Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Was Wondering if anyone knew where I could get step by step instructions for making faux rocks? Thanks in advance.

Logan

Google "fake rock background"

or search this very forum.

Nate

What the other poster said. Thought I'd add the following..

I picked up a product called Handi-Foam Sealant (I got mine from the classifieds under Supplies, Bedding, etc, look for the frog guy). It is non-toxic (when cured), sticks to cages and can be cut/shaped when dry. I selected Handi Foam because it is safe for fish tanks and waterproof with no other sealing.

You spray it on, it swells up, then you cut or file or rasp to size/shape. It is black in color, so you may want to paint it. I tried a paint from a craft store that is for outdoor pottery, ceramics and metal applications, and it worked extremely well on a glob of the Handi Foam that I was testing. Most folks probably mix sand in the paint or else coat the foam with tile grout mixed to a consistency of peanut butter.

You get the idea. Foam, then shape it, then coat it with sand or grout if desired, then paint or seal.

Also, search the web for Zoopoxy. It is an epoxy putty that, if you can sculpt well, will provide the capability to make wonderful rocks and backgrounds that are more like real rock, only less weighty of course. If you have the artistic ability to make a decent rock structure from some plain old modeling clay, then it might be worth the $$ to get the zoopoxy stuff.
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Mark

I'd have to agree with Mark... check out ANY enclosure in the reptile section of your local zoo, guarenteed they used a product similar to the Zoopoxy. If money's not an option, go with it... you won't be disappointed, that is unless you aren't an artsy person... find a friend who is if you aren't...

Mark, they mentioned the stuff being very easy to change the color of the mix by using pigments, what do think they're using? I've done work with concrete and clay, concrete I usually just use watered down latex/acrylic paint during the curing process, then seal it really good... but this stuff is platic... you'd have to mix in a pigment powder like you would for nuetral colored clays? Yah think an acrylic based powder would work?

That is a very good question, and of course I do not know.

The one person I saw who used this product did so without pigment, then used outdoor acrylic paint on the cured background.

BTW, he also did the floor of the cage with it as an afterthought. Awesome. He had a rosyboa in the cage, and it looks so good. Now I'm psyching myself out again. I've got to do this myself. The foam is OK, but the epoxy is the ultimate. Thanks for the reply and getting me going..
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Mark

Looks like you can use any concrete powder, or arcyclic powder (you can get it from paint supply places) I'm thinking about ordering some of their clay and making some free standing "trees" for my BRB enclosure! Maybe use their regular Zoopoxy paste to redecorate the insides of the vision cage... hmmm... possibilites are flowing into my head as I type... thanks for the heads up on this product Mark