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Paint smell problem - how to speed up off-gassing

J

Jitt

New member
Hi all,

totally new to corn snakes, but even more enthusiastic about getting my own little critter! As such I was helped with building my own vivarium, after reading a TONS of information ... from the most part I would say I managed to succeed with humidity, temperature bridges and making different temp zones ...

.... except one thing.

For painting the background (how a rocky vulcanic cave turned into first-class radioactive sewer I'll never know but I love the "new look" :D) I used water-solluble acrylate paint ... it's supposed to be ecological and quick-drying. But even after a week when I stuck my head into viv (with proper temperatures and humidity) I can still smell the paint :( It's not that kind that would make your head spin, for that I spend half of hour with my head closed in the vivarium breathing it to see if it will make me dizzy or something (idiot, I know XD) but it's still there. Not so much noticeable when I just let the viv cool down, but appears again when the temperatures catch up and goes on. Mostly hanging around the ceiling though, not so much around the bottom of the viv.

My main concern is ... it's already almost week I painted this and let it properly dry, still have few days left till my little critter arrives ... should be at sunday noon +/- (aka 4.10) Any tips how to speed up off-gassing or simply getting rid of that smell? If I can smell it, the snake will go apeshit for sure T_T

For now altering between raising the temperature with hairdryer and after I reach around 40°C around, letting a table fan blowing inside fresh air and letting it escape through the other side (two glass sliding doors at the front now stuck in the middle).

Do you have any other tips how to speed this up? If I can't make that smell go away for a good deal, I can't put my critter in and have to look for a suitable "temporary cover" beforehand. :(

Thank you for any advices ... any tip is a great help!
 
I had a similar problem with a branch I sterilised. It smelled of resin after baking it, not a lot, but when I closed the plastic faunarium it built up a lot. I ended up discarding the branch and buying a new one, then sterilised it by boiling and bleach.

If you used water-solluble paint, it will sollubilize again with high humidities, I guess.

Is there a way you can leave the vivarium wide open to air, even dismantling it or a part? The paint also may not be heat resistent, so it smells. Have you thought of varnishing it with something heat resistent to seal the paint smell? (Of course you'll need more airing)

I don't know how old your critter will be, but consider buying a RUB box or a palstic shoe box to house it until the background doesn't smell at all. It doesn't feel OK to put the snake in there even if the paint is branded as ecological.
 
Unfortunately it can't be taken apart much as it's inbuilt into wooden cupboard :( The paint should be water resistant (solluble only during the liquid stage before drying off), read even some people used the same kind I did for painting the background for aquariums and it held for years with no problem (all fishes survived too so to speak).

Varnishing is also to be considered, but thought it will be alright like this ... as this kind is also used for outside coatings as well.

So far I keep heating the surface up with hair dryer to raise the temp above what will be in the viv and then let it blow off with the help of table fan from the space.

As for the age ... 3, almost 4 months old (born around middle of July). So pretty much still baby ...
 
Seems the consecutive attacks with hairdryer and thorough vent-off with table fan are paying off. I can barely smell anything inside even after letting it run few hours! (like terrarium alone how it will be :))

Will keep continuing though cause don't wanna harm my little critter, but very pleased with how this routine is paying off! If someone would have same problem, highly recommend hair dryer (max temp) and table fan to blow inside fresh air later!
 
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