FOAM STOPPERS!!!!!
- Thread starter drolkp
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PhilinYuma
Well-known member
No doubt about it, these are the best bungs around. They are very flexible, last for ever and you can pop them in yr autoclave once a week to sterilize the mantis spit. You can get the same thing if you buy a a vial of ffs from somewhere like PetCo, but that's a rather expensive proposition.
I cut 1"(2.5cm) square holes in my pots and fill them with plastic sponge. The cheapest way is to go dumpster diving until you find some -- it's used to pack electronic equipment or pad crib matresses and is shaped like egg crate material -- but you might want to autoclave it before you use it!
Or you can go to your local auto parts store, buy a block sponge and chop it up. Incidentally, this kind of store is a great place to meet other mantis keepers, who flock in to buy plastic pads, funnels for ffs, ooth glue, etc. Just go up to some guy in a wife beater (like 'Lectric) and say "Don't you love those orchid mantids? The pink ones are so cute!" Let us know how many new friends you make!
Yeah you could easily make your own I guess. I bought a bunch of the ones from carolina a few years ago and am still using them.No doubt about it, these are the best bungs around. They are very flexible, last for ever and you can pop them in yr autoclave once a week to sterilize the mantis spit. You can get the same thing if you buy a a vial of ffs from somewhere like PetCo, but that's a rather expensive proposition.I cut 1"(2.5cm) square holes in my pots and fill them with plastic sponge. The cheapest way is to go dumpster diving until you find some -- it's used to pack electronic equipment or pad crib matresses and is shaped like egg crate material -- but you might want to autoclave it before you use it!
Or you can go to your local auto parts store, buy a block sponge and chop it up. Incidentally, this kind of store is a great place to meet other mantis keepers, who flock in to buy plastic pads, funnels for ffs, ooth glue, etc. Just go up to some guy in a wife beater (like 'Lectric) and say "Don't you love those orchid mantids? The pink ones are so cute!" Let us know how many new friends you make!
jacksun
Well-known member
Buy a piece of foam the thickness you want, then go to your local tool store and buy a "wad punch" in the diameter you need. Use the wad punch to cut your own plugs from a sheet of foam. Wad punches are around $5-$10, are hardened steel, and designed for punching holes in soft material. You just place the foam on a piece of wood, place the wad punch on the foam, press down and then hit it with a hammer and voila, a foam plug.
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PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Cool idea!
Two comments about your finished pot, though.
What is that green thing stuck to the under surface of the lid? I assume that it is there to give extra purchase to the pot's inhabitant, but wonder if it doesn't reduce circulation.
In practice, you may find that the position of your port is rather high; mantids will probably perch on it, which defeats its purpose. Preferences vary, but I cut mine about an inch from the bottom so that it's too low for perching and clears the substrate.
Two comments about your finished pot, though.
What is that green thing stuck to the under surface of the lid? I assume that it is there to give extra purchase to the pot's inhabitant, but wonder if it doesn't reduce circulation.
In practice, you may find that the position of your port is rather high; mantids will probably perch on it, which defeats its purpose. Preferences vary, but I cut mine about an inch from the bottom so that it's too low for perching and clears the substrate.
I thought the same thing about the pad being stuck to the top. It is not needed really if using the wire screen or cloth covered lids. . I put my holes right in the middle.
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mantidian
Well-known member
how do you cut holes at the sides of the containers?
and where do you get sponge sheets?
and where do you get sponge sheets?
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I sell the plugs on my site!
I use a razor blade. The holes are not round but it doesn't matter as the foam will expand to seal it.
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Yeah, cutting is the way to go. Hibiscusmile has a pic of her about to drill a hole in one of her larger pots with a hole cutter:http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7094&st=80&start=80 , but the walls on a deli cup are a bit thin for that, and if you don't already have one, it seems like an unnecessary expense for a few holes.
Rick's single -edged razor works fine, but if you're uncomfortrable with one of those, you can use an Exacto or other hobby knife to keep your fingers further from the blade. It's not a bad idea to mark out the hole first with a felt-tip pen until you get used to it, and be sure that the hole is smaller than the plug!
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rensallar
Active member
I cut squares into the sides of my containers. The first couple I cut - ended up with little cracks in the container, because they are kinda flimsy. I figured out if I made 2 vertical cuts first, and then don't try to make 2 horizontal cuts.. but instead make a diagonal cut connecting the ends of the vertical cuts, then just use scissors to make the horizontal cuts.. I didn't get the cracks.
Maybe my blade was just not very sharp and that's why I ended up with cracks though.
I tried to draw it out using characters, but it was reformatted by the forum.. so just use your imagination
Maybe my blade was just not very sharp and that's why I ended up with cracks though.
I tried to draw it out using characters, but it was reformatted by the forum.. so just use your imagination
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Laemia
Well-known member
I use small scissors to cut the holes in 32 ounce containers for the foam stoppers. I mean like cutucle scissors. If you don't want to use aany kind of blade they work also.
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
lectricblueyes
Well-known member
To avoid cracks, I use an exacto knife and place a piece of foam behind the wall of the cup where I am cutting. This stablizes and strengthens the plastic and it also allows me to "flatten" the plastic while I am cutting. I make squares too, it's difficult to cut circles. I don't get cracks anymore ever since I started placing something behind the plastic.
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lectricblueyes
Well-known member
Oh, and another thing. I cup strips of fiberglass screen and hot-glue them to the inside wall of my cups. Ever see how those noobs have to climb the "rope-wall" in basic training? It's like that. It allows feeders (crickets) and mantids to climb up to the lid. I've found some of my flower-type mantids are picky and won't go down to the bottom in order to get a cricket. Better to allow the cricket to deliver himself to the lid. lol
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I've been planning to do that for a while now myself.... just haven't gotten around to it yet! lol
PhilinYuma
Well-known member
Oh, foam! That's a good idea Dave! I've always stabilized the plastic by putting my finger inside the cup, but that means that I always have to keep a paper towel handy to wipe blood off the blade. I'll try that!
