ENCLOSURE ADVICE NEEDED FAST!

[joprukop22]

Hello All. I have been building a big enclosure for my dragons and I am a paranoid owner . I Stained it on the outside. I tried not to put too much stain where the dragons will come into contact with it. I am also planning to line the walls and the floor with sticky tiles. I have read some of the threads about the glue giving off toxic fumes when heated. However, I will be putting sand completely over the tiles on the floor. These tiles will simply be acting as a water barrier. The ones on the back walls will be exposed. ANY SUGGESTIONS? The sides of my cages are screen to allow ventilation. The doors on the front are going to be Plexiglas. I am planning on installing two light bulbs from the top of the cages. UVB on one side and the heat on the other. The cages are the same length and width of a 75 gal. terrarium. My dragons are going to have lots of room! Its basically a stand for my 75 glass tank with two cages built in underneath it. I appreciate any advice anyone may have.

 

[BadCon]

Is that pine? Pine oil is toxic to reptiles, so make sure to seal any areas of the wood the animals will come into contact with. As for the sticky tiles, I don't recommend putting them on the vertical walls of the enclosure, as they will not stick for long, I know from experience. Stick to stain and sealer for the side walls, or paint it with textured paint to simulate a rock effect. Always remember to seal it properly and completely.

 

[joprukop22]

Yes it is pine. Wish I knew before I built it. So I should seal the entire thing? Do you have any recommendations on the type of sealant? And I really like the idea of painting the back walls. I think that will look nicer than sticky tiles. Any thing I need to know about the safety of paints? Thank you for your reply.

 

[BadCon]

Make sure to let it air out for a week, or longer, before putting the dragon into it. Don't worry about pine, as long as it is sealed it should be fine....very commonly used wood. For sealing, most recommend an acrylic, or polycrylic for stain. Whatever it is, make sure it is water based. Shellac is very safe and non-toxic, but it can flake in the presence of water (moisture resistant varieties available).

I personally used an acrylic spray for covering my texture paint backroung on my males cage. I let it air out and bake in the sun for about a week. Even if the fumes are gone, give it a couple more days to air out.

 

[joprukop22]

I used a stain that has a polycrylic coating in it and I used a polycrylic to go over that. It is waterbased! I also got a textured paint to put inside the cages. I guess I should put another polycrylic coat over that too. I will make sure to let them air-out well before I put the dragons in there. Better safe than sorry

 

[beardie parents]

Just to let you know, plexiglas scratches very easily. If you dragons are prone to glass dance and scratch to get out, the plexiglass will get scratched very quickly. I know a lady locally that has a tank made out of plexiglass and she is thinking of getting another as her tank is scratched.

Lori

 

[joprukop22]

Well I can see how this can be true. But I never really have noticed excessive clawing done by my lizards. They are pretty content in their cages. If it does scratch up I can always replace it. :roll: