making a fake rock?

so im curious as to whether i can take styrofoam and cover it with cement to make a fake rock for a gecko. if i sanded it, painted it, and sealed it to make it smooth would this be reptile safe?

any info is appreciated, thanks!

You could do that but you have to be very careful about what kind of paint and sealant you use.You can buy them at some pet stores too. Really, I would just get a real rock :D Or a nice big cured branch.

lol well actually i said rock for simplicites sake, but really its for a background with climbing ledges for a gargoyle gecko. :) i was just afraid that concrete wouldnt be safe for a reptile.

concrete is a pretty neutral substance, unless you smash your head against it.

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Originally Posted by katieam

lol well actually i said rock for simplicites sake, but really its for a background with climbing ledges for a gargoyle gecko. :) i was just afraid that concrete wouldnt be safe for a reptile.

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Ohh I got ya. I wouldn't pour concrete over it, I don't think it will turn out like you hope. You can paint it with non-toxic paint and seal it with non-toxic sealant, but let it dry for a good few days. Exo-terra does make backgrounds exactly like that for their tanks, and they do sell them separately on their site and through pet stores.

I think some rock would be a better idea.

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/background.php

Check that out for the exo-terra background.

Try these links these are what im planning to do with my bearded dragons

http://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/falserock/?page=1

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make...r-a-reptile-c/

lawfulchaos: yes! thats what i want!

i wanted more ledges and things for food bowls and hides to sit on since they are arboreal. i wanted to build like ramps and caves and ledges for them to climb on.

Glad i could help im planning on making a complete fake rock wall with hide, ledges, and ramp thats gonna be 48Lx24H.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ome+made+hides

this link is from the ball python section of this forum...i glanced over here, and noticed the topic...

you could probably use the idea to make "rocks"...i tried it to make hides, and it works really well...but the first time i didn't cook it long enough, or i put too many layers of paint or SOMETHING and they became soggy...eh, give it a try, i had all the materials at my house, so real cheap! :gj::gj:

Here's a thread that shows how to make a backdrop with foam, silicon? calking, and eco earth...

This is meant for Tarantulas but I've seen the same method used for all kinds of inverts and herps. Just use a thicker piece of foam so you can carve really deep crevices and stuff.
He also uses a drill to make the texture but you can using any kind of sharp or hard tools to scrape and form the foam.
Make sure the calk is well cured, give it 24-36 hours, so it's no longer toxic.

These things are great! Textured and easy for animals to climb, very thin layer of dirt so it drys quick and doesn't mold, and is water proof cause your other ingredients are calk and foam.

p.s. If you like T's. Robc on arachnoboards is the best!!! I love his tarantula videos. His youtube name is tarantulaguy1976

I have to double recommend the last link to the arachnoboards. It is an EXCELLENT link!!!

thanks everybody! i like that one from the arachnoboard as well, i think thats what im going to do.