Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Like w/ the smell of it? Will it melt if it gets too hot??

I have used it for almost a year with our guy...I did use papertowels in a 20 gallon starter tank...

I like the Duck brand myself. There was only a slight odor the first day or so...I did wash it first and that helped. The pattern I have goes GREAT with the rock wall/cave that I made.

The shelf liner has been VERY easy to clean and he has not had any "traction" problems. We clean the poo out with a papertowel and then spot clean with a 10% beach/water solution. It is one of the safest substrates you can use---and a very easy one to maintain!

I know of many dragons having complications due to other substrates (sand, bark...) but do not know of a single case of complications from shelf liner!

Excuse the quality of the following picture...it was just a quick shot to show... The rock wall takes up about 1/2 of the tank and is 16 inches deep and about 30 or so inches long. This was our first design and Drako seems to really enjoy it!

DM

Wow, that rock cave is excellent! Would you mind describing how you made it?

I use shelf liner too and I've never had a problem with it. It doesn't melt, it doesn't even get hot to the touch. Of course none of my heat lamps are close enough to do that anyways. Maybe if you set them directly on the shelf liner, but that doesn't happen.
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

A few months ago there were several descriptions given on this forum on how to make a rock wall. It looked easy and we had just purchased an 80 gallon tank and it was a huge empty space!

I first measured the inside of my tank--ours has a permanent divider in the top--to make sure I could get the wall in and out OK for cleaning...

I took 1/2 inch plywood scraps and fastened them together using small angle brackets making the foundation (back, 1 angled shelf and one flat shelf). Once I had the "shelves" in place I took styrofoam sheets (very inexpensive at the hardware store) and used my hands to 'tear' it into rock shapes. I glued the styrofoam onto the plywood and also glued several "layers" together to make the steps. I used Liquid Nails as the "glue"--just make sure the kind you use is safe for styrofoam.

When I was satisfied with the general shape I took some spray-foam "crack filler" and filled in any cracks and added some texture in places. Once that was dry I mixed up some tile grout (I used a chestnut color) and smeared it all over--I wore rubber gloves. I made 3-4 layers and let it dry completely between each layer.

Once it had all dried I sealed it with a nontoxic tile grout sealer. I think I will go ahead and put on a layer or two of an acrylic sealer on--there are a few areas that have been knocked around and have chipped a bit. The other sealer will make it more durable. After sealing it needs to set out a few days before you put it in the tank--so it can "air out".

It was very simple to make and the cost was under $25...and most of all Drako loves it!

DM

Thanks a lot! I've archived your post and hopefully I'll be able to use this info when building my custom cages in the near future.
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Amanda
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2.0 bearded dragons (Ocho / Domo-kun)
0.1 kingsnake (Rio)
1.0 ferret (Playstation)
1.0 cat (Wally)
0.1 dog (Tima)

Wow great job with the rock wall!! It looks really great, and super detail with the caves and basking ledge looks nice.

To your question if you read it here Kevin. I have used the liner the longest anyone ever has. Actually I brought the idea to the forum about a year and half ago after 6 months of me using it without problems. I was wondering at the time if anyone had any concerns with using it, and no one did. It kinda caught on over time as a really safe thing to use, and quite a few people have used it successfully for a while now. It is not for everyone, but for those who make it work it stays really clean, and my dragons seem fine with it. I have never had it melt at the proper temps for dragons, and their basking spots. As long as there basking spot is not flat right on the liner you wont have a problem with it melting. Use a rock, or wood for the basking spot. As for the smell of it I used many new liners and after all this time I see no effects from it, and over time with washing it has gone away. I do reccomend always wshing them first, and at times of cleaning rinse them really really well, and hang them to dry so they air out.
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Webshots photos
www.Mystical-Dragons.com

I see why he likes it. Does he hide a lot? Mine never really seemed like they wanted to hide, so I have never provided a real hiding spot.

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Your guys look so cute "hanging" out!

Drako usually hangs out on the top level--hanging from the top vertical ledge (not the basking ledge)--during the day. It looks like he is trying to climb over the top of the wall. If he doesn't sleep there his usual spot is in the middle level "hide"/shade spot. If my daughter has been up too late the night before he will crawl into the bottom cave until noon the next day! He has always liked having a dark place at night.

DM