Cedar?

jjnnbns · 01-28-04, 01:54 AM

I have a quck question about cedar? What is it that makes it toxic to herps? I am building an enclosure for my snakes and I was looking at trim boards and cedar was one of the cheapest options. Will it be fine if it is only part of the trim? (About 2" of it will be exposed to the inside of the enclosure with a layer of stain and a couple of layers of polyurethane. Will this still be toxic as the wood is treated? I want to know before I add it (I am assuming that is is bad as a substrate because it is in many small pieces??

CHRISANDBOIDS14 · 01-28-04, 02:02 AM

I think its the cedar dust thats bad(dont count on my reply

). If the wood is compressed board, trim or whatnot, i should be ok.

Chris

BoaBoi · 01-28-04, 02:26 AM

Actually, it's the fumes and oils that leak out over time.

James~

Jeff_Favelle · 01-28-04, 03:00 AM

Its the phenols that come from the extractives. Its what they use to make turpentine. Its actually a poison, and is the reason why when you go in a forest with Cedars, you'll see dead trees that take FOREVER to break down (decompose). Even the detritovores find cedar wood and branches toxic. Its also the reason that roofs are lined with it (cedar shingles and cedar shakes).

jjnnbns · 01-28-04, 03:08 AM

If small amounts of treated cedar are exposed will this be a problem since it will be coated with stain and polyurethane?

Jeff_Favelle · 01-28-04, 03:42 AM

If you're asking whether or not we'd risk it, well I can't speak for others, but I wouldn't risk it. Wood is cheap. Very cheap. Buy wood that doesn't contain poisons.

jwsporty · 02-02-04, 08:35 AM

I agree with Jeff, don't take the chance, keep the pine and cedar out of the enclosure. If you are looking for baseboard trim, you could use the commercial rubber based trim. It's cheap and washable, or simply a good aquarium safe silicone works for me.

Cheers
Jim

Derrick · 02-02-04, 07:09 PM

use maple or ash...or some other hardwood

herpcrazy · 02-06-04, 09:47 PM

i have used cages made out of cedar for my water dragons various anoles and geckos for about 4 years now and as long as it is dryed properly so it has no moister left to secrete you should be fine. my animals are perfectly fine but thats just my experience with them. oh also the minimum time it should be dried is 1 year.