DIY-Cricket Cup

eat2muchrice

Avid Member
Being a new chameleon owner I have found this forum a great source for information and questions. One of my biggest hurdles with owning a young chameleon was getting him to eat, for the first week my chameleon hardly ate from me and never ventured down to the bottom of the cage to find food. I was worried he was losing weight, so I tried different methods to introduce food to him and they all failed but one. The cricket cup was a success, I found the idea on this forum and thought to give it a try. I went online to search up cricket cups, but not offended anyone and despite being completely functional, they all looked horrible; upside down plastic water bottles, milk jugs hacked up with scissors and bottles zip tied to branches. So I would like to take the time to share my build for people who want something a little more pleasing or less intrusive looking for their chameleon setup.

Quick Build

1. Painted the “outside” of a clear plastic container.
2. Cut the opening with a dremel or razor knife.
3. Attached a magnetic backing.
3. Wrapped netting around a cardboard insert.
4. Stripped wire for the opening and glued on.
5. Add crickets and watch eat.

Detailed build instructions

1. Find a clear plastic container of your choice, be creative and go through house hold junk to find something to your liking or next time you go out shopping buy a product that comes in a cool plastic container.

2. Paint the container, you only want to paint the outside of the container, leaving the inside of it completely smooth so that crickets cannot scale the walls. 3 coats normally will do it, a clear coat is optional depending on the quality you are going for.

3. Use a stencil to mark your opening, I used a round lid off from a jelly bean jar and traced the rounded edges with a sharpie marker. Yum, jelly beans…..

4. Cut out your outline. I would recommend using a dremel cutting bit for this if you want crisp cuts, a new razor blade will also work but require more effort depending on the thickness of the plastic. I personally avoid using scissors and hate them because they will leave jazzed, bend, ugly cuts and would probably crack the paintjob.

5. Attach your backing, I went with a piece of sheet metal stuck on with 3m double stick tape or hot glue will work, now I can use a strong magnet and attach the container through glass. Depending on your magnet it will easy secure to screens for a secure hold, for extra strength you can use two magnets.

6. Cut out a piece of cardboard insert, it should be long enough to reach the bottom and top of the inside of the cup. The piece should have a nice snug fit so that your chameleons tongue cannot pull it out.

7. Get some netting or screen, I found some garlic netting in the kitchen that worked perfectly. It slides on the cardboard insert like a sock, but if you cannot find something like that then you can use hot glue to stick it onto the cardboard.

8. Use rubber tubing to protect the opening, this will help prevent damage to your chameleons tongue from the sharp edges. It will also give them something to have a nice grip onto when peeking down into the feeder cup. I did not have any tubing so I used an old charger cord, took a razor to cut a straight line down the center and remove the wire. Then use slow drying glue wrap it around the edges of the cutout and trim off the extra slack to join the two ends.

9. Insert your screen covered cardboard insert, make sure that the screen/netting sits completely to the back wall to prevent crickets hiding behind it and that it reaches the bottom so that they can reach and climb up.

Tip: If you find your crickets can still escape then use clear tape alone the inside outer walls.

Hope you guys use and enjoy this build, feel free to post pictures of your cricket cups here to inspire ideas and share your creation.

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That's great, yours looks so much nicer then the ones I make out of quart size milk containers.

Same, I didn't consider any aesthetics when DIYing anything for my chams. Maybe I should start, as it's really starting to look crazy in that room.
 
I love your DIY feeding cup. Guess what I will be doing soon? Where did you get that container? I like the idea of using magnets too. Thanks for a great post.... :D
Virginia
 
That's great, yours looks so much nicer then the ones I make out of quart size milk containers.

Same, I didn't consider any aesthetics when DIYing anything for my chams. Maybe I should start, as it's really starting to look crazy in that room.

Best DIY cup EVER…..:D

Nick

I love your DIY feeding cup. Guess what I will be doing soon? Where did you get that container? I like the idea of using magnets too. Thanks for a great post.... :D
Virginia

Wow, that looks great! :)

I think I'll also have to use these ideas. Genius.

Thanks, Glad you guys like it. Please share your creations and idea's here, there is always room for improvements and I'm itching to create another.

Vgaines - Found the container in my bathroom, it was holding some of my wifes makeup brushes. I'm sure she won't notice it missing and if she does I'll blame the kids :rolleyes:. Rummage around your house and I'm sure you can find something.
 
I really like the design of your feeding "cup". In not sure if I missed it but what are the rough dimensions of the container. Well done
 
I really like the design of your feeding "cup". In not sure if I missed it but what are the rough dimensions of the container. Well done

Thanks! I never mentioned the dimensions, it is 2'x2'x16.5'. I made it for small-medium sized crickets and have found that large adults can sometimes escape. So if you are feeding larger crickets then make it a bit bigger or with taller side walls. When my chameleon grows to full size crickets I'll still use this one for Dubai roaches as I can't imagin them getting out then make a new larger feeder cup for big crickets.
 
This is the nicest feeder cup I have ever seen. I would bet people would pay you to make them! I know I would.
 
This is the nicest feeder cup I have ever seen. I would bet people would pay you to make them! I know I would.

Thanks for the kind words, making them to sell was a thought. Being in the pet business I own a few patents myself, but this being want is called "common knowledge" it would be difficult to obtain a patent. Being said I'm sure a random company will eye this and market one soon, I hope you all remember you saw it here first :D. If I do however come across enough material, I'll be happy to make a few for people. Post a comment on this page and "IF" I make some, I'll PM you all to let you know.
 
I would definitely buy one! Actually make that 2....I have made a few, but in comparison look like a child attempted it :eek:
 
I would definitely buy one! Actually make that 2....I have made a few, but in comparison look like a child attempted it :eek:

Thanks, I'll hit you up if I make some more. Here is what it looks like inside my enclosure, It really blends in well with my setup. I was thinking of airbrushing some leave for a camo effect.

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Thanks for the kind words, making them to sell was a thought. Being in the pet business I own a few patents myself, but this being want is called "common knowledge" it would be difficult to obtain a patent. Being said I'm sure a random company will eye this and market one soon, I hope you all remember you saw it here first :D. If I do however come across enough material, I'll be happy to make a few for people. Post a comment on this page and "IF" I make some, I'll PM you all to let you know.

I would very be interested!
 
Thanks eat2muchrice, my Veiled is now eating well.

I made one based on eat2muchrice's idea. I went hunting first in my house (to no avail) then many stores looking for a rectangular plastic container. One of my stops was Michaels craft store and struck out. A Savers (thrift store) was next door so I decided to check it out. I came across this vintage Tupperware cheese container# 1696. Its perfect for a feeder cup and cost $2.99. I just bought another one on ebay for 3.88+shipping. Its odd but people are selling these things. I used rubber vacuum hose sliced down one side for the lip. no glue. The hose stays on tightly. Cardboard wrapped in plastic screen double sided taped to the inside. Double sided tape to the magnet on the back. I just use another magnet to hold it on the cage. 2nd day with it and its worked out great so far. Monty is eating very well.
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I made one based on eat2muchrice's idea. I went hunting first in my house (to no avail) then many stores looking for a rectangular plastic container. One of my stops was Michaels craft store and struck out. A Savers (thrift store) was next door so I decided to check it out. I came across this vintage Tupperware cheese container# 1696. Its perfect for a feeder cup and cost $2.99. I just bought another one on ebay for 3.88+shipping. Its odd but people are selling these things. I used rubber vacuum hose sliced down one side for the lip. no glue. The hose stays on tightly. Cardboard wrapped in plastic screen double sided taped to the inside. Double sided tape to the magnet on the back. I just use another magnet to hold it on the cage. 2nd day with it and its worked out great so far. Monty is eating very well.

LOL, vintage cheese container! That is awesome, thanks for sharing and posting up pictures!
 
I would love oNe of these. It would be very beneficial for my male nosy be. I have a plastic cuP in his cage that he never eats out of.. But if I put a superworm on a branch or have it climbing up the screen wall, he'll eat it. It would also be nice knowing I wouldn't have any escapees, especially the dubias.
 
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