New Cages made beardie ill!!!

can someone help me please. I just got my new cages today. they were delivered to where I work. so I put them in the truck and brought them home and set them up. I put bugs in her's and I wanted to wait to move red when I got home. when I got home bugs was unresponsive. eyes closed, stiff and cold. I immediately took her outside for fresh air. and she started to come around, breathing heavily. I put her back in her old tank. she still seems out of it. any suggestions?

The new cages, do they have silicon or paint used on them

There are two kinds of silicon that is use, one CAN NOT be used on things that Animals will reside in. I know they local glass shop has to order a special silicon, different from what they normally use as they tell me that would make the animals sick or could kill them

I know some paints also give off toxic fumes

Hi Cheri, Thanks for the response.I believe I got home in time,my beardie seems like she will be OK, I had them made from custom wood reptile cage co. I think I will wait a week longer and make sure everything is fully cured before I try introducing them again. Thanks again.

Jack

Try calling this place that made them, ask them what they used.

If they have not used the right products, the cages can never be used for them. Dragons are far more sensitive to toxic fumes than about any reptile species I have worked with privaterly or public

What kind of cages were they? I seem to remember one cage builder that specifically instructs you to clean the cages and let them air out before putting animals in them.

Ooops, missed where you said they were wood cages. I would still contact them to find out what they used for sealants, and clean and air them out them well before even thinking about using them.

Hi Everyone, I emailed the cagemaker the following:

Jack Huffman <jhufman@earthlink.net> wrote:

Hi Kaisa, Are these cages still emiting fumes? I received them today. set them up, put one beardie in one. went back to work. when I got back my beardie was cold and unresponsive. I immediately took her outside and revived her. she is still pretty much out of it, but I think she will survive. should I wait for curing?

Jack

This was the response:

Hello Jack,

No they have been fully cured before sending them to you.

If your Beardie was cold it sounds like there is inadequate heating for her. These enclosures are quite large. Even if she was not alive, in a properly heated enclosure her body would not be cold.

Jack our Herp Specialist will be more than happy to speak with you and advise you on heating temps. Can you please give me your phone number and he will call you immediately to help you.

Very much looking forward to your response.
Kasia

I feel a little better, but still a little paranoid

I know other dragon owners who have bought enclosures from this company and had no problems. what do you people think? thanks

How long was she in the cage, and how cold was it? I wouldn't think that she would have gotten so cold as to be unresponsive, even in normal household temps for quite some time.

Originally Posted by Cat_72

How long was she in the cage, and how cold was it?

she was in there for about 5 hours before I returned home. there was definitely no heat during that time as I had a couple of wires mixed up,but I still don't believe that was why she was the way she was.

Originally Posted by Cat_72

I wouldn't think that she would have gotten so cold as to be unresponsive, even in normal household temps for quite some time.

It was no colder than it gets when the lights are off for 10 hours at night, which is no lower than 73 degree's. I believe it was probably warmer since its summer like here already. I personally believe it was fumes built up as they had it wrapped in heavy shrink wrap and cardboard pretty tight. In hindsight I should have let it air out real good. she seems to be coming around. I'm just glad I didn't lose her. The cagemaker reassured me all materials are non toxic and that there had been plenty of time for curing. So with that I have them in their new cages. Here are some pics from tonight.

as you an see I'm still airing them out.




Here is Bugs. She's the one I had trouble with.




Heres Red checking out the new yardage



I will defiantly be adding vents soon. as it is hard to get a good coolside now

Jack