HCA: Hermit Crab Association®

[wodesorel]

My hubby suggested this because I would like to keep the metal shelf supports in the display case conversion. (Yes, we got it in the house! It's only 150 gallons, though. )

It's the stuff they sell for coating or re-coating tool handles.

It's like this stuff:

http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/49-265-rubberized-plastic-coating.aspx

I was thinking if I could just fully coat the supports so no metal was exposed then I could just use what I have! It's either that or spray-paint them with Krylon Fusion, though I would worry about that sticking long-term.
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Proud mama to 33 cats, 1 tubby hammie, 3 betta, 1 gourami, 3 clown pleco, and my 13 kuhli loaches!
26 PP (the ones with names) and 10 E (The Children of the Corn)

[Karbon]

That stuff is usually pretty easy to cut and peel off so as long as they're not able to get at it.
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I am Karbon's Signature

[suebee]

ive been wondering about the krylon to give a coat to the screen lid. I know i covered a metal table 3 summers ago with it and its been out side through lots of snow and it still has held up great. I know the red covering you are talking about for the tool handles but i dont know if it is toxic or not. Ive thought of using the aquarium silicon like paint but i think its a bit thick. I too would love to hear some ideas.
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Owner of 8 species I would only buy from ELHC or HCP email me at suebeebuzz@verizon.net for information on my 8/17/10 visit to ELHC
They wont remember what you said or what you did, only how you made them feel.

[wodesorel]

I know that black Krylon Fusion is okay for both freshwater and marine aquariums. I guess it has the exact same formulation as the black paint they use on all sorts of aquarium-safe products. I'm just not sure how well it would stick to the metal supports without flaking off.

I thought the plastic coating might work well since it'll have some give. I'm thinking it should just dry to an inert plastic. Karbon, you make a really good point that the crabs may be able to pinch off pieces, depending on how hard it is. My hubby has two kinds of the coating - one is a dip and the other is a spray. When it gets a little warmer outside I'll have to test them on some scrap metal and see how they work out.
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Proud mama to 33 cats, 1 tubby hammie, 3 betta, 1 gourami, 3 clown pleco, and my 13 kuhli loaches!
26 PP (the ones with names) and 10 E (The Children of the Corn)

[suebee]

ok I did a bit of a test on some dipped handles i have. my husband dipped them for me about 3 year ago so its not even new and i would think it would give sooner then a fresh dip. I tried to pick off a bit with sharp tweezers and couldnt do it. If i first cut it with a knife i can get a piece off but it was really really hard. You can not smell the plastic or taste it. I believe it really is just as any other plastic. Ive tried to find any info on it not being safe and cant. I hope someone else has more info.
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Owner of 8 species I would only buy from ELHC or HCP email me at suebeebuzz@verizon.net for information on my 8/17/10 visit to ELHC
They wont remember what you said or what you did, only how you made them feel.

[Karbon]

hey I just had a thought not sure how safe it would be, but what about that spray on truck bed liner?

It comes in an aresol, and i'm not sure much would seep out of it.
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I am Karbon's Signature