Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I hope I didn't make a mistake? I used a silicone based caulk to seal the seams on a Melamine cage. It seemed like a good choice at the time (100% waterproof, no shrinkage, no crack, etc). Has anyone ever used this on their cages? I sealed my cage over a week ago and am still getting a vinegar smell if I close it up and kick the heat up. The tube says that it will be fully cured within 48 hours and it seems solid (Not tacky at all). This is the first time I've used this stuff....Does the scent ever go away, and does anyone know if it would be dangerous to house the snake in the cage the way it is? I was supposed to make the two hour drive to pick it up this weekend, but now I don't know if I should or not. It is living in some very sad conditions right now, but putting it in a toxic cage would be even worse.

turn the heat up to max. It will take probably 3-4 weeks to fully offgas.

just out of curiosity, what type did you get? is it GE silicone 1 or silicone 2? Silicone 1 is a latex/silicone blend, and that will take less time than silicone 2, which is a 100% silicone. That's what I used. Or is it white lightening? That stuff cures the fastest.

But as I said, give it a couple more weeks and turn your heat on full blast.
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-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

Hummm....That's a good question. I'll have to check when I get home this evening. I'm not really sure. I was doing just the opposite though.....Left the heat off (figured no since in wasting it) and leaving the doors open with a fan pulling fresh air through). I'll crank it up again when I get home though, thanks...

In your opinion though, the fumes are still toxic at this point? It's not that I'm in a huge rush for my own personal reasons, I just don't like the conditions that the burm is currently being kept under.

i wouldnt let my own snake go into that. It still has the potential to be toxic. However, I've had my cages done for about a month or maybe a little more and i'm hoping this upcoming week I can finally put my snakes in there and get some pics posted.
-----
-Chris

The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote
Information on substrates

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
0.1 Texas Bairdi (Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

Thanks Chris.....Guess I'll give it some time. In answer to your earlier question. The sealant was GE silicone II.