Branches for enclosure

[josefg]

Can the wood of an orange tree be used safely as a branch for a corn snake enclosure??

Thanks

[Big Mike]

I don't know anything about orange wood. If it has been off of the tree for a long time then maybe the oils in the wood will have disapated. Does the wood have a fragrance, does it smell? If it does, don't use it. If it is old enough to have dried out completely then maybe...MAYBE.

You would still have to clean it up and disinfect and sanatize it. I would soak it in a water/bleach solution, rinse very well and then bake in the oven for over an hour at 300.

You still take a chance that the wood might harm the snake but as always use common sence. If you think it's safe...try it.

[josefg]

Tnx Mike

[Linds]

I wouldnt recommend soaking wood in a belach and water solution, no matter how weak it is. Wood is very porous and it would take forever for all the chemicals to air out. The wood would be offgassing for a very very long itme before you could safely use it. I'm unfamiliar with orange wood however so I cannot answer weather it is safe or not.

[hydrosaurus]

theres no preperation really....... if your in ontario
theres nothing really that can transmit parasites.... maybe just soak it in warm water
i dont treat much of my outside finds.....

[reverendsterlin]

I'm not familiar with orange wood, but my view is that if it is aromatic there are many other things that would be better

[josefg]

ok tnx ppl

[naja]

as i see it, many snakes climb on live orange trees, and dead orange branches every day around the world!! i don't see any reason to think it would do your corn snake any harm whatsoever...

[Tim_Cranwill]

I see your point naja, but the animals in the wild aren't kept with these types of wood in a space with limited ventilation for long periods of time (or their whole lives).

[naja]

ya, i don't know, really, but i really don't think there would be any problem whatsoever with an orange branch. there really should be plenty of ventalation, enough that the'fumes' from a branch would cause no 'harm'! i ahven't tried it yet, but i think a snake enclosure made of very fine metal mesh and glass or plexi etc... would be great, providing the room it is kept in is climate cotrolled accordingly...