Paint fumes? Ease my mind guys...

[hyla]

Quick question: The ceiling of the room I have my tree frog in needed a paint touch up in a very small area. (2sq.ft)...Just to be safe I put her in a temp container while we painted with a water based paint. When can I put her back in the room do you think?

[John]

If it's water based, then it shouldn't be too dangerous. I would just air the room out for about 48 hours and you should be alright - most of the danger in paints is from the solvents used, so water-based paints are a lot more friendly than traditional paints.

[hyla]

Thanks John...really 48 hrs? We only used about a cup of paint? I left the window open for an hour but it is 32 degrees here. I was hoping to get her back in there tonight.

[McLaura]

I have a related question - what about low odor, no VOC paint? The last time I painted I used this kind, but moved my frogs over to my boyfriend's house for a while just to be safe. Now I have four more frogs and more elaborate terrariums, so that's not really an option, but I'm assuming if they are in another room, it would be ok to paint?

[Paul Rust]

If the frogs are in another room they are probably fine. I would wait 2 days like John suggested to put them back. If your setups are like mine I would worry about the ventilation fans sucking fumes into the vivarium.

[John]

Thanks John...really 48 hrs? We only used about a cup of paint? I left the window open for an hour but it is 32 degrees here. I was hoping to get her back in there tonight.

Can you smell the paint much? If so then I would wait another day before putting them back.

[John]

I have a related question - what about low odor, no VOC paint? The last time I painted I used this kind, but moved my frogs over to my boyfriend's house for a while just to be safe. Now I have four more frogs and more elaborate terrariums, so that's not really an option, but I'm assuming if they are in another room, it would be ok to paint?

What is VOC paint?

[SludgeMunkey]

What is VOC paint?

VOC is Volatile Organic Compounds, the current trade catch phrase for solvents.

[John]

Then the same as I said for water based paint - pretty safe.

[hyla]

Thank you everyone. After the window was open for an hour or so I let a fan run in the room for a bit and put her back. I couldnt smell any paint and she is fine almost 24hrs. later... I will however use the 48hr rule if we need to paint the entire room or a larger area in the future.

[SludgeMunkey]

Then the same as I said for water based paint - pretty safe.

I would agree. Even though most water based paints do have a small amount of one solvent or another in them, nowadays, if it says "latex" and "water base" on it, I would not even worry about a few touch ups.

[McLaura]

Good to know - thanks!