Ceramic Hides?

I'm a sculpture by trade & have wondered if hides built out of fired ceramic would be fine for my ball python? I would assume they would be, being that most glazes are "food safe" & I know which aren't, just thought I'd ask since I've done a couple of searches on here & have not been able to find what I was looking for. Thanks in advance.

BTW, I've been lurking on here for a been & finally decided to join a bit ago.

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Originally Posted by Fukinitupagain

I'm a sculpture by trade & have wondered if hides built out of fired ceramic would be fine for my ball python? I would assume they would be, being that most glazes are "food safe" & I know which aren't, just thought I'd ask since I've done a couple of searches on here & have not been able to find what I was looking for. Thanks in advance.

BTW, I've been lurking on here for a been & finally decided to join a bit ago.

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I have actually been thinking about this extensively. I think a ceramic hide would be the ultimate hide. It would be water proof, easy to clean, nice and heavy, easy to customize, your choice of color. I am a huge fan of this idea. I demand that you create one of these hides and post pictures. I am so behind this idea I looked up how much it would cost to buy an electric kiln so that I can make my own. I was thinking an oval shaped hide with an off center igloo type opening. Something like a reptile basics hide but with an oval shape instead of a rectangle. Nice natural glaze and maybe some natural unevenness like an Exo Terra reptile cave. Do this. I need pictures.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/images/products/mdhide.jpg
http://www.exo-terra.com/download/hi...ptile_Cave.jpg

I've often thought what a perfect hide a ceramic one would be. Like was said, waterproof, easy to clean, choice of colors to match decor, easy to sanitize, hard to tip over. They'd be ideal in my opinion.

If you make these, put me on the list for a dozen hatchling size, another dozen large cereal bowl size, and a half dozen about 12" across for my big girls.

If I had the means, I'd do this, but kilns are not cheap. :(

Gale

I'd buy them

Do up a nice prototype and post pics and I would be interested in 4 large hides. I am also a network administrator by trade. I would be very interested in setting up a web page and online shopping cart to sell the hides. I also know a decent amount about direct response and could definitely handle some advertising. Just need to know your total costs of materials. Total time to make one and estimated time to make and package to ship 100.

I've never used one but I've always heard that ceramic flower pots with a smooth door cut into it made an outstanding BP hide. I can't think of anything about a ceramic hide that would be a problem, as long as the entire surface in smoothed.

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Originally Posted by Agent73

I've never used one but I've always heard that ceramic flower pots with a smooth door cut into it made an outstanding BP hide. I can't think of anything about a ceramic hide that would be a problem, as long as the entire surface in smoothed.

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I've wanted to do this, but can't figure out how to cut the hole without cracking the whole pot/bowl and how to smooth it out. How do you do it?

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Originally Posted by poundhound2

I've wanted to do this, but can't figure out how to cut the hole without cracking the whole pot/bowl and how to smooth it out. How do you do it?

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You can try a masonry bit for a drill to drill a few holes to guide the breaking process. Then use pliers to hopefully break the piece you want out. Then use a file to smooth the rough edges. The OP is talking about using clay to scult a perfect hide, then firing it and glazing it.

Welcome to BP.net. Like the username.

Holy hell, I had never actually thought of selling any, lol, I just wanted something better for my boy. Because I am still hooked in with my university I have access to all the kilns 24/7. I am generally a metal casting sculptor but am extremely good with ceramics (wet clay & wax work in about the same ways, I just like bronze/aluminum/iron/steel better, lol)

Let me get a couple of things worked up & then I can get some input from you guys: like what size would be good for hatchling size?

Thanks DellaF :D

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Originally Posted by Fukinitupagain

Holy hell, I had never actually thought of selling any, lol, I just wanted something better for my boy. Because I am still hooked in with my university I have access to all the kilns 24/7. I am generally a metal casting sculptor but am extremely good with ceramics (wet clay & wax work in about the same ways, I just like bronze/aluminum/iron/steel better, lol)

Let me get a couple of things worked up & then I can get some input from you guys: like what size would be good for hatchling size?

Thanks DellaF :D

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http://www.reptilebasics.com/mini-hide-box

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fukinitupagain

Holy hell, I had never actually thought of selling any, lol, I just wanted something better for my boy. Because I am still hooked in with my university I have access to all the kilns 24/7. I am generally a metal casting sculptor but am extremely good with ceramics (wet clay & wax work in about the same ways, I just like bronze/aluminum/iron/steel better, lol)

Let me get a couple of things worked up & then I can get some input from you guys: like what size would be good for hatchling size?

Thanks DellaF :D

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I don't know enough about ceramics but maybe you can answer my question. Is there a type of clay that can be poured that will give you the same strength as stoneware. The ideal solution would be to create a mold that way you could provide a consistent product. I think there is a real market for high end hides. Many of us are struggling to find the perfect hides and I think ceramics offers the perfect solution.

Lol you may have intended to only make yourself one, but you'd certainly have buyers!

Id be interested. I almost bought a ceramic round birdhouse for one of my turds, but the colors were soo blan. There are endless possibilities for some sick looking ceramic hides:rolleyes:

Definitely adding this to the "watched threads" list. This would be an awesome idea. I've done a lot of ceramic work, but just painting. That was years ago. It would be amazing to order some hides that I could decorate myself.

Can't wait to see some prototypes. :D

I love the idea. I just wish I wasn't so clumsy!!! While I snake proof things for the balls, I also have to Morgan proof things for myself bc I have a very bad tendency to drop things. So if you can perhaps make them unbreakable I want 41. Lol. I have plastic everything for pretty much all the snakes. I've broken everything else! Serious case of butterfingers my whole life.

Funny this is being brought up. I have a friend who is a potter and I told her I'd be interested in some nice. non-tippable, ceramic water bowls. :D She said she would see what she could do....

Well, if you were going round for hatchlings, I used a large plastic cup I cut down for mine. So say roughly, 4" in diameter. For yearlings maybe 7" in diameter. Sub adults around 9" in diameter. And the biggest I use are 12" in diameter.

Of course if you go with the rectangular style, you can find all the measurements you need at that reptilebasics website.

Truthfully, I think you'd find buyers for both styles, so you might want to give that some thought. If you can make this work, you may have just found a way to pay for your hobby!

Gale

Wow, where do I begin...

Egapal: I mix a type of slip (slip is what looks like a grey soupy water but hardens like normal stoneware & is durable after being fired, no problems), that I'd use. I've used it numerous times & have never had problems with it. Also we might have to work something out, if you know about websites & such.

Homegrownscales: I can't make it breakproof, unless I coated with a rubber paint coating but not good for the snakes, lol

Kymberli: Yeah I realize that now...

Angllady2: Thanks for the size ideas. Being that the only Ball I've ever owned has been an adoptee, I don't know much about when they are super small. I was figuring something like those sizes & that helps me confirm!

Well this weekend I'm gonna be in the studio all weekend anyhow so while I'm there I'll get some prototypes whipped up. If I get some soft designs of what I like & what you guys like, then I'll get into makin quite a bit, it seems, & I'll have to set up some sort of order process (that might take me a month or so to make a bit so that when people order I can have "X" amount on hand to go ahead & ship out)