Has anyone used CLAY to make caves, hides, etc...?

[jschaf1]

Hey guys!

I was just wondering if anyone here has ever tried using clay to make their own custom hides, caves, etc.. for leopard geckos. I would love to try and make my own caves/hides and clay would seem to me to be the easiest way to do it.

I know alot of people us styrofoam and grout but it seems messy and very time consuming. I don't have alot of space in my apartment to work with that stuff and clay just seems so much easier. You just mold it and let it dry. There is an arts store not far from my apartment that sells lots of ready to use, different colored clay (non-toxic) that hardens without the need for an oven. Unfortunately I don't have the brand name with me. But the price was reasonable.

Any input here people? Thanks!

 

[bzlizzy]

yeah guys i wanna know as well! are those kids-grade clay suitable?

 

[jemjdragon]

You can use it but make sure nothing in the clay is toxic and it doesn't degrade easily and is easy to clean. If you're thinking of glazing it or painting it then you should make sure it is non-toxic as well. If it is nontoxic but has a smell, I'd let it air out for a few days until the smell is gone. Geckos are sensitive to certain odors.

 

[L-G-C]

You can use it but make sure nothing in the clay is toxic and it doesn't degrade easily and is easy to clean. If you're thinking of glazing it or painting it then you should make sure it is non-toxic as well. If it is nontoxic but has a smell, I'd let it air out for a few days until the smell is gone. Geckos are sensitive to certain odors.

I would go with this. In artclass, I made me a food dish for Mercutio the BTS. The only clay she had available was nontoxic which was good for me. I made the dish shape and then after a while got to glaze it. Had to search through a lot to find non-toxic glaze but I found it. She put it in her kilm and tada, a food dish for my BTS.
Most nontoxic glazes are lead-free but I would check to make sure.

 

[bzlizzy]

i bought some non-toxic clay which requires no baking. will try it out tonight! looking for glazes or varnish or something thats natural looking to coat the clay although the clay is already terra-cotta in color.

 

[Tanggecko]

Ive made a few clay hides in the past. I used sculpty clay that you can get at most craft stores. It requires baking in an oven for 15 to 20 minutes. I use acrylic craft paint and non-toxic sealer to finish the clay.

 

[Wolfyhound]

I've made a few hides on my potting wheel, but I haven't gotten them fired yet. Once i have a kiln available(either my friend or aunt have access or own one), I'll be making a lot of hides like that.
Sculpty is fun and comes in colors, although for large amounts I've only seen white. Once it's "fired" in the oven, it's really sturdy and waterproof.

Some clays that simply air-harden will crumble later or when wet will soften. Depending on what type you get and how they're used, they'd probably do quite well. The easy way to form a hide would be to use a small bowl(for tiny ones, use a soy sauce bowl) or plastic container turned upside down. Form the clay over top and form an entrance too. Then you can flip it over and remove the container.

Lumpy ones will look more natural, smooth ones are easier to clean. Just a few suggestions.

 

[sablebeauty]

Do you have to seal the sculpey to use it? or can you just use it after its fired without using a glaze? its not being painted or anything...

 

[Tanggecko]

Do you have to seal the sculpey to use it? or can you just use it after its fired without using a glaze? its not being painted or anything...

Im pretty sure that sculpty is waterproof and non-toxic so you shouldn't have to seal it. I would check the instructions on the box to be sure.

Like someone else said if you want to buy large quantities it only comes in white. You can get smaller packages in different colors. I painted mine So they would look better.

 

[Tanggecko]

heres one I did a few weeks ago.

 

[sablebeauty]

That looks pretty cool. I've seen the larger quantities online but I didnt want to order it, lol but yeah the white ones i've seen in the stores. But if I painted it I would need to seal it right?

The box talks about painting and sealing but doesnt say if i need to seal it if I dont paint it, which was why I was checking

 

[little98dime]

I am a member of a forum dealing with tropical vivariums and one method for making the backgrounds that has come into light recently is using "Special Kitty" cat litter and adding water to it. the water is soaked up and since the litter is clay based, will dry and cure just like regular clay will. Its non-toxic and I have even seen it used with frogs and fish, which are HIGHLY sensitive to chemicals. So, it would be a safe bet that it would be perfectly fine for leos, especiallty if it is sealed with mod-podge.

Here is a post on Dendroboard about the method. Hope it helps.
Kitty litter background

 

[Tanggecko]

That looks pretty cool. I've seen the larger quantities online but I didnt want to order it, lol but yeah the white ones i've seen in the stores. But if I painted it I would need to seal it right?

The box talks about painting and sealing but doesnt say if i need to seal it if I dont paint it, which was why I was checking

Ah i see, It should be fairly water proof but if your not painting it you might want to seal it. It would be better sealed when it comes time to clean it. IMO

I am a member of a forum dealing with tropical vivariums and one method for making the backgrounds that has come into light recently is using "Special Kitty" cat litter and adding water to it. the water is soaked up and since the litter is clay based, will dry and cure just like regular clay will. Its non-toxic and I have even seen it used with frogs and fish, which are HIGHLY sensitive to chemicals. So, it would be a safe bet that it would be perfectly fine for leos, especiallty if it is sealed with mod-podge.

Here is a post on Dendroboard about the method. Hope it helps.
Kitty litter background

Wow! Thats a neat idea. Thanks for passing it along. I might have to try it.

 

[Blacksupra94]

I used the earth clay from art stores to create a hide and I painted it with acrylic paint... did not seal it.

 

[sablebeauty]

my cave after being baked in the oven

 

[UnicornSpirit]

Sure you can! I'd suggest Earthenware because of its suppleness and ease to carve into. Just be sure when you glaze it be sure that there aren't any air pockets and that the glaze covers most areas (except for maybe the feet but that depends how you're laying it in the kiln). Giving it a nice waterproof glaze will make it much easier to clean and sanitize. I think it's great to create homemade water/food dishes, caves, rocks, etc and they're beautiful too!

If you use a glaze you wont have to paint it... the glaze works as a paint itself. The glaze is actually made with glass so when you bake it it forms a water tight seal around the clay. You can also paint with slips, bake once then use a clear glaze and bake again if you want to achieve a painted look. Remember to use your wax on the bottoms or use spurs to keep your piece of art from sticking from the kiln and probably becoming broken.

http://www.members.tripod.com/kengeorgepottery/id22.htm

If you're wondering you can't do this in your conventional oven at home- you'll have to find someplace with a kiln. Gas kilns are very expensive but if you find someone with an electric kiln you can probably ask them to bake a few of your items. In turn you could perhaps reimburse them with a little money to compensate for electricity used.

 

[sablebeauty]

Sure you can! I'd suggest Earthenware because of its suppleness and ease to carve into. Just be sure when you glaze it be sure that there aren't any air pockets and that the glaze covers most areas (except for maybe the feet but that depends how you're laying it in the kiln). Giving it a nice waterproof glaze will make it much easier to clean and sanitize. I think it's great to create homemade water/food dishes, caves, rocks, etc and they're beautiful too!

unfortunately i dont have a kiln, so it'll all have to be done in the regular oven lol

 

[UnicornSpirit]

PS.

I would not recommend using air dried clay for items in your gecko tank. For one, air dried clay is very fragile and can easily crack and break. Also, it isn't sealed so it will be susceptible to reabsorbing moisture (Yes, if you leave it in a bucket of water it will eventually become pliable clay again) ... this could also trap and carry bacteria, germs, mold, etc. Yuck. You'll want to seal it using proper glazes.

 

[UnicornSpirit]

I wouldn't use sculpey clay because it's toxic and even after baked it isn't suggested to be used in contact with food items. Idk what to suggest other than non-clay items or use earthenware or porcelain and find a kiln to use. Check out your local art events. Maybe there's some sort of free or very cheap community class you could take. Are you still in school? Take a ceramics elective, they're fun!

 

[UnicornSpirit]

Even if left unglazed, once you bake Earthenware it cannot go back to it's pliable state. Even then it would be porous. Even then... you'd still need a kiln. lol. Now I think I know why so many people use grout, Styrofoam and other building methods.