I Hate the Sound of Breaking Glass!

scales.jp · 10-11-17, 08:31 AM

Last July I bought an all glass viv intending it as a starter home for an Angolan python that I didn't end up buying. Since then it's just been sitting in my room. At the beginning of this month I bought a young CH Timor python, who's currently living in a medium sized RUB. The day before I picked him up I sprayed both the viv and the RUB with a mite deterrent, just to be on the safe side. The spray is very mild, but it smeared badly and made quite a mess of the vivarium glass. Today I had some time to spare so I decided to clean it off by removing each of the glass panels and rinsing them under the shower.

All was going well until the last two panels. Somehow I managed to chip the first panel in three places, then cracked the second panel on the shower head. Not sure how many times I swore in the hour that followed, but the air definitely turned blue. My wife wasn't impressed that there were stray shards of glass on the shower floor, either.

The manufacturer says two replacement panels will cost $50. No thanks. Tomorrow I'm going to go and look for some 4mm plywood or something that I can use to patch it up until I get a non-glass viv built. Still kicking myself, but I guess I've learnt a lesson and the main thing is my snake is non the wiser that anything has happened.

I think I'm going to swear again. F....

Jim Smith · 10-11-17, 10:47 AM

I hate to admit that I chuckled at your story; not about your misfortune, but rather at your response to chipping and breaking the glass. It sounds exactly like how I would have responded. I hope that you get it all sorted out and that you get your viv back in top condition soon.

scales.jp · 10-11-17, 02:05 PM

I could probably get away with using the piece I cracked, but seeing how easily the other piece chipped I'd rather not risk it. Still not sure how that first piece chipped so badly in so many places.

akane · 10-11-17, 03:01 PM

I am constantly breaking glass aquarium tops. I can't set them down for a minute between cleaning and putting them back on or somehow they will get broken. Luckily they aren't real expensive to get new glass but I oopsied a 90gallon being used for reptiles while rearranging things. I thought the glass could handle dispersing the heat of a low wattage lamp for a short time and nope. Since years ago I turned a chip on the front panel into a giant line trying to "fix" it and had to stop using it for fish I decided it's time to pull it apart and turn it to scrap for less glass reliant enclosures. It does still have two 4' panels of glass and the 18x24" end left in the thickness for a 90g aquarium but while I can use the remainder for fronts of plywood enclosures it is sad that it would take near $400 now to replace its' equivalent quality.

jjhill001 · 10-11-17, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scales.jp

I could probably get away with using the piece I cracked, but seeing how easily the other piece chipped I'd rather not risk it. Still not sure how that first piece chipped so badly in so many places.

You could probably silicone it in order to offer more strength.

scales.jp · 10-11-17, 06:31 PM

I'm still surprised it happened. I thought the glass was supposed to be toughened or something! The viv I'm going to have made will only have a glass front, 5mm thick instead of the general 4mm. I only wish I'd found the guy that builds them sooner.

dannybgoode · 10-16-17, 01:14 AM

I had been looking at the glass doors for the two 6' vivs I'm building for weeks thinking 'i really should move those to somewhere safer'. That said they were in a room as barely use.

Sure enough a couple weeks later I was chasing a grumpy 5 yo and I trod on them breaking 3 or the 4 doors. Just waiting on replacements so I can build them all and start transferring my animals.

scales.jp · 10-16-17, 04:45 PM

Well, at least I'm not the only one. The wood panels I bought to replace the glass look really nice now I've varnished them. Hopefully I can turn this minor disaster into a nice viv modification!