HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I am making a sliding glass lid and using these corner pieces to hold the glass. If I used acrylic paint to paint them would I still have to seal it with silicone sealant or is acrylic paint safe enough as it is? Thanks.

You should seal with the silicone. I use acrylic paint for art and even the highest quality will eventually chip off of clay surfaces. Even if it is non-toxic, if it chips there's no telling what will happen when the crabs eat it. Better to seal it with aquarium safe silicone.

I agree with MuseCrazy. In fact, any paints or glues that state that they are 'non-toxic' may still be toxic to hermit crabs; just because they are non-toxic to us, does not mean that they are non-toxic to smaller animals.

I agree with Muse on the silicon covering. As for the toxicity, many, many frog hobbyists use acrylic paint for backgrounds and other things they put in their enclosures. Frogs are extremely sensitive animals, known as the "canaries" of an environment. They also absorb water through their skin, and are very delicate, especially when it comes to toxics. If acrylic paint can be used with frogs, including poison dart frogs, it is most definitely safe for hermit crabs. The only danger is ingestion from a chip that may come off. For this, I would go with Muse's method.