Building climbing branches

[TheReptileGuy]

Hey does anyone here have experience building climbing branches?

I have seen pictures of PVC jungle gym setups but I was thinking of something more natural looking. I also read about using grape vine wreaths from craft stores. I saw one at walmart for 3 dollars and then they had some foam pieces to hold it down. Do you think this is safe? Any other advice would be appreciated. If worse comes to worse Ill just have to pay 13 bucks for a single piece of grapewood.

[TerrorFox]

What I did was go outside and Grab a branch of a tree. I then proceded to Sand it and make it look cool with my tools. Then I soaked it in my bath tub for a while with a hardcore hot bleach solution with some other disinfectants to make sure anything inside if was dead, I did this several times then I rinced it off with scortching hot water, I know people say not to use branches from outside but if anything was living inside the branches it is now dead.

[Asian Jon]

TerrorFox:

What kind of tree do you take your branches off of? And how long do you soak the branches for?

Jon

[wetlander]

I soak mine in a bleach/ hot water solution for 1 hour, rinse, then dry in the sun. Then I put it in the oven at 200 - 250 F for about 2 hours...not enough to cause smoke, but hot enough to bake anything that survived the bleach bath. I have never had a problem using this method. Try using drift wood it looks very nice.

[Invictus]

If you use bleach, I highly recommend you soak it for 2 hours in a heavy SALT water solution. Salt will dilute whatever chlorine lingers on the branch.

[Linds]

There isn't really much of a need to disinfect branches from the outdoors, there shouldn't be anything threatening the health of your snake. If it's dirty, you can give it a wash. If you are worried about getting foreign bugs in your house, such as wood mites, then you can just boil or bake the items. Either way, I would definitely avoid using bleach. It is unecessary and will soak right in to the wood.

[Asian Jon]

Thanks for the input. I will certainly try your ideas. Im still in a dilemma though: to use bleach or not to use bleach?

Wetlander:

Try using drift wood it looks very nice.

What's a good substitute for drift wood? I live in London, Ontario and they can't be found outdoors heh.

[Cruciform]

You're not that far from the beach Jon :)

If you're new to the area just get on Wellington and head south. Eventually you'll get to Port Stanley, just on the other side of St. Thomas.

[proud2bcanadian]

I remember seeing someone taking PVC pipes, and putting a blow torch to them, creating a rusty look. IMO, it looked really good!

[Asian Jon]

If you're new to the area just get on Wellington and head south. Eventually you'll get to Port Stanley, just on the other side of St. Thomas.

Cruciform:
LOL thanks for the advice, but I don't want to drive all the way there right now for driftwood. Although in the summer when my family goes there I will remember what you said. Long ways to wait though...

Thanks,
Jon