Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, i think ive come up with one of the best methods to make a "rock wall" for my leos. Im thinking about using sculpty clay, its a non-toxic clay that you bake in the oven to harden. Also I thought about painting it, got any advice on paint? and then spray it with a sealent, any advice on a good sealent? Of course everything will be aired and fixed up before they go in the tanks. This way i can attach them to my tanks (Vision tanks) and can remove them for cleaning. I can also design it the way i want it.
-----
2.2 Leos (Orion, Apollo, Athena, Calypso)
1.0 Crested (Gemini)
1.0 corn snake (Dugan)
1.0 Tiger Salamander (Pices)

Cheack out my Gallery at http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?user=7865&cat=500&thumb=1

I remember back when I took "Ceramics" in high school... we used a glaze (which can be purchased at any craft store for about $4-6 a jar) that we painted on the clay to serve as both color/decor & a sealant. First you bake the clay so it cooks, then when it is completely cooled, you paint the glaze on it & bake it again until the glaze hardens. I'm not sure how long you are supposed to bake it for or if you need to put it on tin foil or wax paper anything since the teacher always did that part, but I do know if you keep it in for too long it will crack or burst... you might need to do a little research about this so you use the right oven temps & bake time.

The good thing is it doesn't need to air out & it is not toxic, as oppsed to spraying on a hardware-brand sealant. Plus there are many colors to choose from, including those with colored "crystals" in them which burst when they bake & create a very cool design. Oh, the memories of how fun ceramics class really was.... lol
-----
Danielle
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1.0 green water dragon, 0.4 leos, 1.0 adopted iguana, 0.0.1 beardie, 2.0 green anoles, 1.0 blue anole and 2.2 bettas ~My Pets~

I'd highly reccomend against that for a homemade project. For baking it, you have to use a kiln --- like an oven but it heats up to well over 1000F.
-----
---
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Zeo)
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos (Vienna, Chomps)
1.0.0 Golden Retriever, Rocky, 10 years young

With Sculpy brand clay, you just bake it in your oven. I'm not sure you'd really need to paint it as Sculpy comes in a million different colors. I've worked with Sculpy before & think it'd be great for your project. Unfortunately, I never tried to paint it, so I have no advice there. You can seal it w/ something as simple as clear nail polish, that's what I always used on my jewelry projects w/ Sculpy. Or, I'm sure you can find a spray-on sealant at a craft store. Good luck!
-----
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton & Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

I know you said you'd air it out, but for the benefit of anyone else reading this later - air it out, air it out, air it out! I've made hides out of sculpy and fimo and love it, but it can take a good 2 weeks or more before it gives off no odor I can smell when heated as on the warm side of the tank. Some have a warning on the back that they can give off toxic fumes if overheated, so watch your timer!

That said, fimo and sculpy are great to work with. But you do have to be patient about airing it out!

Again, this is directed more towards anyone doing a search later on fimo or sculpy than towards you!
-----
Andrea A.