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Will, I'm sorry to ruin your thread, but I (and probably just me) think this is a serious issue that needs to get rectified!!

I am by no means a toxicologist or chemist (in fact I hate it), but it doesn't take a wiz to understand that PVC (chlorine) is potentially very unsafe...especially when its burned!! Then heat it up and spray it with water.... !?!!?!?!!




Not only are you killing the guy who is making this for you, but you're exposing your investments (and their offspring) to it! I don't get it!!!!

The marine and shorebird critters have the documentation that these toxins accumulate and directly interfere with reproduction, and (likely in my mind) have something to do with these dime a dozen "respiratory infections" here!

Hi Will,

I definitely don't mean to rag on you or anyone else! I think the issue here is just simply being aware of the issue and making a switch to a safer material with future enclsoures (much like the compact flourescent light bulb deal).

I was an still am in the same boat as you in terms of looking for acceptable caging. Right now i've only got a single male, but more on the way, so I want to look into the future without cutting corners. It has to be aesthetically pleasing and also reproducable in case I want to expand. Previously, I'm a frog guy, so I've had acrylic and glass cages. Acrylic looks the best to me, but Ive been unsuccessful at sourcing a reasonable option these days.

So, I then turned to the PVC cages. I hated the look, but found a few such as boaphile that were OK. I heard a quick rant from a keeper at Smithsonian about the careless use of PVC and unacceptable material across the industry and hobby both. This sparked my interest at th time, but I didn't have or want PVC, so I didn't care. I then had to sit through a painful toxicology course that really beat the inssue of environmental contaminants into the ground. This was timely as I had begun to explore the option of a PVC cage, in which case I began to put 2+2 together.

I don't, nor does anyone else know safe exposure levels to the toxins. The herp industry of all places isn't likely to get the support they need to look into the issue, especially any time soon with an economy like this.

But, I don't think you can argue the safe exposure level to the dioxins. Clearly listed as the most toxic, or one of the most toxic substances known to man. Burned plastic carries that distinct smell that should raise up that red flag. It's even worse that companies have to go out of their way to say that they recognize it, but that it will diffuse less over time.

I don't see how anyone in the right mind could let your $5000 snake perch (lap water from) that 24 hours a day.

I know, theres 100% response that "I've been using it for years and I love it". I think it's like (directly opposite to) taking a multivitamin, it's working but you may well not know.

Clearly an issue of indirect effects and unintended consequences!

Again, just an issue of the builder not willing to switch materials. HDPE looks to be 100% better. 10-15% more expensive, but hey, again $5000 on the snake, whats $20 more on the cage!