I just recently found a giant red headed centipede and have made a home for it out of a 2.5 gallon water jug I bought at walmart. It's clear with a slight blue tint. The number on the bottom is 1. Now this type of plastic is apparently releases toxic chemicals if heated. I wondering if anyone else has used this type of plastic for their jugs and if they have had any problems? I'm sure the centipede is fine for now, not using a under tank heater currently due to warm temperature. But this fall and winter I'm worried I may have a problem if I continue to use it. Any help or advice would be much appreciated! thanks everyone!
Question to any and all users who use jugs
- Thread starter D Crider
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- 11,482
A plastic container designed for long term use that is food grade plastics should not cause problems.
However, this is a tangled mess. Many plastics available today are chemically designed to break down in the environment. This is even a requirement in order to import the plastics into some countries.
Additionally, the world is flooded with cheap crap imitations of stable plastics that may contain all sorts of toxins that can leach into the environment.
Can you tell the difference? No, you can not. The EPA is up to it's eyeballs trying to keep track of and sort these plastics and the flood of imitation copies from India and China has them overwhelmed. Copies that have all the correct identifiers of long term stable plastics. Only chemical analysis can tell them apart.
- Use plastics from as reliable and reputable a source as possible. I would automatically rule out sources like Wallmart. They can't possibly assure their suppliers meet the criteria requirements.
- Do not subject any plastic to heat or chemicals that may cause it to degrade.
Microwave safe can usually be trusted. Water bottles obviously intended for long term use are probably safe.
Hint: At present I am on my 6th attempt to find a plastic that I can store chlorine in. 5 supposedly chemically stable storage containers from chemical or laboratory suppliers have disintegrated in very short order. The liars out to make a quick $$$ are legion. Beware.
However, this is a tangled mess. Many plastics available today are chemically designed to break down in the environment. This is even a requirement in order to import the plastics into some countries.
Additionally, the world is flooded with cheap crap imitations of stable plastics that may contain all sorts of toxins that can leach into the environment.
Can you tell the difference? No, you can not. The EPA is up to it's eyeballs trying to keep track of and sort these plastics and the flood of imitation copies from India and China has them overwhelmed. Copies that have all the correct identifiers of long term stable plastics. Only chemical analysis can tell them apart.
- Use plastics from as reliable and reputable a source as possible. I would automatically rule out sources like Wallmart. They can't possibly assure their suppliers meet the criteria requirements.
- Do not subject any plastic to heat or chemicals that may cause it to degrade.
Microwave safe can usually be trusted. Water bottles obviously intended for long term use are probably safe.
Hint: At present I am on my 6th attempt to find a plastic that I can store chlorine in. 5 supposedly chemically stable storage containers from chemical or laboratory suppliers have disintegrated in very short order. The liars out to make a quick $$$ are legion. Beware.
This container is for long term water storage... But pretty sure it's also meant for the refrigerator. Idk, I was really just hoping the container would work because it looks really nice and is spacious. Guess I'll look around for a glass jar instead. Thanks for the reply.
- Joined
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I really wish I could be more positive about this. The problem is globalization. Quick bucks rules all and nobody, no watchdog entity, can keep up. Just look at cars. 50,000,000, fifty million! recalled with potentially deadly air bags. How utterly ridiculous can it get?
An FYI according to the NFPA. Common plastics today upon degrading can release:
-HCL, hydrogen chloride gas that turns into hydrochloric acid on contact with moist surfaces like your lungs.
-Carbon dioxide, displacing oxygen in enclosed environments.
-Carbon monoxide
-Various forms of cyanide in gaseous and solid states.
A firefighters nightmare. The common house fire is little short of the Nazi gas chambers of WWII. This is not a safe playground for your beloved critter to play in.
An FYI according to the NFPA. Common plastics today upon degrading can release:
-HCL, hydrogen chloride gas that turns into hydrochloric acid on contact with moist surfaces like your lungs.
-Carbon dioxide, displacing oxygen in enclosed environments.
-Carbon monoxide
-Various forms of cyanide in gaseous and solid states.
A firefighters nightmare. The common house fire is little short of the Nazi gas chambers of WWII. This is not a safe playground for your beloved critter to play in.
Last edited:
Chris LXXIX
ArachnoGod
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- 5,842
We use this for Scolopendra/s (along with 'Dragon' KK or glass enclosures for arboreals T's) and they are pretty cheap. Good quality plastic, and a total "no noise" opening. Just drill holes.
http://www.kis.it/singola-categoria?id=68&w=Contenitori&k=nu
http://www.kis.it/singola-categoria?id=68&w=Contenitori&k=nu
I'm guessing you use heating pads? Really all I'm worried about it adverse reactions from heating pads. I have my tiger in a gallon glass jar and he seems to be doing pretty well but he's a lot smaller (same size currently)than the redheaded is going to be. I'll probably pick some up if the don't charge an arm for shipping to the states.
Yeah I found a squatish glass gallon jar for my pede at walmart a few minutes ago. It will due for now. It really is just messed up what greed does to our societies. It doesn't make sense to continue manufacturing this toxic plastic and yet theu do it anyway to save a buck. Just nonsense.
These storage containers look awesome. How tight fitting are the lids? I have a snake I need to house also and I kinda built her something. Do you think one of these might work for a young milksnake, as in being escape proof? Also I can't figure out how to buy from them? Idk maybe I'm just being dumb but there doesn't seem to be an option.
Chris LXXIX
ArachnoGod
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- 5,842
@D Crider
To be honest i don't use (never used) nor i plan to use tomorrow an heat pad or others heating devices for Arachnids or Scolopendra/s. They are useless, unless really (but really) there's too much cold. But even in that case, a space heater would be better.
About those storage containers, yes, they are great. Here as used for Arachnids and Myriapods only, i really don't know about snakes. I never had (nor i plan) to have one. But i wouldn't put a "monster" like a Python into a 35 cm large enclosure. Seems a bit little IMO.
I buy those from shops here, i don't know if they ship nor if they ship international, i'm sorry. What i like of those is the "click" no-noise opening system.
To be honest i don't use (never used) nor i plan to use tomorrow an heat pad or others heating devices for Arachnids or Scolopendra/s. They are useless, unless really (but really) there's too much cold. But even in that case, a space heater would be better.
About those storage containers, yes, they are great. Here as used for Arachnids and Myriapods only, i really don't know about snakes. I never had (nor i plan) to have one. But i wouldn't put a "monster" like a Python into a 35 cm large enclosure. Seems a bit little IMO.
I buy those from shops here, i don't know if they ship nor if they ship international, i'm sorry. What i like of those is the "click" no-noise opening system.
Tfisher
Arachno-Geek
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- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 251
Mine was recalled
