Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday I set up a new pic station for my snakes, here is a pic of it.

Well the way I set it up is I made a partial box, flame formed some styrofoam to give it waves, grooves etc. Then glued it to the frame. I then undercoated it with a flat black spray paint, and after it dried I went over it with a coat of fleck stone granite texture paint.

Now, I am debating setting up a couple enclosures with this style of back ground. What I wanted to get ideas about is how many top coats of clear coat do you think I should put on it to make it water tight? I was thinking 2 coats would be sufficient. (the can of fleck stone says you only need 1 coat to seal it, but snake and lizard urine is quite a bit more corrosive then the average water. (maybe L.A. acid rain can compare..lol)

Also the animals I am debating doing this for are my large kenyan sand boa female and also some various gecko enclosures. (mainly tokay)

So what are your opinions?
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

R U saying you used a flame to form the material? Was it just regular styrofoam? It sounds easy but I've never done it or seen it done. Could you explain a little how it's done?

As for water tight, I would think it would already be so. Coolers are made from styrofoam so I would think it should hold water. Dunno! Looks awsome though!

DZ

The way you use the flame to form it is get a lighter. (I suggest a long tipped grill lighter or something similar, cause the metal on the lighter gets hot quick..lol)

What you do is hold the styrofoam and run the flame over the foam, and it shrinks in where the flame touches.. Similar to the foam paint and bake toys that were popular back in the 70s and 80s. You will want to practice a little bit to get it down, but you will figure it out quickly with the hands on experience.. Make sure you do it outside though, since the foam does give off a little odor.

The reason I think I will need to water proof it is the fleck stone paint isn't water resistant and will become soft if not treated.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

NP

Wow Randy! Nice job! Looks real nice. I am sure the inhabitants will be real happy in there.

I am not to sure on the fleck paint. I maid a styrofoam stone cliff background for a 125 Gallon cichlid tank I had and it came out fantastic. That was a long time ago and I would be hard pressed to find any pics. I used acrylic non-toxic paint to color it, a torch to form (as you did) and 2 coats of clear marine grade epoxy paint with play sand sprinkled on just as it was drying. Algae grew on it and it looked like you were seeing lake Tanganika first hand. Never leached into the tank and was sold with it.

Anyway, I think the natural tanks look so awesome and your tempting me to bust out the styrene and the torch for my indigo cages

TT
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Reptile-Pit.com

1.1 Woma Pythons
2.1 Olive Pythons
1.1 Granite Burmese Pythons
1.0 Indian Python
1.1 Eastern Indigos (waiting for hatchlings)
0.1 Ball Python (donation / rehab snake)
0.1 Amazon Tree Boa
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake

Where do you buy this "Styrene" Is it simply large pieces of styrofoam, hobby/art shop, what?

I make good cages but this decoration could make the difference.

DZ

It is just simple packing styro.. Like you would use to ship a reptile with.
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com

I'm guessing this flekstone will be fairly absorbent and one coat will only add a small degree of water resistance. You probably want more protection than that.

I'd probably add several coats of a flat finish just until it started to take on a smoother look. Anymore than that and it will start to look fake. But it will make cleaning easier by reducing the surface area.

I think I will start with 3 and see how it looks. If needed then I will go with another 1 or 2..
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Randall L Turner Jr.
www.aircapitalconstrictors.com