Using a Hot Glue Gun?

[Manix]

Is Hot Glue safe?

I have a removable floor in one of my tanks that I've used hot glue on to secure two short tubes in place to prevent wood chips from falling to the lower level.
The glue dries to a consistancy similer to plastic. While the gerbils have yet to touch the glue, I'm still not sure if there is anything in the glue that could be harmful to them, other than the general dangers of chewing a non-digestable product of course.
Thus far the Hot Glue has proven to be an excellent bonding agent; oderless, sets quickly, and is easy to remove. It doesn't bond well to glass though. The glue has been in use for about four months now.

What are your thoughts on this?

BTW, my gerbils love chewing cuttlebone, but there is only one place in town that sells it and it isn't conveniant to get too. Are there any other irristable chewing things that are good for gerbils? They're not particulary fond of wood unless it's for throwing around the tank at Midnight and waking everyone up.

Thanks a bunch!

[SuperGirlH]

It's probably not too safe, but I have used it to glue wooden ladders together, and seen the gerbils chew it a little, and nothing bad has happened. I try not to use hot glue unless I really have to though.

[AndreaS15]

I used it to glue plastic levels together, but everything else that I know the gerbils will actually chew I put Silicone tank sealer instead, it's non toxic.

[Manix]

Is Hot Glue toxic then?

[meganb52]

I'm not sure it's toxic, but it's much softer than some other forms of plastic and would therefore be easier for them to ingest and possibly obstruct their intestines--that's what I'd probably be most worried about. You can also use aquarium silicone to glue stuff to glass, and it may be less toxic, especially if you get the stuff made especially for use in fish aquariums, usually found at pet stores, not the caulking stuff you can get at the hardware store, it can contain harmful chemicals. As for chewing, there's always the old standard cardboard, my two are obsessed with a Kraft macaroni and cheese box I gave them a few days ago. I also save all my toilet paper tubes now too. With respect to cuttlebones--They're cheap, so why not just stock up when you're over on that side of town? That way you'd have several available to replace as they go through them when you can't make it to the pet store. Hope this helps!

-Megan