Putting water in a "Zilla Critter Keeper"

[ejh805]

I looked around and haven't been able to find anything specific to my question, so I hope someone in here can help me out.

A local pet store had 40 gallon breeder-type Zilla Critter Keepers for sale for like, $75. So I thought "WOW that's a great deal!" and picked one up while I was buying feeder mice for my ball python.

In the next several months, I'll be gathering all the necessary supplies for a Pixie frog. Stupid me didn't realize that in teeny tiny letters on a sticker on this particular tank reads "Do not fill with water", or something to that effect. I don't want to do a return and exchange because it's just really really inconvenient. Do you think that I'd be able to put maybe 3-4 inches of water in 1/3rd of the tank if I use aquarium sealant to reinforce where the glass meets on that one side?

I've read other places that the glass and sealant isn't strong enough to withstand the pressure of being full or half full of water, but didn't find anything specifying whether or not it could handle the relatively small area of water that I want to put in.

Thanks in advance!!
-Emily

[deranged chipmunk]

You should be fine with that low amount of water. I have had my 40b filled halfway on a water test and saw no signs of distress in the tank.

[ejh805]

That's great, Bill

In your opinion, do you think I will still need to line where the glass meets with extra aquarium sealant? Or would it be fine how it is?

[deranged chipmunk]

I wouldn't reseal it. For a couple reasons, one is that resealing a tank is a sticky, smelly, pain in the butt. And not in a fun only on saturday nights way.....lol another is that you can't just put new silicone over the existing stuff. Silicone will stick to darned near everything EXCEPT previously cured silicone. Go figure. You would need to remove the old stuff and run new beads. Don't worry about the disclaimer that the sealant they use is not designed to be submerged, that is a cover their but disclaimer because their tank is cheaper than an aquatic tank of the same size and invariably some moron would buy it as a fish tank and flood their house, then sue Zilla. They do use 100% silicone, so it is safe. Post some pics of the build if you can, i want to pick up a pixie and would like to see how others set up for them.

[ejh805]

Haha buttstuff lol.

Anyways, that is very good to know! Will save me a lot of extra trouble and aquarium sealant.
I'll post pics as soon as I get things set up

[Kira Hudson]

i have my fbt in a zilla and it has never leaked

[flybyferns]

Hi Emily,
Bill is right ! You do not have to worry about adding some water to it ( a few inches is fine)
If you call Zilla, they will tell you the same thing.
They say this because they do not want people to use it as and aquarium ( for fish) .

You can even drill the sides. Not the bottom...... if I recall correctly -the bottom is tempered glass.
Lynn