Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a sculpter/prop maker for a living, so I have alot of experience with making molds and casting resins.

I would love to be able to make some neat custom hides and decor for my snakes. I know I can't use any old resin to cast these things up in, as many can be toxic. leach oils, etc. I'm not entirely sure what many of the bowls/hides/trees on the market are made out of. Some seem to be a type of cold cast porceline, but I can't be entirely sure.

Does anyone here have any experience with this? Perhaps someone can steer my in the right direction?

Thank you in advance.
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- JENN ROSE -
0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"
1.0.0 ball python~ "Pickle Bunny"

For those of you who have painted things in your enclosures, what types of paints do you reccomend? What is water proof, safe, and holds up under heat?
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- JENN ROSE -
0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"
1.0.0 ball python~ "Pickle Bunny"

I used Krylon fusion on some hide/trap boxes I made for some hots. I used a shoebox sized steralite tub for them and painted them black since they were clear. Worked great and looks really nice.
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Jason

I think the polyester casting resins are low VOC and are considered safe.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

I have some polyester resined fiberglass boxes that I've used for many years for humidity boxes and other various uses with no apparent ill-affects to the animals. I ordered them from C&H manufacturing. Although they did have a strong resin odor when they first arrived, it dissipated after about a week of sitting out.