Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm building a dozen plywood sliding door cages. What material would cure and off gas faster for sealing these units for my Corns and Rainbows. Only have a few weeks to complete and move these critters in to their new apartments.

Given the two week offgas requirement I believe you would receive better protection from a paint rather than a clear coat. At least considering a brush on finish. If you could spray on a catalyzed lacquer that would be a different story.

I would strongly advise you to consider a plastic floor. The floors will take the greatest beating in your enclosures, especially in the Rainbow Boa cages. You could incorporate a plastic floor into the cages and then getting away with a quicker drying paint for the walls would not be as big of a deal. There are a few plastics and ways to use them for floors. Let me know if you're interested and I can explain more.

Don't just use any old paint. An acrylic latex with a high solids content will be best. And I'm sure Dogbert will recommend an enamel semi-gloss that will cure to a harder, shinier and easier to clean finish.

Another choice is to just prime and paint the interior and then laminate a vinyl film onto the inside of the cage. Green Tree Python keepers use Contact Paper (the stuff you line shelves with) and have had cages last for years. The vinyl film is stronger, cheaper and easier to apply than contact paper.
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Chris,

When you mentioned an acrylic latex paint with a high solids content, what does this mean?

And you mentioned a vinyl film, cheaper and easier to apply than Contact Paper. Where would this type of film be purchased? I'm also assuming you would use this film on the sides, top and not the bottom? Thanks.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

Paints vary dramatically in the amount of solids they contain. The more the better, generally. So for a cage it's best to ask for a paint with a high solids content and pay the premium for it.

Vinyl film is available through sign distributors. I ordered mine online. It can be used to seal the entire cage, even the bottom.

But to save weight and get even more protection I'm a big proponent of having solid plastic floors.

>>Chris,
>>
>>When you mentioned an acrylic latex paint with a high solids content, what does this mean?
>>
>>And you mentioned a vinyl film, cheaper and easier to apply than Contact Paper. Where would this type of film be purchased? I'm also assuming you would use this film on the sides, top and not the bottom? Thanks.
>>-----
>>Ken Roshak
>>BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Thanks for the info Chris. Do you happen to have the on-line info for the vinyl product you like to use?
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

Ken,

I got mine from Beacon Graphics. Turns out I ordered way too much and will consider selling small amounts at my cost.

But if you need at least ten yards then this is the procut I ordered. Mine is beige.

http://www.beacongraphics.com/calendered-vinyl.php
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

Thanks for the link. I'm still in the planning stages of my cages. First one I'm thinking about is 2 tanks stacked, top one 6x2x3.5 (colombian boa) and bottom 6x2x2.5 (Dumerils boa) so I don't know how much material I'll need. But I like the idea of priming, painting then applying the vinyl coating for water resistance.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

Spray on Lacquer sounds very possible have the equipment available and am currently very close to a top end paint store here in Phoenix. The plastic floor idea sounds great, much easier on later maintenance and cleanup. Whats available and affordable at Home Depot. I believe there is a plastics store close to my current location as well if it is something HD doesn't carry. I'm building these tanks to cut down on weight live a very nomadic lifestyle staying at a job site for only a month at a time. I've only used the UTH under glass tanks can they be safely used under ply and plastics?

>>Spray on Lacquer sounds very possible have the equipment available and am currently very close to a top end paint store here in Phoenix.

The pre-catalyzed lacquer that has most often been recommended to me is a product called Magnalac. I have heard absolutely universal praise for this product, its ease of application, and its water resistance. You could easily get several coats on in one day and have the snakes in two weeks later. I still like the idea of using a plastic floor along with it, however, especially with the weight concerns.

It is solvent based so the regular safety issues apply.

If you have a plastics store by all means use Sintra or another expanded PVC product. For a cheap solution showerboard at Home Depot works okay. You will have to replace it fairly often.

FRP would also work but I'd rather use Sintra.
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Current snakes:

0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

7.6 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

0.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black & Tan)

I use an indoor, water-based polyeurethane for my cages. It's what is used on bar surfaces and such for complete waterproofing. Being water based and approved for indoor use, it's also safe for your critters. Any paint store will have it. Unfortunately I don't have any pics of polyeurethaned cages, but I'll get some.
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Ken LePage
Invictus Exotics