Safe materials?

[Rencey]

trouble is you cant use pva to seal something in high humidity as it will break down in minutes (like a pva bait bag in water).
two makes for the epoxy resins mentioned above by me are abl stevens
and mas (but need to buy additives to chemically balance out the nasties)
both are around £35 for 1.25ltr so bout three coats of a nice sized background.

[abruptus]

Yeah, though I've read of people using PVA, I'm a bit loathe to add it to the list due to the water soluble side of things. The other problem with the "It's safe for kids so must be safe for animals" is also that the toxicity of chemicals varies between species and sizes. What we class as safe may still be toxic, but only slightly, and due to the size of people and the quantity ingested, not a problem....but considering the size of a gecko's stomach, there may be instances where it'd be akin to a child eating a couple of pots of PVA, and even though it's non-toxic, I can see that child being ill!

[Rencey]

imagine the state of the nappy too a kid passing two pots of pva not pretty my God son was in a bad way after eating paper

[lil05]

coconut shells for hides

[leogeck3]

Yeah but im sure its alright for Leo Gecks ive just made a sculpture out of paper machee and PVA that im about to put in my viv

[abruptus]

I will add PVA glue with an appropriate warning. I was worried that even in dry/arid enclosures that if the animal is slightly "special" it might take to licking the walls etc...

[Rencey]

Originally Posted by abruptus

I will add PVA glue with an appropriate warning. I was worried that even in dry/arid enclosures that if the animal is slightly "special" it might take to licking the walls etc...

are we on about sunshine bus style reptiles

[cymag]

Most Dendro keepers in the states use 100% silicone sealer (not Aquarium sealer), most of which contains a mould inhibitor. As long as it is 100% silicone it is OK. Check out the viv building threads on.
Dendroboard.com

They have recently found out that silicone they thought was inhibitor free was not. Some of the guys here have have frogs in their vivs with 'normal' silicone for over 10 years

I am not saying use it, but, a little research can throw up some supprising alternatives!!

Front-Opening Showcase Vivarium How-To

Middle picture, click on it to enlarge it. It is window and door silicone!?!?

[abruptus]

Thanks. I'll update the silicone thread saying that others are available.

Does anyone have any feedback or comments on this list as a whole? Am I wasting my/our time, or do you guys and gals also think that this could be a valuable resource for first time DIY'ers and the more experienced alike?

Any criticism is welcome, as I do want to produce something that is ultimately of some use to hobbyists!

[Rencey]

i think this is great as i really could of done with a what is safe and who makes it list when i started my viv project as i wasted probably a week trying to find all the relevant info.