cat-proof lid?

[pizzie]

I have a sliding screen covered in plastic wrap (there is room for air to get in) and finally George the crab has explained to Poppie-the-curious-kitty how it works! it is now tied on with the belt from my bathrobe!

any Ideas about some sort of lid/hood that is relatively cat & crab proof that won't put me broke?

Thanks from all of us!

[Chermo]

You can get a 1" thick or even a 1/2" thick foam insulation board, it is blue with silver on the other side, you will find it by the insulation in your hardware store. Mine was $10 for a 4' x 8' sheet that I had cut into 2' sections so it would fit in the car, then I cut it to side and cut a hole in the top for the light to fit (the hole is the size of a CD and the lamp is a little bit bigger). I then duct taped the sides and the hole so it wouldn't have any pieces falling in. I put it on top which is super tight and hard for me to get off because once I added the tape it became a tad tight. I also added an old cheap curtain rod. Now here is the secret for getting the foam insulation board for the same size for around $3 to $4, ask or find a damaged piece and tell them since it is damaged you want a discount. Mine was only $3 and I was able to make 4 lids for a 20L tank. Perfect for keeping heat and humidity (I even have condensation on one side of the tank). I am actually thinking about putting some on the sides and back to keep it warmer and stop the condensation from forming since the tank is hotter than the air in my house. My tank is a 20L and my house is at 68 degrees but my tank with one light 60 watts is at 85 degrees and 80% humidity. Works like a charm and cheap and you get 4 lids for less than the price of anything you would find in the petstore. You can check out the gallery to see how I did mine, keep in mind that the gallery picture has 2 CD sized holes in it for 2 lamps but I was losing too much humidity so I went to 1 hole instead and switch the lamps for day and night.

[pizzie]

thanks! I'll give it a try! your new "tat" looks great! and the crabs seem to dig it too!
I like the old tank with purple ,looks great for fish, but I am more of a naturalist for my crabs!
I am off to the depot!

[Chermo]

Let me know how it goes. Just make sure you cut it to fit the inside of the top where those lips are on the tank. It will fit snug. Cut it to size with a square and a box cutter. If you don't have a square then just mark out a few spots on the board and use a ruler to make sure it is all straight. I like the square because it lets you cut with it on the board still. Then to cut the hole, get a CD and trace it, cut it out with your longest knife in the kitchen. Just a warning, it makes a noise like running your fingers down a chalk board when cutting it with a knife.

[ladybug15057]

With 3 cats, I have screen lids under the plexiglas tops, so far 8+ years no problems.

[emmac350]

Chermo - you said your 'tat was 85 degrees? Isn't that a bit warm? What kind of crabs do you have?

[Chermo]

It is between 80 and 85 degrees. I said 85 because that is the highest. I don't think that is that warm though. I have PP's. They don't seem to mind at all. I always keep around that and in the wild they are in hotter temps. I have a cooler side and a warmer side and they all seem to be on the warmer side all the time.

[pizzie]

what ended up being the easiest (so far) is my sliding mesh lid that is mostly covered in foos film plus a screen lid on top of that.....seemed even easier than the insulation.
Poppie hasn't yet figured out how to do both....especially while sitting on top of the lift-off one!

[CrabbyJo]

Chermo, I'm seriously considering your idea for a lid for my tank. Are the lamps solid on there? The lamp I currently have is a clamp lamp, but there's nothing to clamp it to, and it makes my husband and I nervous to think of the cats at home able to knock it down and maybe start a fire.

Your lid idea sounds great for me, especially with our house at about 69 degrees at night. Seems the 'tat isn't a lot warmer, even with the 75 watt bulb in there. It's about 72 on the cool side and 74 on the warm side during the day, I'd feel better if it were just a little warmer.

[Chermo]

My cat won't jump up on the tank and if she does she will fall through it as I don't have a very thick one and I have a 15 lb cat. My lights are not being held on by anything they are just sitting on the curtain rod that I use to keep the lights off the lid. I am actually getting a plexi glass lid because I really liked the way it looked on my 10g when I used that as a tank. I really like being able to see through the top too. I will then clamp the lights to the top and let them shine through the lid. It was a better set up with my 10g. The foam insulation board is great don't get me wrong I just like to see through my lid when they are on the top level and I won't have to remove the lid to see them.