Can I put plastic gladware in my fish tank?

Question

I have a tank for tadpoles/frogs. I filled it half full and put a divider in a corner that is used in turtle tanks. I want to fill up that corner with gravel to give the frogs ( and crickets they eat) a dry place. I was thinking of using turned over gladware plastic bowls for this filler. Is plastic good to put in fish tanks?

I would put gravel over the plastic bowls but I would put the bowls in there for filler.

Answer 1

Sure. Avoid metal, paper, and things with cleaning agent on them.

Answer 2

yup -- i use that stuff to hold fish when i clean out a tank. plastic is slightly porous so you dont' want to use harsh cleaners like spray cleaners or floor cleaners if you wash it. and if you do wash it rinse it off really good. glass would be an even better choice because it isn't porous and can be washed off easier. pyrex and anchor hocking both makes dishes similar to gladware.

you can also make little docks with plastic soap dishes -- the kind that have suction cups. this way there is water space underneath still. just put gravel or whatever on top of the soapdish and you have a little dry island.

Answer 3

Soak it in a sink full of clean boiling water for a lil while first to help seap out dish soap or chemicals from the making of the dish. After that you should be fine. It wont hurt them.

Answer 4

This wouldn't be a problem. I've used them to raise baby (larval) salamanders and tadpoles 1-3 per container. I have a set-up like you describe (plus driftwood & moss) for my 2 yr old bullfrog.

Answer 5

I don't think that the plastic would disintigrate in the water -- just make sure that it's completely nontoxic (I'm sure it is -- people put food in it). Sounds good!! Good luck!!!

Answer 6

sure why not ? humans eat out of them .

Answer 7

i dont see why not =) sounds fun!!