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Post by Dudley on May 12, 2004 15:15:20 GMT -8
Hi, when I built my enclosure, I used some crap called No-Skid from Lowes to coat the interior walls. I was not aware that it had grit to it, but figured it couldn't hurt anything. When I first got Dudley he climbed the walls like spider man and had no problem climbing from the bottom to top on the walls alone. Recently I've noticed that he is not climbing the walls anymore and just figured it was because he was getting heavier. Until today, I looked at his front toes and there is barely any nail left. There is some, and it doesn't look like it hit the quick, but it's not far from making it to his actual toes. How worried should I be about this??? Should I sand all of the No-Skid off and start with something better??? Thanks in advance guys.
Clint
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Post by Merlin on May 12, 2004 15:41:46 GMT -8
I would get rid of it immediately! If the nail hasn't gotten down to the toe they will grow back, Its a wonder that you haven't seen any blood in the cage from ginding them down to the vein.
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Post by dominick on May 12, 2004 16:30:41 GMT -8
Agreed with merlin. Time for the no-skid to go.
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Post by Tesa on May 12, 2004 17:06:33 GMT -8
UGH! Yep.....it has got to go....
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Post by Dudley on May 13, 2004 15:14:03 GMT -8
Thanks guys, I know I've asked this before, but what would you recommend I replace it with??
Clint
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Post by dominick on May 13, 2004 15:38:58 GMT -8
Hi Clint-
Paint-wise, Latex Kids Room Paint. It's an eggshell finish and very durable.
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Post by Dudley on May 13, 2004 18:26:47 GMT -8
I'll check that out. Though I was pricing some of that DIY truck bed liner. With that stuff I would think I could just put it over the No-Skid and not ever have to see the No-Skid again. The only think I would be worried about with doing it like that is the No-Skid peeling off and causing the Bed Liner to lose adhesion. Thoughts?
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Post by mar on May 14, 2004 7:24:31 GMT -8
I need to know a few more things, mainly what are the walls made of? I am not familiar with the no-skid product, is it one of the concrete floor epoxy covers?
If you just cover the no-skid with paint or bed liner -- another that I am not familiar with -- and the no-skid starts to peel you will have problems regardless of what it is covered with. And most anything will leave the grit exposed, but just a little duller.
I see three options
(1) go through the process of striping the no-skid off of the surfaces -- take the entire cage apart, take the panels outside and use the nasty chemicals then wait a long time to re-seal them, very labour intensive and may not work. Or get a good dust mask and a belt sander (if you or a friend does not have on just rent) take the walls outside and mechanically remove the grit, hit it with a tack cloth, and repaint the same day.
(2) take the walls off, wrap them in a medium weight cloth (denim, canvas, muslin, or even cheap blankets) -- cut the cloth larger than the wall, fold it over the edges of the wall panel, maybe glue it to the outside of the wall, and put the covered wall back in. If you let his nails get nice and sharp he may be able to climb it
(3) start over with new wall panels and oil or paint them, if you paint do all six sides to have them fully sealed so moisture can't get under the paint and start it pealing
Mark
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Tammy
Senior
I scream, U scream, we all scream for ice cream
Posts: 104
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Post by Tammy on Jun 1, 2004 16:35:09 GMT -8
First, you need to be very careful about putting any additional chemicals in the cage as the fumes (even the ones you can't smell) may be very harmful to Dudley. I liked your idea of covering the walls with a denim. It will take time but his nails will grow back nicely. If the nails are as short as you say, be sure to keep watch for any infection around the skin where the nail starts. It would be very easy for feces to embed in the skin.
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Post by mar on Jun 1, 2004 21:47:03 GMT -8
Bob fully lost the nail on the long toe of his left hind foot years (probably 7) ago in a window screen when a bird spooked him. Only recently, with this last shed, has it started to grow back noticably.
To facilitate the nails growing back make sure that he has all the calcium he needs. The two things I have been doing differently that I can attribute to the nail regrowing is high UVB exposure (unfiltered sunlight) and increased the ratio of good Ca sources in his diet (collards). Neither change was really thought out, the quality of other greens (mustard and turnip) has been poor and it has been nice out so outside we went, but both have benefited Bob and he seems healthier than ever before.
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