Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just want everyone to know that I realize I am paranoid.

I want to move my Uro into the new wood cage that I have built, but I am concerned about the fumes. It has been a couple of weeks since I sealed the inside, though I did use oil based polyeurathane. I have stuck my head in the cage and sat there for a few minutes, and I can smell the eurathane a bit, but not too bad.... (Good thing I live alone I am sure it was a hilarious site to see me lying with my head and shoulders stuck in the cage). I have had an allergy headache so I really cannot tell if the fumes are giving me a headache, is there a rule of thumb for this sort of thing?

Thank you for your help.

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

No rule of thumb, unfortunately. I avoid placing animals in such enclosures until all traces are gone but that is probably overkill.

If it makes you feel any better I once sealed a wooden cage with oil based poly and a couple of weeks later placed some crickets onto the bare wood and left them there overnight. The poly was still giving off an odor but the crickets were fine.

Not a great scientific test by any means, but I'd guess a Uro is more hearty than a cricket.

>>I just want everyone to know that I realize I am paranoid.
>>
>>I want to move my Uro into the new wood cage that I have built, but I am concerned about the fumes. It has been a couple of weeks since I sealed the inside, though I did use oil based polyeurathane. I have stuck my head in the cage and sat there for a few minutes, and I can smell the eurathane a bit, but not too bad.... (Good thing I live alone I am sure it was a hilarious site to see me lying with my head and shoulders stuck in the cage). I have had an allergy headache so I really cannot tell if the fumes are giving me a headache, is there a rule of thumb for this sort of thing?
>>
>>Thank you for your help.
>>
>>Elizabeth
>>-----
>>1.0 Uro Archimedes
>>0.0 Fish
>>0.1 Sulcata Minnie
>>1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
>>0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
>>0.1 Feline Winter
>>Indiana & Wisconsin
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

LOL. OK, definitely not scientific, but it does make me feel a little better, lol.

I put him in the cage to play a bit, and get used to it, and heseems to approve. He is basking, pooping, digging, etc. So I want to leave him in there if it won't hurt him. I guess I will just keep a close eye on him. I wish he could talk to tell me if he is getting a headache, or dizzy. That would make life a bit easier.

Thank you for your thoughts on the matter.

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

I am in the same boat. I built a cage for my ball python and coated it with oil poly. It has been about 2 weeks and I still havent put him in there. But that is because my heater just came today. Im gonna heat the cage up and see if it gives off any fumes.
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Extensive Snakes

Mine did give off much worse fumes when I put the heat lights in. I have been baking it for a few days and that helped a lot.

My Uro has been in the cage most of the day and seems to be acting normally, so my assumption is he is doing fine.

Good Luck with your new cage!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Uro Archimedes
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

Chris's idea with the crickets is a real good one. If crickets survive you're safe. Even low levels of fumes will kill crickets in short order.

BigT
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Hope this helps.

BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.

then let it air out for two weeks. Stuck my head in and smelled nothing, so I put my 6' BCI in. Everything has been O.K., but when I opened the door the next day I could smell the urathane a little bit. I think when I closed the doors of the cage, the very little bit of fumes accumulated. It's been about a month and a half and I no longer smell anything when I open the cage doors. Next time I wait a month.

Spar is what I use on outdoor wood projects. It is some great stuff for water-proofing. I wonder if there is a water based alternative? Then the "fume time" would lessen.....

Spar urethane is impressive stuff, no doubt. But if offgasses for a very long time and has solids designed to stay slightly flexible over time. Between that and the UV inhibitors I wonder if it is safe for herps?

A great product for the price but it scares me. When I want that kind of protection I step up to an epoxy.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

so really it's just the sides that are able to be contacted directly. I believe she's safe now, I just wish I'd waited a month. Remember, lots of building materials give off fumes when they're new, I have a Neodesha and a Boaphile that both stunk when new for a while.

>>Remember, lots of building materials give off fumes when they're new...

Right, but spars are specifically designed to offgass for a very long time. That's part of their function.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

I can't stand crickets. Should I drill some holes in the top? I have to say that I really don't smell hardly anything anymore, and she seems fine. She eats, sheds in one piece, gentle as a lamb when I check on her. Cage is 7'6"x2D'x16H",3/8" bottom gap between downward hinged doors, two 11"x27" Ultratherms underneath linoleum on the left side of her cage. Temps for heat is a constant 95 degres. Basically a wooden Boaphile copy (sorry Jeff-imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, remember.)