Reptile Safe Paint?

I'm in the process of making some hatchling hides. I've been saving up sour cream tubs, butter tubs, cottage cheese tubs, etc. to use as baby hides. I plan on cutting an entrance and painting them black for added security since they are white in color.

My question is this, is there a non-toxic reptile safe paint that I can use on these tubs to paint them black? I would like the paint to not be water proof so I can wash the tubs (by hand with soap and water and then disinfected with F10) and not have the paint flake off.

Hmm. Im not sure. They make non toxic paint for kids. But I think anything is going to peel/flake right off of those. That surface I dont think will take paint well. Let us know how it works out.

Did you mean you want it to be waterproof? From my understanding, any paint that dries hard and is completely aired out is ok to use. I painted my hide with the 'make it stone' spray paint followed by a krypton clear waterproofing. I aired it out for over a week on my back patio due to my paranoia :) Then I just put it in my guys tank. No ill effects so far.

Few paints will stick to that kind of surface. The ones that do are so expensive that it makes it not worth it. (Liner polyurethane runs 110$ a quart and once mixed it will harden and cannot be saved)


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*Krylon lol. Stupid auto correct.

Hmmm... I'd x2 on the "make it stone" to add texture for the paint to stick to, except I feel like that has the potential to flake off as well... perhaps not with a sealant over it though. I'll be following, as I have a big DIY project coming up and reptile-safe paint definitely plays a part!

They do make spray paints that are specifically made to bond with plastic. I'm pretty sure Walmart carries it, not sure on who manufactures it. For painting patio furniture and whatnot. You might be able to tell, but I'm all about the spray paint lol

I think a clear plastic top coat that has been allowed to flash off vapours from curing would be the safest bet over top of any "non-toxic" paint.

Edit: For painting plastic with decent result I would suggest Krylon paints.

Yes, I meant water proof! silly typo on my part. I just feel like the white hides won't be enough security for them. I'm open to other ideas if you have any. I've thought about blacking out the actual tubs too. The lids are hunter green and I've considered blacking out 3 or 4 sides of the tub with black paper or cardboard. I'm hoping to get a new hatchling XPVC rack before I have hatchlings so that will solve all my issues anyway. I just want to work with what I have in case I don't have that rack by October (eggs are due to be laid around the first week of August).

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Originally Posted by Raven01

I think a clear plastic top coat that has been allowed to flash off vapours from curing would be the safest bet over top of any "non-toxic" paint.

Edit: For painting plastic with decent result I would suggest Krylon paints.

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do they make a kind of "black plastic top coat"? The problem is that I want to make the hides darker inside for added security.

For the Krylon paints, could I do a "fushion" spray paint? Should I add some type of sealant on top?

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

They do make spray paints that are specifically made to bond with plastic. I'm pretty sure Walmart carries it, not sure on who manufactures it. For painting patio furniture and whatnot. You might be able to tell, but I'm all about the spray paint lol

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I'm not opposed to spray paint as long as it's safe for the snakes. Obviously they will be done this summer (probably before I have eggs) so there will be a good 2 months of curing time.

I'm only linking this because OHBALLS used the Krylon paint.


http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tic-quot-Hides

"1 - paint (I used "Krylon Make It Stone!" textured paint but you can use whatever you like)"


You could try using primer on the plastic then paint or possibly buy the primer/paint in one. I know lowe's and possibly home depot sells these paints. Walmart is a definite possibility.

I can't remember where I read it, it may have been somewhere on here, but I believe polyurethane is ok to use as a top coat. I'd recommend doing the top coat with something that you can hand paint. I used about 6 layers of clear coat and mine still wasn't totally waterproof. Granted, I had a heavily textured surface, so it may work out better for you.

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

I can't remember where I read it, it may have been somewhere on here, but I believe polyurethane is ok to use as a top coat. I'd recommend doing the top coat with something that you can hand paint. I used about 6 layers of clear coat and mine still wasn't totally waterproof. Granted, I had a heavily textured surface, so it may work out better for you.

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Worse case, I repaint them.

I'm really hoping to have that rack done by October (when I expect pipping babies) so this won't really be necessary since the tubs will be nice and dark in the rack anyway. As it is now, my baby rack is open with clear tubs so I'm just trying to make things as secure as possible!

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Originally Posted by BHReptiles

do they make a kind of "black plastic top coat"? The problem is that I want to make the hides darker inside for added security.

For the Krylon paints, could I do a "fushion" spray paint? Should I add some type of sealant on top?



I'm not opposed to spray paint as long as it's safe for the snakes. Obviously they will be done this summer (probably before I have eggs) so there will be a good 2 months of curing time.

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There may be a black plastic top-coat. I just think it is simpler to use a black krylon or fusion(pretty sure this is a krylon product anyway) then seal it with the topcoat so there is no contact between the darkening paint and the animal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raven01

There may be a black plastic top-coat. I just think it is simpler to use a black krylon or fusion(pretty sure this is a krylon product anyway) then seal it with the topcoat so there is no contact between the darkening paint and the animal.

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Yes, the fusion is a Krylon product. I'll try and track down some black krylon paint and a top coat and get that done next week. Then it's got a while for it to cure and dry before going into baby tubs.