"Java Wood" covered in mold.

[Skumbo]

Well guys,

I got java wood for my snake, and he loved it the first few days, he'd hide around it, climbed a few times, and it looks good in his cage.

The last couple of days, he's been trying to escape from the farthest side of it as possible. I figured "new cage, so hes exploring" but hes been conistent. He actually didnt feed today, thats when I got worried. Hes never missed a meal in his entire life - even deep in shed.

So, I kinda poked my head into his cage a little and realized "it smells a little funky in here..." I lifted the wood in his cage, and the back and behind (nothing I could see from the front looking in) is COVERED in mold.

I took it out immediately, replaced all his substrate, and cleaned out his hides. Now hes in there, not trying to escape for once, and actually at the moment - on the other side of his cage for the first time in a few days.

Im going to go through and bleach/clean the crap out of this wood maybe stain it a cool color, then clean (suggestions for any pet safe clear cote?) coat it so its completely waterproof. I figured it was finished with something or treated as it was "perfect for tropical environments" but.. I guess not.

This is more of a "be careful!" than a "what should I do?!" thread.

pics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Novocane/pets/IMGP3340.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/Novocane/pets/IMGP3339.jpg

[rmfsnakes32]

Thank you for sharing its good to admit your mistakes so others can learn from it.

[Gungirl]

You can use any poly to clear coat it with. Just make sure you let it air dry for about a week. I have never and will never put something in my vivs that is not sealed for this very reason. Glad you caught it before anything happened.

[Skumbo]

You can use any poly to clear coat it with. Just make sure you let it air dry for about a week. I have never and will never put something in my vivs that is not sealed for this very reason. Glad you caught it before anything happened.

Yeah, im looking at it as an opportunity to have a little project, I need to go buy some wood stain now

[Skumbo]

Found a bunch of water-based "Polycrylic" that I coated a chair I made a while ago which has held up perfectly living on a deck even through the winter. Im considering painting the wood then spraying it, which would look pretty cool. I have some pretty wonky paint colors due to a spray painting hobby of mine.

[DragonsEye]

Generally the grapevine, java wood, and mopani wood one gets for aquars/terrs/vivs is not treated for a number of reasons. One reason of course, is simply to save on cost, but there are other reasons. Particularly in the case of mopani, the wood may be situated in constant contact with a water feature. Understandably, pet owners wouldn't want their critters exposed to chemicals which might otherwise leach into water systems, or having algae eaters consume chemical ladened materials as they graze on the algae growing on the wood. Grapevine and java wood are commonly used in bird cages. Treated wood could be a concern if the animal should take to gnawing on the wood either to wear teeth down in the case of rodents, or beaks in the case of parrots.

Mold growth in moist terrs or vivs is greatly reduced if there is adequate air circulation. Noticed a big difference after installing several PC fans in my 90gal terr.

[bigsnakegirl785]

I noticed the same thing when I had wood in my boa's enclosure, except it was nowhere near as bad. I threw it away instead of treating it, as he never used it. Not sure what wood it was, but I could probably find pics of his enclosure with it still in it.

[BarelyBreathing]

Whenever you bring in a piece of wood that has been completely dried and put it into a humid environment, it will mold. Don't worry, it will work itself out. I have a few spare enclosures in my house and I normally putt wood in them, increase the humidity, let them mold and then wait for them to stop. Wth the exception of grape vine (which doesn't ever do well with humidity), I've never had a problem with a second occurance of mold.

[Skumbo]

Whenever you bring in a piece of wood that has been completely dried and put it into a humid environment, it will mold. Don't worry, it will work itself out. I have a few spare enclosures in my house and I normally putt wood in them, increase the humidity, let them mold and then wait for them to stop. Wth the exception of grape vine (which doesn't ever do well with humidity), I've never had a problem with a second occurance of mold.

That seems to go against my general knowledge of mold - wont it goe bak if it isnt killed and sealed?

[BarelyBreathing]

I've never had that happen, Skumbo. Tropical woods are meant to hold high moisture.

[Skumbo]

Sorty for typos-using my phone hah.

Im probably just not gonna risk - it should look pretty cool painted anyway.