Just Checking ...

[ashesc212]

Pine and maple that are sealed with Water based stain and polyurethane aren't toxic to reptiles, right? I've red that pine shavings and that redwood and cedar is.

 

[Tux]

Maple is fine, it's never toxic to reps (common hardwoods in general aren't the only hardwood that is I can think of off hand is black walnut), heck it's used in high end terrariums and furnature. I avoid Pine as it's toxic but properly sealed it should be fine. It's the abietic acid in pine oil that's the issue (similar compounds in ceder), if it's sealed theirs no aromatic property and no contact therefore should be safe. Remember multiple coats though.

 

[BSM]

just in case i would stable down vinyl flooring as if i recall the water proof stuff on the wood break down wood after 2 or 3 years. I don't even water proof just put down vinyl and seal the corners with silcon, and it holds up with 1ft to 3 ft of dirt in the cages.
just to give you another way to due

Bryan

 

[Tux]

With multiple coats this should never be an issue, if you were worried you could always apply a coat again later but theirs really no need. They sure don't break down wood, maybe you mean the poly breaks down when under UV light, in which case yes some are better than others in such instance but the areas covered with dirt would never be exposed anyway. I also hope your vinyl stays cool as vinyl emits VOC gases and will do so at a much higher rate the warmer it gets.

However unless you were going to vinyl the entire pine area (say some was used as sides or a roof the solution wouldn't really hold up.

A Good brand of water based poly should work fine for long term use, it's the cheap stuff that you need to worry about.