help--are PVC pipes dangerous to hermies?

cami · Post by **cami** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:55 am

Hi--I am using a small "T" joint pvc pipe piece in my tank. (I got the idea a while back from someone in this forum--don't remember who, but was in a pic of the tank they redecorated.) It makes a great tunnel for my hermies and they love to go in and through it. When Bun died, she was actually in the end of that pipe. I just figured she went to a favorite place to "go to sleep". Now Tilly has been up from a molt for 4 days, but she mostly stays burrowed under EE, or hangs out for a few hours in the end of the pipe in the evenings. Haven't really seen much of her. then I got to thinking...Do PVC pipes leech chemicals that might be harmful to hermies? This morning I took out the pipe piece, and scooped out about a half inch of substrate in case it leeched chemicals into the surrounding sand. I don't want to be paranoid, but I can't find anything on the subject, and I don't want to lose my other little crab! Does anyone have any info on this?thanks!Cami

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:10 am

http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/pvc/about.htm

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 1:13 am

Sorry, I need to rush off in a few but I can't leave it at that.I had heard that the danger was in ingestion but I'm not totally convinced that's true and that they're not releasing toxins into the tank. If other alternatives can be had, I would play it safe and invest in a half log or something less questionable.

cami · Post by **cami** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:08 am

aaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!Thanks for that great (and scary) info, CAI absolutely have other alternatives for the tank. It just never occured to me at the time that pvc could be harmful to hermies. It just made such a cute little place for the hermies to play and hide, and they really seem to like it. I just hope it wasn't what caused Bun's death, or might be making Tilly sick.I really appreciate the input, and if anyone has been using PVC without any problems--let me know for my peace of mind! (Not that I'll be putting it back in the tank any time soon! LOL)

cami · Post by **cami** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:05 am

Pipes are hard plastic, as opposed to shower curtains, etc. Pipes have no smell (the off-gassing of toxic chemicals), but I'm still not sure there's no leeching of chemicals anyway. I just don't know enough about it. Too bad, because it really was a great little place for them. I'll have to find a natural/safe alternative--the hut and half log are much bigger, and they seem to like that close fit of the pipe (1 inch diameter).