Wood and Vivs

Pittylova · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 04:31 PM

I posted a while back about my thoughts of creating a viv out of an entertainment center for my anoles/tree frogs. I was told to use Marine Epoxy to seal the entire unit or put plexiglass on the wooden areas. Is there any other alternatives to those?

If I used the GS to make walls on the two wooden sides like I plan could I seal it with silicone and not worry about the marine epoxy?

Nubster · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 04:50 PM

I think that the issue will be the humidity of the viv affecting every surface. So I guess if you can seal all the surfaces you should be ok. There are some epoxy paints that are available that can be used. They are not cheap but work. I am going to tackle a DIY wood vivarium with my next build and that is what I am going to use.

Pittylova · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 05:04 PM

Should any epoxy be ok or will it have to be the marine epoxy? Is there anything else that can be used? What if the GS walls are up and siliconed (edges and all forcing the GS to stay on the walls)?

Pittylova · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 05:09 PM

I actually have another question. I was wondering what the risks are when there's a wood top and lights. I was going to drill holes for the lights and put mesh over the holes. However what is the fire risk? My friend said to cut the entire top off and screen it, however, I'd rather leave it and screen the door for humidity reasons.

froggsong · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 11:18 PM

The lights should be fine, that is what I did for my tank, and I have had no issues. I don't use lights for heat in it anymore, because it made it too hot, and wasn't enough light for my plants, but I have had a 100 watt bulb in it before, and it was perfectly fine. Just make sure that the hole is big enough that the lamp doesn't touch the sides. Any fixtures with fluorescents will be fine, they produce so little heat that you can comfortably touch them even after they've been on for a long time. Just make sure you aren't using the UV producing compact fluorescents, they produce UV in a harmful wavelength as well as a beneficial one and can cause eye problems.

Pittylova · #6 (**permalink**) 09-06-2008, 11:43 PM

I actually have two lights I was going to try to use in it. I have one flouresant "grow light" that is quite bright and almost the entire length of what the viv will be. Plus I have one heat bulb for basking. I had multiple basking areas before and all of them liked piling on top of each other so I figure one will be fine as long as I put multiple ledges/plants in that area. I'm glad to hear a fire risk isn't a huge concern.