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Question about cedar being toxic

JustineNYC

JustineNYC

New member
Ironically Zoologygirl has a post about this up now...Basically I cant keep my cats from laying on top of the vivs. I have screen tops and while they are strong, Irwin fell through the screen top of one of my vivs last week.

So I started to look for things to put up there, something solid, glass, wood, plastic. I went to Lowes, thinking fiberglass sheets.....and they didnt have any big enough. Then I found whats called "cedar shelf fillers"

Their for people who have wire shelves, and the cedar sits on them to make them a flat surface. I bought a pack, but now my question is, I know cedar is bad for corns.

Is it ok I use these ? They will be on the OUTSIDE of the viv, above the screen top. The snakes will not come into contact with the cedar, but the cedar obviously has a smell to it. Im not sure what is bad for them, the scent, the actual wood, or both.

Thanks!
 
I'm not entirely sure, but if I remember correctly, cedar creates a sort of fume, and I believe that's what's toxic to the snake. I know it's bad to keep it in there with them, but outside the viv/on top... I'm not sure I would risk it. Instead of fiberglass, try Plexiglass. I think it's a bit cheaper, and it's very sturdy.
 
Actually it is oils in the cedar that are harmful. It is mostly Internet urban legend kind of stuff. Mice that chew up all of their bedding were found to have liver problems when kept on cedar. The rest is guess and supposition. If you are keeping the cedar outside of the viv where the snake cannot touch it, I can’t imagine any way it could do you harm.
 
Why not get something like melamine and use that? Cedar should be fine as long as it is not in the viv
 
Could you make wooden frames with hardware cloth for the screen, that are strong enough that the cats can't fall through, that just set down over the top?
 
Instead of making a lid that supports the cat, you could make a lid that is "half pipe" shape. That sits on top of the lid. And the cat would slide off of it.
a thought.
 
If you measure the screen top or just take it with you most local hardware stores will cut a piece of plexi glass to size for you. I cut mine to fit the inside of the top and screw it through the inside/top frame (screws facing up and out) with self tapping screws. I do it to all my screen tops 3/4 of the size to keep humidity in but leave a screen spot on the end so the lamp wont melt the plexi.

If you want to use the wood I would give it a few coats of latex paint to seal it just to be sure. Most home depots will make cuts for .50 each, you could take the measurements and have them cut you something out of something other than cedar.
 
Lennycorn said:
Instead of making a lid that supports the cat, you could make a lid that is "half pipe" shape. That sits on top of the lid. And the cat would slide off of it.
a thought.
Click to expand...

Thats actually a good idea. I have a 55 gallon, that may be a pain but the others are 20 longs, thats relatively easy. Right now Im not sure if Im keeping them in their tanks, or buying everyone new vivs....so something to place over the top is kind of a quick fix.
 
Nanci said:
Could you make wooden frames with hardware cloth for the screen, that are strong enough that the cats can't fall through, that just set down over the top?
Click to expand...

You mean like what a aquarium canopy would look like except, make my own. One day I have to sit down and find out if I got the build your own stuff gene from my family. Id really like to build my own vivs.

Some of the DIY here are nicest then any you can buy.
 
I wonder if you could find a melamine board that is about the right size.

I do like the "halfpipe" idea that I saw, I may have to look into that myself as it would still allow air to pass through the screen.
 
Melamine would have to be the right side because HD and Lowes wont cut them, something about releasing whatever into the air.

The plus about this fillers is they are 12 wide, the same as the tank, and 15 long.....so you need 2 exactly for a 20 long tank which is 30 inches, and they come 2 in a pack. Add the spacers underneath and they sit on top. There is a tiny space between them for air flow too, but not enough for a cats foot to go through.

They were perfect til I realized what they were made of :)

Here they are...

IMG_1940.jpg


They do a need piece of wood down the middle to hold them together and off the metal.

IMG_1944.jpg


IMG_1945.jpg
 
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