Enclosures sometimes get cracks and leaks that need to be sealed. Apart from the safety of people around the enclosure, the safety of your reptile also matters. When choosing a silicone sealant for your enclosure, getting one that does not constitute a threat to the health and life of your reptile is important.
This article highlights the safest brands of silicone for your reptile enclosure.
After going through this piece, you will:
- understand how silicone sealants work,
- a few important things about safe silicone brands;
- the critical warning that every reptile keeper should know about putting reptiles in enclosures with silicone sealants that have not been fully cured.
Silicone sealants purpose
Silicone is a rubber-like material that maintains its stability in different temperatures. It is often used as a sealant. Other industries also use it to produce cooking utensils, adhesives, and insulation materials.
But not all brands make sealants that are safe for reptiles. Many types of silicone sealants are produced for numerous applications. Some silicone manufacturers add toxic chemicals to enhance the sealing properties of their silicone products to meet the needs of some specific industries.
This is the reason you need to be on guard when choosing a brand of silicone that is safe for your reptiles. We have investigated all of them, and here are a few brands you can trust for the safety of your reptiles.
Safe Brands of Silicone Sealants for Your Reptiles
ASI Aquarium Sealant
This is one of the safest silicone brands on the market for your reptile enclosures. It has an incredible adhesion capacity. It was designed specifically for aquarium use and is entirely safe for reptiles.
It comes in a large bottle and requires a caulk gun for application. It comes in variants of transparent and black colors. Another striking thing about this sealant is that the colorant does not flake easily, unlike other black silicones.
It exceeds other silicones in performance because its strong adhesion capacity makes it suitable for large enclosures and fits well for other multi-use. Incredibly, it adheres well with acrylic surfaces; many other brands do not. It has a more rigid consistency than competing brands. This makes it excellent for vertical seals and reduces the chances of spillages.
One downside of this brand is that it takes up to ten days to cure completely. But the quality of the seal and the safety of your reptile is worth the wait. Also, it sticks to the fingers stronger than other brands.
Loctite Clear Silicone Waterproof Sealant
This brand is 100% silicone. Although the tube is tiny, it does a great job sealing small reptile enclosures well. It is a handy product to have around in case of any emergency. The benefit of this brand is that you do not need a caulking gun.
The product is easily applied by simply applying pressure to squeeze out the silicone from the tube. It is designed to cure very quickly. It cures within 24 hours of application; that’s some nine days faster than the ASI Aquarium product. It is excellent for sealing precise spots and it has a very convenient size. Most importantly, once cured, it is safe for your reptiles.
Marineland Aquarium Sealant
This is another brand that is produced explicitly for aquarium use. It comes in a tube design and can fix up interiors with decorative ornaments. The curing time for this brand is 24 hours. But we advise that you stay for 48 hours so that the sealant can completely cure.
Marineland Silicone has great adhering capacity but does not work well with large openings. Usually, the tube tends to break before you exhaust the product. But this does not affect its potency.
The downside of this brand is that the nozzle is not open enough for applying the sealant in one pass. Because of its size, you may have to use it several times to get adequate sealing. Also, it emits a strong odor during the curing period. But this smell will go away entirely once it is cured.
GE GE012A All Purpose Silicone Sealant
Although the manufacturer has disclaimed that the GE Silicone 012A is not designed for aquarium-related uses, the impressive adhesion capacity of this brand makes it a go-to brand when you have to seal your enclosure. It is excellent for interior work and for filling small cracks. But it would not work well with glass panels as it usually becomes weak over time.
It is a time-tested favorite brand for many reptile keepers. Another great thing about it is that it has a great shelf life of one year. You can always use the rest later on. To apply, you need a caulk gun. Manufacturers recommend a cure time of 12 hours, but it would be best to wait 24 to 48 hours after applying it for extra protection and precaution.
The downside about this brand is that it requires a caulking gun, and the thick consistency makes it relatively tough to apply.
DAP Adhesive Silicone Sealant
The DAP Adhesive Silicone Sealant also comes in a tube with an excellent application nozzle. It is a multi-purpose sealant, safe for aquariums and enclosures. The nozzle allows you to achieve precision with the sealing. It is good for watertight glass adhesion, but its tube size does not make it cost-effective for larger jobs.
It cures in 72 hours. Usually, the seal may close up after use because the nozzle has no cap. This could make reusing difficult. It would be best to clean the lid of the silicone tube before it sets. Also, it has been found to have an intense acetic acid odor during its curing period. This odor lingers for a few days but will go away after the curing process is complete. It is safe for your reptiles after it’s cured.
J-B Weld RTV Silicone Gasket Maker and Sealant
This brand of silicone is expensive, but its adhesion capacity justifies its price. It comes in a small 3oz tube with a removable applicator head. Unlike a few other competitions, its applicator head is not susceptible to clogging.
It is offered in many color variants, but only the “Clear ” type is recommended for aquarium use (and reptile enclosure by extension). The other varieties contain ingredients that are unsafe for your reptiles.
The J-B Weld RTV Silicone sealant matches its competition in strength and durability. The only downside of this brand is that its small size makes it an excellent choice for smaller projects only.
It cures in an hour. This fast curing speed probably makes it a quick choice for small maintenance seals.
Aqueon Silicone Sealant
The Aqueon Silicone Sealant was designed explicitly for aquatic needs. It was made for aquarists to repair structural leaks within their glass aquariums. You can trust it to be safe for your reptiles as you seal leaks in your enclosure with it.
It does not have a long curing time. Its outstanding adhesion abilities make it suitable for sealing your reptile enclosures. It comes in different sizes to help you with the different sizes of enclosures or leak spaces to be filled. This also enables you to avoid wastage.
It is an excellent choice for sealing because it matches its competition in strength, consistency, quality, and durability without needing a caulk gun. Aqueon recommends 48 hours of curing time for a complete cure. You may wait for an extra 12 to be extra sure so that it does not pose any harm to the health of your reptiles.
The only downside about this brand is that the cap is likely to break if overtightened.
Note:
These brands are safe for your reptiles only when you apply them correctly. Putting your reptile in an enclosure that has not fully cured would be pushing your luck. You would be exposing them to the toxic fumes of the sealants that occur during the curing period. It would be best to allow the sealant to cure fully before putting your reptiles in the enclosure.
Also, if you opt for another brand, be sure that it is 100% silicone. If it isn’t, you can be sure that it won’t hold the enclosure for long. It would be best to stick to the highlighted brands here.
Conclusion
These are the safest brands for your reptiles because they are specifically designed with concern for the health of your animals.
Remember, the silicone sealant has to cure fully before introducing your reptiles to the enclosure. Putting your reptiles in the enclosure before the sealant is fully cured will expose the animal to respiratory challenges from the fumes of the sealant and many other health challenges.
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