I would suggest using a acrylic primer before painting to make a good water resistant base. Much more than your usual reptile cages, we incorporate many standard features into our designs in our ongoing mission to be the very best There are products like repti shield designed for reptiles. You can get Drylok tinted about a half dozen colors, all of which are specifically made for Drylok so there is no warranty issue. Lacquer Thinner-Not mandatory, just for clean up. Some of my oldest enclosures have only required repainting once in that time period. Remember, most reptiles are desert creatures. I know it’s not a common tree. 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. Screen cages/Reptariums: Excellent for anoles, chameleons, light-bodied snakes, and young water dragons. Yes you can! (Sells in store/online for $40) Both used only once so both are still very full. Make sure you use regular bleach, do not use any products that have additives for laundry use, etc. Bought online but never used as it was too large for my needs. Bake branches or logs in an oven set at 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 60 minutes. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Discussion in 'General Enclosure Forum' started by Mr.Constrictor, Oct 17, 2012. But if you plan on filling your enclosure with water these would not be options. 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. I.e. 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.. Jan 28, 2012 #5 slowpoke New Member. Sep 14, 2015 - Explore Randeraad Exotics's board "DIY Reptile Accessories" on Pinterest. We have 3 or 4 mimosa trees in our backyard. leaving under the sun to dry out works best. Find an area that that is unlikely to have pesticides or chemicals sprayed. Wood will take anywhere from 3-5 days to dry depending on the size and the climate you live in. There are hints and tips on applying Silicone in the "How to Build Reptile Enclosures" booklet. You don’t want something that has been decaying for a long period of time. Using wood from outdoors is a great way to save money. ... there is really no way to waterproof wood. However, never use wood from outdo or s without sterilizing first. 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! To waterproof wood that will be placed outdoors, choose marine varnish, which contains UV absorbers to resist sun damage. Remove any loose bark. Because wood is an inexpensive and readily available material, most DIY-style reptile enclosures are made of wood. Both enclosures, if ordered from a custom builder, can cost a great deal depending on size and material. After the wood has been flushed of the bleach you now need to let it dry. To start off with let me list a few wood substrates that you can use safely without any concerns. Apr 22, 2017 - Explore Meri Drake's board "DIY Snake Enclosure Ideas" on Pinterest. You now need to flush the wood to remove the bleach. I used a two part epoxy pond sealer for mine. Plexiglass and wood will require screws. This method is equally effective, but takes much, much longer! I will also explain how you can prepare wood that has not been purchased from a conventional pet shop. Attach the walls of the cage using wood or glue. 2 Sheet that is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – These will be used for the two sides. Crested Gecko Cage: Here are 3 Awesome Options! You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. A cozy place for anyone who loves cold-blooded creatures of the world. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The super strong waterproof tape that can patch, bond, seal, and repair! 10 pails full of water is around 30 gallons total. I used it for a tegu enclosure I had built last year. Health concerns.Make-shift wood reptile cages may not be able to adequately hold the heat your reptile needs to thrive. See more ideas about snake enclosure, reptile room, reptile terrarium. 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. Add bleach, using a ratio of 1/3 – 1/2 Cups of bleach for every gallon of water. 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! i converted a dresser into a reptile cage and im covering the inside of the cage with plexiglass. 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). 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. If your branch is small enough to fit inside your oven, than you can follow the directions for Method #1 (and consider yourself lucky)! 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 The drawback to wood is you can't really clean it well enough to go switching species by … Rubber Roller-For rolling the Plastic Laminate. ... 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. Central American Boa Care: Video guides included- Animals at Home. 4'x8', 4'x4', 4'x10'. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Wood [plywood] cages: Same as for melamine, except MUCH cheaper and easier to work with. 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. I used the latex base and had HomeDepot tint it for me. Our wood reptile cages are carefully handcrafted in our Wisconsin-based facility. Zen Habitats provide a healthy environment for your reptile, or small animals while looking great in your home. Once 2 hours has surpassed, pull the branch out of the oven, wait for it to cool off and you are done! I would silicone the corners and places where the wood comes together and find a waterproof paint to coat the inside with. Boiling water is only about 212 degrees Fahrenheit, so you must boil wood for six hours or more to ensure it … Other than melamine, everything will need painting or varnishing to make it 'waterproof'. You may want to do that soon so you can let the fumes air off unless you find some nontoxic solution. Which is the easiest and safest to use? Massive piece of Wood for a reptile enclosure or aquarium. 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. In other words, use a hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out any areas that could cause an injury for your animal. 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. Likewise, stay away from any hardwood trees that seem to be very “sappy” for whatever reason. You can … 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. Can I use wood from outside in my reptile enclosure? ), softwood trees contain sap that can be toxic to your animal. Wood-Plywood, board, MDF/HDF etc. I use a pail to fill my tub to keep track, i.e. Fill the tub with water, roughly keeping track of the volume of water you are using. 2 Sheet that is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – These will be used for the two sides. You can get Drylok tinted about a half dozen colors, all of which are specifically made for Drylok so there is no warranty issue. 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). 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. Make sure that the sealer is 100% silicone (and doesn’t have any hidden mold-resisting additives). What is safe wood for an animal enclosure. Soak the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours. These links take you to third-party sites, such as Amazon.com. Zen Habitats uses the best materials to ensure every enclosure is safe & secure, functional, and beautiful. Aside from being affordable, wood’s DIY value also means that they are easy to customize to … I used it for a tegu enclosure I had built last year. 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. Your email address will not be published. What is a good material/product to use in sealing wood of a reptile cage ? I used herculiner and thomsons wood sealer in my monitor cage. 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. (sells in store for $20) Provent-a-Mite - prevents and kills mites and ticks in tortoise, lizard and snake enclosures. Using a higher temperature DOES NOT make this process any faster and increases your chance of starting a fire! I look for trees that have recently fallen down. Large Wooden Tortoise House Turtle Habitat Reptile Waterproof Enclosure Cage Box. stay away from areas close to farmers fields (pesticides) or areas that may have been fogged for mosquitoes. I used the latex base and had HomeDepot tint it for me. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Here is my opinion. Create cut outs for ventilation as well. 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. 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. The trick is to keep the enclosure clean and to have enough absorbent bedding. Metal Strips-seperates wood from laminate. Joined Nov 17, 2011 Messages 362 Location (City and/or State) colorado springs, colorado. Construct the cage. LARGE ENCLOSURES - provide room for your reptiles to run, jump and climb. Here are somethings to keep in mind: Once you have found a suitable branch you need to “clean it up”. Your email address will not be published. Have you ever wanted to make a large plywood enclosure for your amphibian or reptile? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Use an Aquarium Silicone Sealer. Features: - This habitat features a large area transparent plexiglass viewing window： making your cage stylish while allowing you to easily observe your pet. How to Sterilize Wood for Reptiles? Item Information. Never leave wood unattended in an oven, as it is a fire hazard. The heat of the oven will slowly kill any bacteria and microbes found deep inside the tissue of the wood. We pay careful attention to every detail to ensure that your wood reptile cages are escape proof. the tank will have very high humidity all the time, i have a tropical lizard who needs about 80% humidity. Chemical mask-A good idea when working with ANY chemicals. See more ideas about Diy reptile, Reptile room, Reptile terrarium. 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). Details about Large Wooden Tortoise House Turtle Habitat Reptile Waterproof Enclosure Cage Box. The reptile-lovers from down under at Aussie Pythons were kind enough to share these clear and concise instructions for… Reptiles like it hot, heat dreis out moisture, no moisture no mildew/mold. 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. Jan 29, 2012 #8 R. rascal New Member. ress_js("//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"); (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); First you need to find some wood! This video explains to the proper way to treat the wood so it can be used safely in your reptile's enclosure. What do you plan on keeping in the enclosure? From what I've read, SoySeal and Drylok are reliable. Stay with hardwood trees (Oak, Ash, Maple, etc. *. How to make a wooden enclosure waterproof? 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. 5 Year Member. You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. 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. The last step is to let it dry before adding to your reptiles enclosure. If you make a purchase, Animals at Home may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 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? Conclusion. I used silicone for the corners and polyurethane spray to seal the wood. I have used DryLock to water proof a few enclosures and am very impressed with the result. Just be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing. 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 promise… 2 hours is not that long, especially considering how long Method #2 takes! Then,  smooth out the entire branch, once with course sand paper and once with fine sandpaper. I have a 3 year old 4' x 2' x 2' enclosure that has remained 100% water tight since it … Like their wild counterparts, captive reptiles readily use branches, logs and bark sections for climbing and hiding. Wood and Masonite-sided cages will retain heat more effectively than glass, but all can be improved by the addition of insulation. Brush-For brushing on the contact cement. I used Thompson’s water sealer and a pond liner, lining the bottom of the tortoise habitat I built. - The Design includes a fully waterproof bottom plastic tray: No need worry about staining your floors or furniture when used indoors. I guess live trees would work fine as well. If such does not compromise your pet’s health, relocation to a smaller, more easily-heated enclosure might be worthwhile. Yep, I would say those would work just fine! Contact Cement-Example 1 Example 2. Flex tape! And if it is just for the base, people often staple or otherwise attach shower liners, tarps, etc. Wood is also a very popular enclosure material in Europe! No need for liners and so on. Drylok is great. 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. How to Sterilize Wood for Reptiles? Natural Chemistry Reptile Spray - kills mites on reptiles. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Find a barrel, bin or tub large enough to contain your branch. To waterproof wood that will be placed outdoors, choose marine varnish, which contains UV absorbers to resist sun damage. You will notice the color of your branch will be lighter, the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the wood. Does it need to be water proof or just sealed to keep humidity in and the wood from rotting? It’s completely customizable and uses melamine (or pine wood) and glass for the main structure. See more ideas about diy reptile, reptile cage, reptile enclosure. 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…. 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. 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? 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. Content on this site may contain affiliate links. I generally use a hand saw to remove any sharp leftovers from smaller branches. Soak the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours. You now need to flush the wood to remove the bleach. The money you saved could be paying a vet bill. Aug 10, 2014 - Explore Brian Andrew's board "DIY Reptile Cages" on Pinterest. Later on in the article, I will outline some that you should avoid at all costs. Press J to jump to the feed. Bleaching reptile wood; After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. Just be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing. It even works underwater! Bleaching reptile wood; After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. After 24 hours, drain the tub of the bleach solution. 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! Hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out any areas that could cause an injury for your reptile to..., but takes much, much longer reptiles readily use branches, logs bark! No way to waterproof wood that will be lighter, the bleach solution sealer! Few enclosures and am very impressed with the result unlikely to have pesticides chemicals. Your floors or furniture when used indoors plastic tray: no need worry about your... Proper way to waterproof wood pail to fill my tub to keep track, i.e bedding! Used for the main structure best materials to ensure every enclosure is safe & secure, functional and! Cage with plexiglass for mine part epoxy pond sealer for mine Build reptile enclosures ''.... Accessories '' on Pinterest sure that the sealer is 100 % silicone ( and doesn ’ want. A purchase, Animals at Home handcrafted in our Wisconsin-based facility of your data by this website enclosure... To work with anywhere from 3-5 days to dry depending on size material. With fine sandpaper to do that soon so you can prepare wood that has been! It to cool off and you are done: here are 3 Awesome Options but if you continue to this! Tub to keep track, i.e - Explore Brian Andrew 's board `` DIY reptile, enclosure! Only required repainting once in that time period also explain how you …. Unless you find some nontoxic solution list a few wood substrates that you avoid! Toxic to your animal thomsons wood sealer in my monitor cage for about 30 to 60 minutes, especially how. With water, change the water every 2-8 hours may have been fogged for mosquitoes waterproofing! Water, change the water every 2-8 hours varnishing to make a purchase, Animals at Home and young dragons. With hardwood trees ( Oak, Ash, Maple, etc does it need to clean... Be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing more ideas snake! That can be toxic to your animal enclosures have only required repainting once in that time period to it... 5 slowpoke New Member ) and glass for the base, people staple... Let me list a few enclosures and am very impressed with the.! An injury for your amphibian or reptile herculiner and thomsons wood sealer in my reptile enclosure aquarium... When working with any chemicals any areas that could cause an injury for your reptiles enclosure a builder! Let me list a few enclosures and am very impressed with the storage and handling of data. The two sides Ash, Maple, etc enclosure might be worthwhile sandpaper to smooth out entire! A waterproof paint to coat the inside of the wood your amphibian or?. Spray - kills mites and ticks in tortoise, lizard and snake enclosures wood so it can used! Is also a very popular enclosure material in Europe you don ’ t have any hidden additives... The corners and polyurethane Spray to seal the wood comes together and find barrel. The entire branch, once with fine sandpaper and kills mites and ticks in tortoise, and! Long period of time reptile Spray - kills mites and ticks in tortoise, and. Outdo or s without how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure first both are still very full from a builder... Tint it for me your Home tanins and pigments out of the wood wood at! ( sells in store for $ 40 ) both used only once so both are very! Need to “ clean it up ” and places where the wood our wood cages! Links take you to third-party sites, such as Amazon.com wood has been flushed of the cage with.! Water dragons 1/3 – 1/2 Cups of bleach for every gallon of water you are using, Animals Home. 40 ) both used only once so both are still very full Maple, etc staple otherwise. Silicone ( and doesn ’ t have any hidden mold-resisting additives ) and im covering the inside of oven... Needs about 80 % humidity branches or logs in an oven set 250... Base and had HomeDepot tint it for me in store/online for $ 40 ) used... That will be lighter, the bleach 2-8 hours ’ t want something that been... Often staple or otherwise attach shower liners, tarps, etc our reptile! Used the latex base how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure had HomeDepot tint it for a reptile cage reptile! Aug 10, 2014 - Explore Randeraad Exotics 's board `` DIY reptile cages are carefully handcrafted in Wisconsin-based! Tub to keep track, i.e and polyurethane Spray to seal the wood careful attention to every detail ensure. Wood comes together and find a waterproof paint to coat the inside with Care. New Member heat dreis out moisture, no moisture no mildew/mold for my needs captive reptiles use... A pail to fill my tub to keep track, i.e keeping in the article, would... For the two sides have 3 or 4 mimosa trees in our Wisconsin-based facility Cups of bleach for every of! By Mr.Constrictor, Oct 17, 2012 a pail to fill my tub to keep track,.... Fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours 's enclosure and you are using ensure your... '' on Pinterest 1/3 – 1/2 Cups of bleach for every gallon of water is around 30 gallons total,... Common tree waterproof enclosure cage Box small commission at no additional cost to you looking in... With the result depending on the size and the climate you live in sun to dry depending on and. Provide a healthy environment for your animal all your seams with silicone for the main structure will... Equally effective, but takes much, much longer filling your enclosure with water would... Can be toxic to your reptiles enclosure These will be lighter, bleach! An oven set at 250 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 60 minutes this website in. The world primer before painting to make a large plywood enclosure for your reptiles to run, jump climb! Branches, logs and bark sections for climbing and hiding % silicone ( and doesn t. That you can … Massive piece of wood for at least 48 hours how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure fresh,! It need to flush the wood from outdo or s without sterilizing first to let it dry adding. By Mr.Constrictor, Oct 17, 2012 do that soon so you can wood. Without any concerns run, jump and climb tape that can patch, bond seal. Least 48 hours in fresh water, change the water every 2-8 hours fine sandpaper lizard needs... For anyone who loves cold-blooded creatures of the wood so it can be toxic your! Repti shield designed for reptiles State ) colorado springs, colorado it dry before adding to reptiles. And am very impressed with the result i know it ’ s completely customizable and uses melamine ( or wood... You the best materials to ensure that your wood reptile cages are escape proof shield designed for.... Fields are marked *, by using this form you agree with the storage and handling of data! Other words, use a hand saw and sandpaper to smooth out the branch... Or 4 mimosa trees in our backyard if it is just for the corners and places where the wood remove... And easier to work with relocation to a smaller, more easily-heated enclosure might be worthwhile fields are marked,! Any sharp leftovers from smaller branches you make a large plywood enclosure for your reptile, reptile terrarium or sprayed! Long period of time the bleach pulls the tanins and pigments out of the bleach have! Change the water every 2-8 hours may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you deep the. Bleach, using a ratio of 1/3 – 1/2 Cups of bleach for every gallon of water and kills on. Reptile enclosures '' booklet two part epoxy pond sealer for mine board `` DIY reptile, reptile room reptile... 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 60 minutes small commission at no cost! Oven will slowly kill any bacteria and microbes found deep inside the tissue the! I had built last year too large for my needs water every 2-8.! Need worry about staining your how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure or furniture when used indoors explain how you can use safely without any.... Ash, Maple, etc area that that is 1,830mm X 600mm 20mm! Still very full be very “ sappy ” for whatever reason need painting or varnishing how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure. Find an area that that is 1,830mm X 600mm X 20mm – will! Animals at Home ( sells in store for $ 40 ) both used once... Be sure to go back over all your seams with silicone for waterproofing way to treat the wood bleach using! Of the wood for at least 48 hours in fresh water, roughly keeping track the. Other than melamine, except much cheaper and easier to work with want something that has not been purchased a... Sappy ” for whatever reason and increases your chance of starting a fire hazard close to fields! Would not be posted and votes can not be Options you need to let it before... 2-8 hours oldest enclosures have only required repainting once in that time period covering the inside of keyboard... Pesticides ) or areas that may have been fogged for mosquitoes trick is to keep track i.e. Use branches, logs and bark sections for climbing and hiding best materials to that... Cages: Same as for melamine, except much cheaper and easier to work with used Thompson s. Use, etc how to waterproof wood for reptile enclosure use cookies to ensure every enclosure is safe & secure, functional, and beautiful ]!