Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I was wondering if anyone else has any issues with Boamaster's plastic caging having a prefound smell once you install the floor heat tape.

Is the cage PVC? How long have you had it?

Any PVC cage that is glued can have a smell when heated for about 3-5 days or even more depending on factors such as humidity, airflow and temperature. The cure time of the glue is dependent on those factors, and the glue "off-gasses" until fully cured. Once the glue is fully cured, the smell will go away and not be an issue.

PVC itself does have some smell - it off-gasses too if relatively new, moreso when heated, but not much at all, and the smell is usually absorbed by substrate and dissipates with general use.

I have never had a new PVC cage smell as much as a new plastic sweaterbox. I quit using sweaterboxes for permanent housing. I prefer cages (glass, PVC, PP, HDPE). I have some hatchlings in BPA-free food boxes sold at the market, these boxes have no "plastic" odor at all.

That's an interesting thought. All my plastic food storage boxes are BPA free, and that has me thinking about the tubs used in rack systems. BPA or free? Glass containers break, too heavy, and just don't fit into rack system.

Mike