Shale for enclosure decor

[kormath]

I was watching The Spiderman on youtube redoing his scorpion enclosures and using slate as hides and decorations.

There are a few hills a short walk from my house here that are shale. Been thinking about using that as decorations, or hot gluing some pieces together for a rock hide.

Anyone heard or read of issues with shale? i haven't been able to find anything.

 

[Kymura]

Honestly cant imagine why there would be as long as you cleaned it thoroughly?
been looking and saw someone said they use backyard rocks in enclosures,
this is for reptiles but explains how they clean theirs
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snakes/720760-preparing-rocks-branches-vivarium-use.html

 

[Thistles]

Shale is even safe in aquaria. As long as it doesn't fall and crush a spider, it should be fine. Position it on the bottom of the tank and put substrate around it and be sure the glue is going to hold if you use it.

 

[kormath]

Shale is even safe in aquaria. As long as it doesn't fall and crush a spider, it should be fine. Position it on the bottom of the tank and put substrate around it and be sure the glue is going to hold if you use it.

Perfect! I'll be out rock hunting when the roads dry enough.

I'll have to pick up some stonework cement from the landscape shop down the road so the shale doesn't shift and make spider goo

What about a sealer like polyurethane or something to bring out the wet color of the shale?

 

[Thistles]

What about a sealer like polyurethane or something to bring out the wet color of the shale?

I'm not sure about sealers. I just use epoxy and silicone in aquaria. Sorry!

 

[Kymura]

thread on AB talks about sealing enclosures with it
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/how-to-make-a-tarantula-safe-wooden-terrarium-vivarium.257000/

 

[kormath]

thread on AB talks about sealing enclosures with it
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/how-to-make-a-tarantula-safe-wooden-terrarium-vivarium.257000/

great ideas but those are for wood, it absorbs the minwax and whatnot. Not sure how that would work with a rock i might have to play around with a few different types and see what works best.

 

[Kymura]

I Just meant for cure time and the like,
and that its safe in enclosures,
Paint up a small one and let it cure for a week or so, stick some crix in with it and see how it goes lol

 

[kormath]

I Just meant for cure time and the like,
and that its safe in enclosures,
Paint up a small one and let it cure for a week or so, stick some crix in with it and see how it goes lol

Good idea. If they die then I'll know that urethane is lethal lol