Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How do you waterproof your melanine cages?? I've been told aquarium safe silicone for around the edges but I can't find it anywhere, any other suggestions?? Thanks
The cage is going to have a melanine back, bottom and top with plexiglass on the front and sides.
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0.0.1 Green Water Dragon
1.0.0 Tokay Gecko
1.1.2 Bearded Dragons
0.1.0 Columbian Red-tailed Boa
1.0.0 Yellow Ratsnake
0.0.1 California Kingsnake
0.0.1 Black and White Tegu

By waterproof I assume you really mean water resistant? There is a difference.

I have not found melamine to be all that water-resistant, even with the edges siliconed. I would not use it, for example, to make a cage for your water dragons (high moisture requirements)or tegu (it would scratch it up). It would work well for your bearded dragons, kingsnake & ratsnake.

It would probably work okay for your Boa or Tokay.

Rubberized contact paper is the cheap/easy/popular choice but won't necessarily work for the species that scratch.

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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Its for the rat, king, boa and a beardie so...water resistant
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0.0.1 Green Water Dragon
1.0.0 Tokay Gecko
1.1.2 Bearded Dragons
0.1.0 Columbian Red-tailed Boa
1.0.0 Yellow Ratsnake
0.0.1 California Kingsnake
0.0.1 Black and White Tegu

Well I'm glad it's not for the Water Dragons. Melamine is not great for them unless you cover it with FRP board or something water tight and scratch resistant.

For the Bearded Dragon you just need to silicone the edges. You really don't need aquarium sealant, 100% silicone should work. There was a thread on this not too long ago. You should find it and read it.

Same for the king and rat, although a layer of contact paper on the bottom might help with the small amount of moisture that will collect around the water bowl when they crawl in and out.

For the Boa I would definately use contact paper and possibly would include it up the sides.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Thanks you for your help

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0.0.1 Green Water Dragon
1.0.0 Tokay Gecko
1.1.2 Bearded Dragons
0.1.0 Columbian Red-tailed Boa
1.0.0 Yellow Ratsnake
0.0.1 California Kingsnake
0.0.1 Black and White Tegu