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Serving the Dart Frog Community Since 2004...

Proper top / Lid covering for tanks
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Proper top / Lid covering for tanks
#1
Your enclosure top must be covered adequately. You cannot have evaporation through a 100% open / screen top and expect to hand mist and then keep up with humidity loss from an all screen top/lid.

Glass - Best. Sturdy. Unable for animals to move it. Hold moisture in excellently. Good light penetration and visibility. Can be acquired free or a discount in some cases and otherwise, not expensive. Leave the top of any closure with @ 15-20% open/screen and the rest glass. These frogs need some ventilation. They will die if covered up completely.

Plexiglass or plastic - Fair. Very prone to warping or subtle disfigurement and thus, possible frog escape. Scratches and dulls sufficiently to not work as well as glass for light transfer. Pro - able to be drilled easier. More costly than glass. Do not use unless no other option / emergency.

Saran wrap / Grocery store cling wrap - ONLY use in DIRE emergencies. Doesn't seal well, prone to allowing too much ventilation and gaps / possible frog escape or desiccation (drying out). Could be burned or disfigured by heat from lighting placed close to it. Should only be used in temporary situations. Do you value or like your animal enough to get them something better than plastic wrap? I hope so.
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#2
In the category of Plex I would only recommend Lexan. This product is $$ but it works great and will last 10-15 years before it starts to show any yellowing. I used it w reef tanks and it held up really well over the years. The silicon or glue used to hold it place will wear out long before the Lexan.
Scott - North Dallas
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#3
Does it Warp ?
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#4
Nope, not in my experience. That is reason numero uno why I use Lexan. It can scratch, but I prefer that over risk of broken glass falling into a viv.
Scott - North Dallas
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#5
I have sort of made a two-piece top for my Exos, and it fits snuggled down into groove where the screen part used to be...but I'm reluctant to silicone half of the top in the event I had to do maintenance...etc. But I would like to make vent holes for not only ventilation, but also for cords, etc. I would very much like to get some suggestions of screening material that could be inserted...but would have to be FF proof...any ideas???
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#6
Lexan does not and will not warp. Unless it gets like 200+ degrees.
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#7
Lexan is great stuff! If you want to spend the money on it, it's the way to go. Personally, I stick to 1/4" glass tops that I drill, but lexan is a better choice.

Lexan is often used in safty glasses, although it's slightly different than sheet lexan, but gives you an idea of how clear it is and it doesn't opaque over time.
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#8
Just fwiw, polycarbonates like Lexan are largely being removed from food contact applications, due to leaching of BPA -- perhaps another reason to consider good old glass.
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#9
If you use saran wrap as a covering for anything other than Temporary.....you are WRONG. No other way to sugar coat it.

"Splurge" and buy a $3.00 piece o' glass at Home Depot, please.
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#10
Phil-
2 weeks ago I called the local True Value and gave them the dimensions for 2 small pieces of glass, to cover a 12x12x18 exo grow out tank. When I went to pick it up, I had them double check the price. Couldn't believe it! 81 cents!!!!!
Diane
P. Terribilis orange, R. Imitator Cainarachi Valley, D. Leucomelas, D. Auratus, D. Azureus, P. vittatus, D. cobalts, D.Oyapok, Bombina Orientalis
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#11
when I was 18 or 19, I won a juvenile Ceratophrys at the Philadelphia herpetological Society meet and kept it in a moss filled fish bowl with NO LID. It desicated and died in a few days. I STILL feel bad about it.
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#12
gotta be in the top 3 'most often new mistakes' - No lid or covering.

Well????? If exoterra and zoomed didn't INCLUDE a lid /top / cover, then its OBVIOUSLY not needed.

Those aquarium manufacturers are almost single handedly responsible for countless animal deaths. Don't know how to put it any other way.
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#13
If you are using Saran Wrap consistently / not an emergency are too lazy to go to Home Depot and pay $1.79 for some glass that THEY will cut to size for you...

You should not own frogs.
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#14
Philsuma Wrote:If you are using Saran Wrap consistently / not an emergency are too lazy to go to Home Depot and pay $1.79 for some glass that THEY will cut to size for you...

You should not own frogs.

Just a FYI, Home Depot will not cut glass. Lowe's and Ace Hardware will.
Jon
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#15
Lexan will not leach unless heated to well, well beyond melting points.
Most 'plastics' fall into the above statement.
I consider Lexan to be more useful and at least as safe as glass, when used for vivs.
Darts with parasites are analogous to mixed tanks, there are no known benefits to the frogs with either.


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#16
Rusty_Shackleford Wrote:
Philsuma Wrote:If you are using Saran Wrap consistently / not an emergency are too lazy to go to Home Depot and pay $1.79 for some glass that THEY will cut to size for you...

You should not own frogs.

Just a FYI, Home Depot will not cut glass. Lowe's and Ace Hardware will.

Our Lowe's stopped cutting glass a couple years ago but a good hardware store should cut the glass. One thing not mentioned is that you need to check the back top of your top periodically to make sure your vines etc are not putting pressure on your top and lifting it. Recently had not noticed it with a 18x18x36 exo until too late and had a frog escapee, my next builds will be without a background.
-Beth
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#17
I still think that cutting glass is a regional thing - my LOWES still cuts glass.

Get a glass lid cut. Sand the edges.

DITCH the saran wrap. It's a DISASTER waiting to happen.
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#18
Yes I plan on getting some glass tops soon
Surrie
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#19
My new viv will have a glass top, but what about ventilation? Are the front vents on an Exo-Terra enough without some at the top?
A girl named Joey.
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#20
Ideally, you want some top ventilation.

Take a look at the 3-4 threads here in the enclosure /design subforum that have 'vent' or 'screen' or top or cover in the title of the thread. Some of the threads are excellent with great designs.

Easiest thing is to just lay a piece of glass on top of the screen top and then slide it to-an-fro when you want some ventilation - easily adjustable even. Care should be taken if you go this route, for pets and small kids.
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