matt_a Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I am trying to find an alternative to beanie baby boxes; ideally something a bit larger and a bit cheaper. The only idea I have been able to come up with some far is to get some 6 inch acrylic cubes made up, but the costing on those (after freight and all) is still a tad higher than I would like. Has anyone got any smart and/or creative ideas for alternatives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve6610 Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 i use these, have a heap from when i bred snakes, i have drilled holes in the bottom of some and float the fighters in larger heated tanks, saves on heating, and easy to water change, just pick up, and waste goes out the holes, but you could also use them without the holes, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_a Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Ive just tried looking around all the online stores trying to find something similar. Pending dimensions and price, that could well do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve6610 Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 not sure how many i have, i'm also going to use them for fry savers, i have some 4 x the size also, we bought ours from a pet shop in townsville a few years ago, they are also sometimes in cheap shops, but not exactly the same as this one, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_a Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 What brand are yours? I would need to find out who the importer is. No store would be able to supply enough to fill my order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve6610 Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 i have no idea, lol, i will have a look tomorrow and see if i can find anything on them, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savage_roo Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Some people use 1ltr or 2 ltr coke bottles. I got glass cut and made my tanks. eg: 10cm long 10cm wide 15cm high or 20cm long with a divides for pairs. Thats if you can cut glass or know someone who can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_a Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I think glass would turn out to expensive. $2.90 per unit is currently the price to beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southfish Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Maybe i could share a little secret with you, at anyone time i could have over 50 adult male betta ready for sale or breeding, so this is what i have done to combat housing issues. What you need: 1 sheet of foam 50 large plastic cups (bigger the better) tank water betta First i drill alot of holes in the bottom of the cups. I usually stack the cups so im drilling 4-5 cups at one time. then i i cut the top of one cups (or the desired floating height) then even space and use the cut cup to stencil out on the foam were i want the cups to sit, then i get my friends to sit there and cut all the circles out, clean the foam then float the foam in the tank then add the drilled cups. Easy, quick and cheap! i hope i explained this good enough! could post pictures if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pk333 Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Hey Matt, Sams Warehouse at Cannon Hill has 1.8 litre glass jars for 5 each. From memory they are close to 12cm cubed. They are Jelly Bean jars. I have some photos I will find when I get home from work tonight. At the moment I am using rectangle 2 litre plastic take away containers heated in a large tub bae marie style. Much cheaper at $2 for 5 containers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_a Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 The floating cup idea would be fine on a small scale, but for what I am looking to do it would simply be impracticle. I have been quoted $3.20 each FOB Guangzhou for 15cm cubes, which after freight, customs etc is going to be closer to $6 each. Thats pretty much double the price of beanie containers. Is it worth an extra $3000 to have a 15x15cm base as opposed to a 10x10cm base? Thats the real question. I am still hoping to stumble across a more suitable sized container already on the ground in Australia for a cost in the ballpark of the beanie containers. I don't have an issue spending the money to do things right, but I don't want to be throwing money away for no good reason either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenswimmers Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Have you thought of contacting plastic companies....the kind that produce various containers...these guys could probbaly do a run for you if you were looking at a large qty..plus you would then have a product specific so you could get more made in future(possibly at a cheaper rate)if neccessary...if there prices are decent but not quite good enough..cut out another middle man...see if you can organise the plastic seperately and then supply your own pre-bought plastic for the job...speak to the right people that deal with each part of the process and you can make it happen..but yes China makes it very hard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah1234 Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 I used to go to Campbells cash and carry and buy plastic takeaway containers. maybe they would have something suitable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floppingflamingos Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Office works sell boxes very similar to that of a beanie box. I got over 100 2 liter jars from plasdene for about $2each. Plastic ones so I could put them into a system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_a Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Have you thought of contacting plastic companies....the kind that produce various containers...these guys could probbaly do a run for you if you were looking at a large qty..plus you would then have a product specific so you could get more made in future(possibly at a cheaper rate)if neccessary...if there prices are decent but not quite good enough..cut out another middle man...see if you can organise the plastic seperately and then supply your own pre-bought plastic for the job...speak to the right people that deal with each part of the process and you can make it happen..but yes China makes it very hard I have been talking to a few factories in china. I did try one or two in Australia but even after freight, the chinese factories can do it for literally a tenth of the price of what one Australian company quoted. I think I might get some samples done up from one mob in china and make sure that the product will be what I want and have a bit of a play around to see if there will be any other hurdles I will need to get over before I go putting in an order for 2000 cubes. Cheers for the comments everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
