Is fresh paint harmful?

[brotherwarren]

Hi all. I've just finished building my first viv. I painted the inside with water based, tough silk white paint. I'm worried that the fumes from the paint will harm my boa, he's about 18", 3 months. How long do I need to leave the viv before I move him into it? The smell of paint has gone completely but I won't be in there 23hours a day like him.

[adam2373]

I'd give it about a week, preferably with a fan running on it.

[Invictus]

Good choice on the water based paint. I agree, give it a week.

[mikeydadog]

personally I use a marine enamel paint let it dry a week in an airy place, then use a poly urethane over that and give it another 3 weeks to dry out TALK ABOUT DURABLE!

[Invictus]

polyurethane cures in a single day, but it's not a good idea to use it over a marine enamel. Because you're using a water-based product over a laytex-based product, it won't bond as well, and eventually you'll get separation. Marine enamel by itself should be more durable than you'll ever need in a cage. That's what I use myself now, and it's diamond hard.

[Rosy-enthusiast]

Why would you let it air out for another 3 weeks?

[mikeydadog]

Well as always I'm always on the cautious side so I feel longer is better to make sure the solvents are dried out of it, as the marine enamel I am using is not a waterbased product. and if you compare products polyurathane does dry in one day but usually takes more time to actually cure! and as I am a finishing carpenter I'm pretty sure when it comes to finishes I know what I can and can not apply. If you leave your marine enamel bare it will eventually over time start to dull on it's own maybe it's the bleach solution i use for cleaning. I have one habitat done this way thats still like new after 6 yrs and another I didn't use anything over and it's pretty dull and it's from the same can of paintbuilt appx 6 months apart.
I realize you have used waterbased paint and am in no way suggesting that you cover it. I was just posting to tell you how I myself do it.
waterbase=latex

[Invictus]

I was referring to polyurethane for the water-based. Oil based poly can be harmful to reptiles.

[Rosy-enthusiast]

Where would you get marine enamel, thanks.

[mikeydadog]

usually any good paint store has marine enamel but like invictus says it can be harmful to reptiles, if 1- it isn't cured properly and 2 does not have a poly coat or two over it. This is the reason I allow to cure for what seems to most a long time. but the longer wait produces much better results. and guarantees the solvents and vapors are dissapated.

[Invictus]

The one I use is from Varathane, it's called "Colors in plastic". This is the marine enamel I use, and it works great so far. After it reaches full cure, I'd say it's safe for a snake, but maybe not for anything with claws. I may be wrong about the polyurethane causing separation because of the 2 different bases, but last I checked oil and water don't mix well. I suppose Polyurenthane probably has other bonding agents though.