What have people used to seal their DIY vivs? I've just used a tiny tube of aquarium sealant, and it's done about half the viv!! And I've not even added the false floor yet!!

It smells like normal sealant, and is acetylsiloxane based, so whats so special that is costs £3 for 25mls??

Anybody used just 'norma' non-fungicidal sealants??

I'm about to. Dunno if it's a good idea though...

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7.6 Corn Snake (Amel. Snow / Amel Hatchlings)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Tri-Colour Hognose
0.2 Western Hognose

FOR SALE: Snow and Amel Corn hatchlings (£25 each), SWAPS WANTED

If its acetylsiloxane based it is to stop the water from breaking down the silicone over time. It may also be some kind of non toxic variety to avoid leaking nasties into the water, but I doubt it.

For a viv you can just use the normal stuff in the big tubes. You can get a gun for about £3 in a cheap shop and the big tubes should cost you around £2-3 each. I work in a place that sells them so know a bit about it.

If you want non toxic then get the 'low modulous' stuff. Its harder to work with but doesn't have that nasty smell (like vinegar or acetic acid, which is same thing) the acetylsiloxane based stuff has.

I think if you air the viv for a day then any will be okay as once it sets you wont get any nasties coming off anyway unless under water.

The aquarium stuff is a fortune though.

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1.0.0 Jungle Carpet Python, Brian (CB 06)
1.0.0 Lodger, little Bro (CB 81)

Cheers Carl, much appreciated. The way I was slapping the aquarium stuff on it woulda ended up costing more then the wood!!!

Get a big tube. Just cut the nozzle according to the size of bead you want.

Once you have ran a strip along where you want to, put some fairy liquid (I just use spit) on your finger and then glide it gently along the strip of silicone. This will push it into the joint and leave a nice finish.

Getting an even amount is all about keeping the same pressure on the gun / tube and keeping a steady speed at the same time.

The fairy / spit stops the silicone sticking to your finger.

As you can tell I used to fit windows for my fathers business so have done this a million times.

Glad to be of help.

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1.0.0 Jungle Carpet Python, Brian (CB 06)
1.0.0 Lodger, little Bro (CB 81)

As long as it doesn't say that it contains fungicide on the tube, I personally would say it's OK - but I know many people would disagree.

I've kept snakes for 8 years, built my own vivs from day one and so far never had a problem due to using standard (non-fungicide) silicone.

Most DIY shop silicone says "mould resistant" on the tube but to me that's just a property of the silicone itself, and doesn't mean that anything's been added.
If anyone knows different please let me know!

The one I have is 'Unibond all purpose paintable sealant'.

It says 'Mould risistant' on the front, and has 'Fungicide' on the list of properties on the back. Says it's water based, but no mention of any other chemicals.

It cost 5.49, covers 10.4 meters, and doesn't need a gun. Can I use it?

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7.6 Corn Snake (Amel. Snow / Amel Hatchlings)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Tri-Colour Hognose
0.2 Western Hognose

FOR SALE: Snow and Amel Corn hatchlings (£25 each), SWAPS WANTED

It may well be fine, but personally I wouldn't risk it due to the fungicide - some of the fungicide containing sealants I've seen have had hazard warnings on the back due to the added chemicals, which may spell trouble for reptiles.

Also, there are a lot of other types of sealant around (non-silicone ones), and the ones I've used of these other types wouldn't be suitable for use in vivs - one of them remained tacky for days.

For the sake of a few quid I'd get some proper silicone.

sounds like the one i used for all four of my vivs, is the exterior one?
if it is i've had no problems with it, try to get the clear one as the white one looks manky, i got the white one by accident and it didnt dry clear, i had to cover the whole back of the viv with plants.

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Baby girl born 7-04-08
My Reptiles1.2 Royal Pythons 0.1 BCI
1.0 cornsnake
1.0.1 Bearded Dragons InvertsSAF L parahybanaAF G roseaAF A semanniP regalisH lividum3 B albopilosum slingsN coloratovilosumG aureostriataMaraca horridaWantedPython brongersmaiGTPDogStaff bitch Puppy

It's a translucent Interior and Exterior one.

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7.6 Corn Snake (Amel. Snow / Amel Hatchlings)
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
1.1 Tri-Colour Hognose
0.2 Western Hognose

FOR SALE: Snow and Amel Corn hatchlings (£25 each), SWAPS WANTED