RCReptiles.com

[Mel]

Anyone know of a safe caulk/glue/etc. to re-seal a tank. The one I have is awesome but the glue stuff is getting old and cracking off.

If it's non toxic for people is it safe for snakes? It'd be a lot cheaper for me to reseal the tank than buy a new one but I definitely do not want to poison my snake!

[deborahbroadus]

In the pet department in the fish section is a 100% silcon glue for tanks(sp) This is harmless.

[Mel]

Okay, got that taken care of. On to other things.

I'm having a hellacious time trying to find Plexi-glass. I've checked all the Lowes and Home Depots.

I was wondering how anyone else found the stuff. Or if they had alternative tank coverings (besides a soggy towel).

[a_green]

I just checked the phone book for plastics places and phoned around, I didn't have too much trouble finding a place that would cut a custom piece of plexiglass for me. I even had them cut a hole for my heat emitter, which I covered with screen. The little air holes I drilled myself, cuz they wanted 10 extra bucks for that. Pff!

[MikeandSlick]

I went to home depot yesterday to see about getting plexiglass. Instead I came across those plastic panels used for fluorescent light coverings in ceilings. Some of them are made with acrylic and they average around $7. They are about 3 x2 feet. They are easy to cut to the right size, you just run a blade along it a few times and then snap it. As for cutting a hole for a heat emitter you'll need a jig saw or something. I didn't get that far because I bought a $2.97 peice that turned out to be quite brittle and it was breaking as a worked with it. I'm going back today to get a higher quality peice. It will sit on the inner lip of the cage, and the screen can still slide over top to hold it down until I find some of those clips I've been hearing about.

[Travis]

Try a glass and mirror shop...They could have a piece layin around???

[deborahbroadus]

[Buck_99]

Mel,

Just in case you're like me and are "Lowes and Home Depot challenged," I have to ask: did you ask the employees for help, or did you just look around the stores and not find the plexiglass?

I have found that the project desks at these stores are helpful. Go to the project desk (usually at the front), tell them what you're doing, what you need, how big it needs to be, etc. They may surprise you and inform you that they do, in fact, have what you need. The brilliant part is they'll go through the store and gather all the stuff for you, so you don't have to feel like an idiot when they tell you it's in aisle 13, you go to aisle 13, and 10 minutes later you still don't see it. They also offer suggestions you might not have thought of (isn't cross-selling great? Everyone wins!), and maybe you can even convince them to drill holes for you, etc. You can wait right there or come back another day and they'll have your item(s) cut to size and ready for you to pick up. Naturally you pay in advance.

That being said, I've never asked Lowes or Home Depot if they have plexiglass. I have looked, and I didn't see it either...but I did find this wonderful thin, clear plastic stuff that is extremely heat resistant and self-extinguishing! I don't know what it's called, sorry, but it allowed me to use UTH heaters under plastic tubs on wooden tables, without fear of starting a fire. Handy. Lowes had it, and all those features were right there on the labels on the shelf next to the sheets. Described as "virtually indestructible."

Travis' idea is brilliant and probably cheaper, I'd try that first.

A_Green's approach works too, but I hate talking to strangers on the phone. Used to do it for a living, ruined it for me forever. Good for you, A!* I wish I felt more comfortable letting my fingers do the walking ("it's a snap!"...did I just age myself?).

Good luck!

* That reminds me, a_green...what do you prefer to be called when I reference you in my posts?

[Mel]

Wow. Sudden resurrections of old topics always make me blink.

Actually, I was lucky and avoided the whole challenge. I sent the construction/buildy stuff minded man in for me. He even went to the lil shiny help desk at the front and/or center of the stores. He actually asked about a million people before he found it on his own.

We probably have the same stuff as you Buck. It's not quite plexi, but it's really awesome plastic that seems like plexi. Great stuff. Kind of expensive but well worth it.

Thanks for um, spelling it all out for me. Who would think to ask someone who works at a store, right? What a neat and sparkly new idea.