go towards looking after my animals and and covering the costs of breeding. (I want a male cham, then I'm cut off of new animals until I move out and am ready).