Preparing for a hamster

[RainbowBrite]

Albert has that one too. I got that one because the hamster size one seemed too small. When I use it I fill the base with bedding and add a hide. I also scatter a bit of food.

That is good to hear. Im glad I picked that one.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I have painted the multi chamber dig box. I decided on green plastikote which was a mistake because it was so watery, I needed four coats. I used up two pots so it was lucky I bought two. The painting took me two days. Tomorrow I will put it away until it is needed.

 

[Maz]

It looks great! I’ve used that garden green before too. I like it but it does seem thinner. I also thought it was slightly glossier but that might have been my imagination.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It looks great! I’ve used that garden green before too. I like it but it does seem thinner.

I am glad it was not just me then.

 

[Maz]

Newts Barney shelf was that colour. It was very easy to wipe clean though.

 

[RainbowBrite]

Newts Barney shelf was that colour. It was very easy to wipe clean though.

Aw, that must have looked lovely.

 

[elusive]

It does look really nice so definitely worth the effort, I haven’t used the green I don’t think but I do find the colours vary in consistency a bit.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It does look really nice so definitely worth the effort, I haven’t used the green I don’t think but I do find the colours vary in consistency a bit.

Thank you Elusive. I noticed that too because the yellow was much thicker and only needed two coats.

 

[Frida]

I love the colour. It looks great

 

[RainbowBrite]

I love the colour. It looks great

Thank you Frida.

 

[Member ID2]

I use this green quite a lot and find it easier to apply than the other colours.

I'm looking forward to see the dig box in an enclosure.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I bought a coconut hide. Great to have hides which do not need to be supported on a platform. I put it in the oven for 45 minutes on a low heat to ensure any bugs were killed.

 

[Maz]

I put mine in the freezer for a week . What temperature do you set the oven at please?

 

[elusive]

You can’t go far wrong with a nice coconut hide!
They’re one thing I’ve never bothered about freezing, I might be wrong but I don’t think bugs. live in coconuts.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I put mine in the freezer for a week . What temperature do you set the oven at please?

I do Gas Mark 1.

 

[Maz]

Thank you so that is about 120 degrees C in a fan oven but 110 probably better (I find the fan oven can run a bit hotter than expected - unless that’s just mine). I think of 110 as a low temperature though. And actually use 100 for slow cooking.

 

[Member ID2]

I bake at 100C for about an hour.

 

[Maz]

Thank you. So at that temperature, things don’t come out smelling funny then? My cork log smelled terrible when I tried baking one once and the smell didn’t go away! Maybe I had the temperature too high. To be honest I would think 20 mins to half an hour at 100 would kill most things wouldn’t it? I still put everything in the freezer - which is fine for moth eggs and hay mites but not necessarily foolproof for rough bark wood, branches and cork. Never had a problem after freezing the cork logs though.

 

[Maz]

Just been trying to find some research on temperatures. There is some here for bed bugs and their eggs so I think that would apply to most bugs and eggs. 30 minutes at 60 degrees in a washing machine killed all bugs and eggs. Whereas it took 90 minutes in an oven at about 117 degree Fahrenheit (ie about 60 defrees centigrade).

So 45 minutes at 100 degrees c sounds about right And may only need 30 mins but a bit longer is probably better.

Guidelines for killing bed bugs in laundry

The nice thing about an emergency pest problem, like the current bed bug epidemic, is that such problems attract a lot of attention from the...

insectsinthecity.blogspot.com

 

[RainbowBrite]

Thank you. So at that temperature, things don’t come out smelling funny then? My cork log smelled terrible when I tried baking one once and the smell didn’t go away! Maybe I had the temperature too high. To be honest I would think 20 mins to half an hour at 100 would kill most things wouldn’t it? I still put everything in the freezer - which is fine for moth eggs and hay mites but not necessarily foolproof for rough bark wood, branches and cork. Never had a problem after freezing the cork logs though.

Cork logs smell awful when baked and the smell does linger a bit. It smells like the oils in the cork. Once they go cold the smell goes.

My freezer is tiny so I only freeze sprays, forage and food.