Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What wood finish can be used that is safe for the animals (snakes/monitors), that can be used on oak plywood cages?

Thanks alot,
Stan

also needs to be able to handle alot of moisture.

thanks

West Systems Marine Epoxy is very popular over on the Monitor Forum. I believe the big advantage of it is that it does not have the nasty fumes typical of other epoxies. The fumes are still bad, just not AS bad.

In fact you should post over there as there are some very experienced cage builders who post there but not here. I would not use an oil-based polyurethane on a monitor cage.

But an oil-based poly should be fine for snakes with greater moisture requirments. You might look for some recent posts from Big Tattoo.

But if you're already doing one cage with epoxy you might as well do all of them. Just lay all the cages out and epoxy them all at once.

On the other hand, if you're building one cage at a time then perhaps epoxy for the monitor, oil-based poly for everything else.

Regarding stains, I have used both oil and water based stains on plywood cages and just let them offgas before putting the herps in the cages.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Chris,

Thanks a bunch! Just outta curiosity, would the epoxy be safe for snakes? If so, then I might as well just use that. I am not building multiple cages (yet), but I am building a 6x4 for my burm, and just want to know what would be safe for the monitor as well for AFTER my burm has moved into an even BIGGER cage. So I figured I would try to kill two birds with one stone on this one.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Stan

>>Just outta curiosity, would the epoxy be safe for snakes?

Yes. I have seen aquaria built from plywood that have been sealed with epoxy and have safely held delicate marine invertebrates for years. If it does not kill that stuff your Burmese python should be fine.

I know West Systems epoxy is also used by aquarists so it should be fine as well.

Look forward to hearing how you like it. From what I've heard it falls between Envirotex Epoxy and pool epoxy in terms of ease of use and how nasty the fumes are. I'd recommend the Envirotex but I'm just not sure how it will hold up to monitor scratching. It probably will also be more expensive than the West Systems in terms of coverage.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Fiberglass resin. Use it just like you would for patching fiberglass, just leave out the cloth. You must work pretty fast as this stuff hardens fast and it must outgas for a while(a week or 2) but it is waterproof(this is what they build boats out of!!!) I have housed Rainbow Boas in these enclosures for years with no wood rot or adverse effects on the animals and I keep these at about 80% humidity.

Hope this helps
Sam

I have used fiberglass resin. It's incredibly strong stuff but one of the most difficult to use epoxies.

If you shop around you can find clear epoxies that go on clearer/smoother and actually cost less since they can be applied thinner.

But you're right, fiberglass resin is indestructible and an excellent choice if that's what you need.
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Current snakes:

0.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.3 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

3.3 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)