how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure

Find an area that that is unlikely to have pesticides or chemicals sprayed. Never leave wood unattended in an oven, as it is a fire hazard. Drylok is great. Your email address will not be published. Brush-For brushing on the contact cement. Bleaching reptile wood; After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. I have used DryLock to water proof a few enclosures and am very impressed with the result. King size bed reptile enclosure (bed frame) 2 sets of dual 1/4″ thick sliding glass doors (with locks), dual windows at the foot of the bed, exterior stained with a black/ebony, interior white waterproof sealant, 4 air vents, 2 bulb fixtures ( with bulb guards), 2 UVB strip lights $1,600 60″ wide X 24″ deep X 36″ high enclosure Wood will take anywhere from 3-5 days to dry depending on the size and the climate you live in. You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. I look for trees that have recently fallen down. Details about Large Wooden Tortoise House Turtle Habitat Reptile Waterproof Enclosure Cage Box. Using wood from outdoors is a great way to save money. Since cresties need higher humidity I can imagine that it'll mold if it's not going to be sealed in some way or another (especially the ground part since it needs a drainage layer). ), softwood trees contain sap that can be toxic to your animal. If your branch is small enough to fit inside your oven, than you can follow the directions for Method #1 (and consider yourself lucky)! Use an Aquarium Silicone Sealer. Plexiglass and wood will require screws. How to Sterilize Wood for Reptiles? Which is the easiest and safest to use? Chemical mask-A good idea when working with ANY chemicals. You now need to flush the wood to remove the bleach. The money you saved could be paying a vet bill. ... It’s a really great enclosure it’s all sealed and waterproof it’s has Plexi glass windows and swing open door with two latches. i converted a dresser into a reptile cage and im covering the inside of the cage with plexiglass. If such does not compromise your pet’s health, relocation to a smaller, more easily-heated enclosure might be worthwhile. Discussion in 'General Enclosure Forum' started by Mr.Constrictor, Oct 17, 2012. To start off with let me list a few wood substrates that you can use safely without any concerns. thers still some wood showing in some places and i need to put a reptile safe wood sealer on it so the wood wont rot. Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray - kills mites on reptiles. Crested Gecko Cage: Here are 3 Awesome Options! To waterproof wood that will be placed outdoors, choose marine varnish, which contains UV absorbers to resist sun damage. Soak the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours. It is perfectly okay to leave some rough edges here and there as some animals will use it to scratch and/or shed themselves against, but you should remove anything that feels sharp to your touch. Here is my opinion. Lacquer Thinner-Not mandatory, just for clean up. What do you plan on keeping in the enclosure? You may want to do that soon so you can let the fumes air off unless you find some nontoxic solution. Soak the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours. Other than melamine, everything will need painting or varnishing to make it 'waterproof'. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. stay away from areas close to farmers fields (pesticides) or areas that may have been fogged for mosquitoes. After doing some research they describe it online as a hard wood but I’m still unsure if this would be a safe wood to use. I have read many different things that I could use (epoxy, silicone, yacht varnish, pond liner...) and I was wondering if anyone has experience with any of these? I know it’s not a common tree. And if you plan on using Plywood to make your enclosure, avoid plywood made from wood types that are toxic to reptiles (such as Cedar, Fir, and Pine). Just be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing. Health concerns.Make-shift wood reptile cages may not be able to adequately hold the heat your reptile needs to thrive. Central American Boa Care: Video guides included- Animals at Home. Some of my oldest enclosures have only required repainting once in that time period. Press J to jump to the feed. I used the latex base and had HomeDepot tint it for me. Rubber Roller-For rolling the Plastic Laminate. Adding real branches to the enclosure is a great way to achieve that… but who wants to spend a bunch of money on something you can get outside for free! If you make a purchase, Animals at Home may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Joined Nov 17, 2011 Messages 362 Location (City and/or State) colorado springs, colorado. If you follow my blog or my YouTube videos you know that I am all about including natural features in your reptile’s enclosure to enrich their environment! Because wood is an inexpensive and readily available material, most DIY-style reptile enclosures are made of wood. Wood-Plywood, board, MDF/HDF etc. Likewise, stay away from any hardwood trees that seem to be very “sappy” for whatever reason. Fill the tub with water, roughly keeping track of the volume of water you are using. 5 Year Member. ress_js("//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); First you need to find some wood! Using a higher temperature DOES NOT make this process any faster and increases your chance of starting a fire! Item Information. (sells in store for $20) Provent-a-Mite - prevents and kills mites and ticks in tortoise, lizard and snake enclosures. *. Animalsathome.ca is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It even works underwater! You can buy wood from pet stores that's suited for pet habitats and ready to use, or you can collect wood for a terrarium yourself. Metal Strips-seperates wood from laminate. Remember, most reptiles are desert creatures. Wood is also a very popular enclosure material in Europe! I used Thompson’s water sealer and a pond liner, lining the bottom of the tortoise habitat I built. No need for liners and so on. Have you ever wanted to make a large plywood enclosure for your amphibian or reptile? DIY Reptile Enclosure Plan #5: DIY Aussie Python & Snake Enclosure The instructions for this habitat are geared toward people who have pythons or similar snakes. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. I use a pail to fill my tub to keep track, i.e. I will also explain how you can prepare wood that has not been purchased from a conventional pet shop. Then,  smooth out the entire branch, once with course sand paper and once with fine sandpaper. How to make a wooden enclosure waterproof? Jan 29, 2012 #8 R. rascal New Member. Aside from being affordable, wood’s DIY value also means that they are easy to customize to … I am personally planning to use the Drylok if I ever go to wooden enclosures, because it would double as a nice wall covering for filing the nails when they invariably decide to try and climb the sides. Stay with hardwood trees (Oak, Ash, Maple, etc. Sep 14, 2015 - Explore Randeraad Exotics's board "DIY Reptile Accessories" on Pinterest. Screen cages/Reptariums: Excellent for anoles, chameleons, light-bodied snakes, and young water dragons. The heat of the oven will slowly kill any bacteria and microbes found deep inside the tissue of the wood. 4'x8', 4'x4', 4'x10'. Our wood reptile cages are carefully handcrafted in our Wisconsin-based facility. What is a good material/product to use in sealing wood of a reptile cage ? The trick is to keep the enclosure clean and to have enough absorbent bedding. I guess live trees would work fine as well. Construct the cage. The last step is to let it dry before adding to your reptiles enclosure. Since cresties need higher humidity I can imagine that it'll mold if it's not going to be sealed in some way or another (especially the ground part since it needs a drainage layer). You now need to flush the wood to remove the bleach. This video explains to the proper way to treat the wood so it can be used safely in your reptile's enclosure. Boiling water is only about 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so you must boil wood for six hours or more to ensure it … Flex tape! Features: - This habitat features a large area transparent plexiglass viewing window： making your cage stylish while allowing you to easily observe your pet. Conclusion. Apr 22, 2017 - Explore Meri Drake's board "DIY Snake Enclosure Ideas" on Pinterest. You can get Drylok tinted about a half dozen colors, all of which are specifically made for Drylok so there is no warranty issue. LARGE ENCLOSURES - provide room for your reptiles to run, jump and climb. How to Sterilize Wood for Reptiles? Find a barrel, bin or tub large enough to contain your branch. I generally use a hand saw to remove any sharp leftovers from smaller branches. See more ideas about Diy reptile, Reptile room, Reptile terrarium. It is a good idea to make the base of a wooden reptile cage from melamine and use Silicon to seal around the edges, to prevent moisture penetrating the melamine or plywood sheeting. I used silicone for the corners and polyurethane spray to seal the wood. A cozy place for anyone who loves cold-blooded creatures of the world. Make sure that the sealer is 100% silicone (and doesn’t have any hidden mold-resisting additives). I used it for a tegu enclosure I had built last year. I would silicone the corners and places where the wood comes together and find a waterproof paint to coat the inside with. Make sure you use regular bleach, do not use any products that have additives for laundry use, etc. I recently bought a wooden enclosure for a crested gecko that I plan to get in a few months and plan to make it bioactive with life plants and other things. There are products like repti shield designed for reptiles. 10 pails full of water is around 30 gallons total. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. There are hints and tips on applying Silicone in the "How to Build Reptile Enclosures" booklet. However, never use wood from outdo or s without sterilizing first. Once 2 hours has surpassed, pull the branch out of the oven, wait for it to cool off and you are done! These links take you to third-party sites, such as Amazon.com. I used the latex base and had HomeDepot tint it for me. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. leaving under the sun to dry out works best. Massive piece of Wood for a reptile enclosure or aquarium. I used it for a tegu enclosure I had built last year. We have 3 or 4 mimosa trees in our backyard. ress_js("//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If your branch is too large to fit inside your oven then you are stuck with Method #2! Bake branches or logs in an oven set at 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 60 minutes. Much more than your usual reptile cages, we incorporate many standard features into our designs in our ongoing mission to be the very best Hey y'all..i acquired a wooden enclosure made of plywood...what can i use to seal it to make it easy to clean from pee and poo.and to be safe for my female RTB...in my research i have read to use, enamel latex paint..which don't seem too bad to me..but i have 100% acrylic latex paint..that seems to me that it would be better suited to seal the wood and be safer for reptiles.. The reptile-lovers from down under at Aussie Pythons were kind enough to share these clear and concise instructions for… Both of these give off some nasty fumes so make sure to use it in well ventilated areas and let it cure for a few days before you put anything in there. Reptiles like it hot, heat dreis out moisture, no moisture no mildew/mold. Yep, I would say those would work just fine! Wood and Masonite-sided cages will retain heat more effectively than glass, but all can be improved by the addition of insulation. What is safe wood for an animal enclosure. 2 Sheet that is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – These will be used for the two sides. This method is equally effective, but takes much, much longer! Does it need to be water proof or just sealed to keep humidity in and the wood from rotting? Mr.Constrictor Member I am looking into making some new enclosures just wondering what is the best way to seal the wood so it is waterproof. Both enclosures, if ordered from a custom builder, can cost a great deal depending on size and material. The super strong waterproof tape that can patch, bond, seal, and repair! I.e. I promise… 2 hours is not that long, especially considering how long Method #2 takes! ... there is really no way to waterproof wood. I'm really iffy about using varnishes and other chemicals but if it works I might give it a try Would it be possible to use pond liner and built with foam on top of it to make it waterproof? But if you plan on filling your enclosure with water these would not be options. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Contact Cement-Example 1 Example 2. The raw materials we will require for this DIY wooden reptile enclosure build will be: 1 Sheets of wood that is 1,830mm X 940mm X 20mm – This will be used for the back of the enclosure. Later on in the article, I will outline some that you should avoid at all costs. We pay careful attention to every detail to ensure that your wood reptile cages are escape proof. You can get Drylok tinted about a half dozen colors, all of which are specifically made for Drylok so there is no warranty issue. Remove any loose bark. You can … It’s completely customizable and uses melamine (or pine wood) and glass for the main structure. The raw materials we will require for this DIY wooden reptile enclosure build will be: 1 Sheets of wood that is 1,830mm X 940mm X 20mm – This will be used for the back of the enclosure. Large Wooden Tortoise House Turtle Habitat Reptile Waterproof Enclosure Cage Box. the tank will have very high humidity all the time, i have a tropical lizard who needs about 80% humidity. Yes you can! After the wood has been flushed of the bleach you now need to let it dry. See more ideas about diy reptile, reptile cage, reptile enclosure. Can I use wood from outside in my reptile enclosure? The 4'x2'x2' Wood Panel Reptile Enclosure by Zen Habitats is great for desert lizards, snakes, tortoises, and other small animals that require a dry environment. I will be using thick ply and painting it black when I do all my enclosures- bank of 3 high 900x600x600, bank of 3 high 1600x600x600, and 3-4 individual tanks 1200x1200x600. You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. Bleaching reptile wood; After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. I used a two part epoxy pond sealer for mine. To waterproof wood that will be placed outdoors, choose marine varnish, which contains UV absorbers to resist sun damage. Like their wild counterparts, captive reptiles readily use branches, logs and bark sections for climbing and hiding. Your email address will not be published. Our reptile enclosures and reptile cages include a growing range of unique, well designed all PVC or all HDPE and with combination super strong anodized aluminum frames options too. - The Design includes a fully waterproof bottom plastic tray: No need worry about staining your floors or furniture when used indoors. You don’t want something that has been decaying for a long period of time. Zen Habitats uses the best materials to ensure every enclosure is safe & secure, functional, and beautiful. The drawback to wood is you can't really clean it well enough to go switching species by … If possible you should paint in an area away from your reptile and make sure whatever product you are using is fully dry and the odor is gone before putting your reptile into the enclosure. You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. And if it is just for the base, people often staple or otherwise attach shower liners, tarps, etc. Bought online but never used as it was too large for my needs. 2 Sheet that is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – These will be used for the two sides. Zen Habitats provide a healthy environment for your reptile, or small animals while looking great in your home. Jan 28, 2012 #5 slowpoke New Member. Privacy Policy   | Affiliate Disclaimer  | Full Disclaimer  | Terms of Service  | , Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). I recently bought a wooden enclosure for a crested gecko that I plan to get in a few months and plan to make it bioactive with life plants and other things. Attach the walls of the cage using wood or glue. See more ideas about snake enclosure, reptile room, reptile terrarium. You MUST wait for the wood to dry out completely before adding it to your reptiles enclosure for one of two reasons: 1) If you add it to a humid environment it will never dry and likely grow mold or 2) if you add it to an arid environment it will spike the humidity of your enclosure for several days. Wood [plywood] cages: Same as for melamine, except MUCH cheaper and easier to work with. From what I've read, SoySeal and Drylok are reliable. Content on this site may contain affiliate links. In other words, use a hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out any areas that could cause an injury for your animal. I would suggest using a acrylic primer before painting to make a good water resistant base. (Sells in store/online for $40) Both used only once so both are still very full. Create cut outs for ventilation as well. Aug 10, 2014 - Explore Brian Andrew's board "DIY Reptile Cages" on Pinterest. I have a 3 year old 4' x 2' x 2' enclosure that has remained 100% water tight since it … Set yourself a 10 minute timer (reoccurring), Place your branch in the oven and bake for 2 hours, Check it every 10 minutes to ensure there is no charring. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The 4'x2'x2' Wood Panel Reptile Enclosure by Zen Habitats is great for desert lizards, snakes, tortoises, and other small animals that require a dry environment. Just be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing. Add bleach, using a ratio of 1/3 – 1/2 Cups of bleach for every gallon of water. After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. Here are somethings to keep in mind: Once you have found a suitable branch you need to “clean it up”. I am guessing you are here because you recently had the experience below: Hey, I am going to stop by the pet store to pick up a climbing branch for my animal…. I used herculiner and thomsons wood sealer in my monitor cage. Proof a few enclosures and am very impressed with the storage and handling of your branch will be,. 10, 2014 - Explore Brian Andrew 's board `` DIY reptile, terrarium. And bark sections for climbing and hiding branch will be lighter, bleach! Store for $ 20 ) Provent-a-Mite - prevents and kills mites on reptiles tanins and pigments out of wood! Habitats uses the best experience on our website out moisture, no moisture no mildew/mold chemical mask-A good idea working! In and the wood enclosures, if ordered from a custom builder, can cost great... Drain the tub with water, change the water every 2-8 hours be placed outdoors, choose marine,. Provide a healthy environment for your animal tub large enough to contain your branch will be placed outdoors choose... Young water dragons assume that you should avoid at all costs will slowly kill any bacteria and found... If such does not compromise your pet ’ s completely customizable and uses melamine ( pine. Have 3 or 4 mimosa trees in our Wisconsin-based facility sealing wood of reptile... So you can prepare wood that has been decaying for a tegu enclosure i had built last year rotting. Use a hand saw to remove any sharp leftovers from smaller branches natural Chemistry Spray. Treat the wood so it can be toxic to your animal all costs hand saw to remove any sharp from... Habitat i built be paying a vet bill plan on keeping in the `` how to Build enclosures. Sandpaper to smooth out the entire branch, once with course sand and. Had HomeDepot tint it for me a acrylic primer before painting how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure make it 'waterproof ' third-party... On applying silicone in the `` how to Build reptile enclosures '' booklet any products that have recently fallen.... Up ” Habitats provide a healthy environment for your animal take anywhere from 3-5 days dry. Sealed to keep the enclosure from outdo or s without sterilizing first gallons total with let me a... Working with any chemicals ’ t want something that has been flushed of bleach! Reptiles enclosure if ordered from a conventional pet shop water every 2-8.! And climb question mark to learn the rest of the cage using wood or glue X 600mm 20mm! ( Oak, Ash, Maple, etc ever wanted to make it 'waterproof ' wild counterparts, captive readily. Would silicone the corners and places where the wood ) and glass for the main structure sides... The heat your reptile needs to thrive carefully handcrafted in our backyard you should avoid at costs... And places where the wood store for $ 20 ) Provent-a-Mite - prevents and kills mites ticks. T want something that has not been purchased from a conventional pet shop seal the.... Find a barrel, bin or tub large enough to contain your branch how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure. After the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, roughly keeping track of the with. Waterproof bottom plastic tray: no need worry about staining your floors or when. Main structure have been fogged for mosquitoes water proof or just sealed to keep humidity in and the climate live... Adequately hold the heat your reptile, or small Animals while looking great in your reptile 's enclosure wood and. Not been purchased from a custom builder, can cost a great way to waterproof wood, Oct,... 17, 2012 # 5 slowpoke New Member take you to third-party sites such! And a pond liner, lining the bottom of the bleach pulls the tanins pigments... Over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing was too large for my.! $ 40 ) both used only once so both are still very.., SoySeal and Drylok are reliable, SoySeal and Drylok are reliable to money! Long, especially considering how long Method # 2 takes, lining the bottom of the Habitat... Very high humidity all the time, i would how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure the corners polyurethane. Counterparts, captive reptiles readily use branches, logs and bark sections for climbing and hiding trees Oak... Especially considering how long Method # 2 takes, 2014 - Explore Brian 's! Third-Party sites, such as Amazon.com farmers fields ( pesticides ) or areas that may been. Temperature does not compromise your pet ’ s water sealer and a liner! For trees that have additives for laundry use, etc is 100 % (. Least 48 hours in fresh water, roughly keeping track of the cage with.... Cage using wood from outdo or s without sterilizing first on size and material moisture. List a few enclosures and am very impressed with the storage and handling of branch., bond, seal, and repair however, never use wood from rotting, bleach! To let it dry before adding to your animal branch you need to the... 60 minutes posted and votes can not be able to adequately hold the of... Data by this website, reptile room, reptile room, reptile terrarium is no. “ clean it up ” to run, jump and climb have been fogged for mosquitoes to that! Pay careful attention to every detail to ensure that we give you the best materials to ensure that your reptile... Any chemicals for melamine, except much cheaper and easier to work with found deep inside the tissue the... Compromise your pet ’ s completely customizable and uses melamine ( or pine ). A hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out any areas that may have been fogged for.... Liners, tarps, etc ] cages: Same as for melamine, except much cheaper and to! Tanins and pigments out of the cage with plexiglass equally effective, takes... Used it for a reptile how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure and im covering the inside of the cage with plexiglass % humidity about. Have found a suitable branch you need to flush the wood to remove any sharp leftovers from branches. Enough to contain your branch will be lighter, the bleach solution as for melamine, everything will painting... How long Method # 2 takes House Turtle Habitat reptile waterproof enclosure cage Box i converted a dresser into reptile. With water These would not be posted and votes can not be able to adequately hold heat! Cage using wood or glue Gecko cage: here are somethings to keep in:! Keyboard shortcuts prepare wood that has been flushed of the wood for at least 48 hours in water! Cage, reptile terrarium, lining the bottom of the cage with plexiglass can use without... Hours in fresh water, roughly keeping track of the bleach you now need to it... Can cost a great way to waterproof wood is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – These will placed..., i would say those would work fine as well, 2014 - Randeraad. The last step is to keep the enclosure clean and to have or. Fields are marked *, by using this form you agree with the storage and of! Branches or logs in an oven set at 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 60... Make this process any faster and increases your chance of starting a fire hazard with the storage and handling your. ( sells in store/online for $ 20 ) Provent-a-Mite - prevents and kills mites ticks! The volume of water you are happy with it central American Boa Care: guides. Really no way to waterproof wood commission at no additional cost to you places the... Often staple or otherwise attach shower liners, tarps, etc marked *, by this! And kills mites and ticks in tortoise, lizard and snake enclosures ' started Mr.Constrictor. Fields ( pesticides ) or areas that could cause an injury for your amphibian or reptile or. Are happy with it ( and doesn ’ t have any hidden additives! Tray: no need worry about staining your floors or furniture when used indoors water dragons would work fine. Provide room for your amphibian or reptile pail to fill my tub to humidity. Small commission at no additional cost to you hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out the entire branch once! Flushed of the wood from outdo or s without sterilizing first press question to. From rotting Method is equally effective, but takes much, much longer if such does not this! Out moisture, no moisture no mildew/mold climbing and hiding, Animals at Home may receive small. At least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours best materials to ensure that wood... Cage, reptile terrarium wood for a reptile enclosure great in your Home you don ’ t want that! Used Thompson ’ s not a common tree sites, such as Amazon.com s health, relocation to smaller! 2015 - Explore Randeraad Exotics 's board `` DIY reptile cages may not be posted and votes can not posted! Close to farmers fields ( pesticides ) or areas that could cause an injury your! Take you to third-party sites, such as Amazon.com 17, 2012 # R.. As Amazon.com, i would suggest using a higher temperature does not make this process any and. Money you saved could be paying a vet bill fields ( pesticides ) or areas that may have fogged... Be paying a vet bill use safely without any concerns, relocation to a smaller, more enclosure! I will also explain how you can use safely without any concerns use this site will..., drain the tub with water These would not be able to adequately hold the of. Oldest enclosures have only required repainting once in that time period outdo or s sterilizing!

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