Thinking of using some harvested branches.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by formica

there are very good reasons for doing it, even if you disagree with them - this is particularly true when using items from areas which contain reptile populations, which will then be used for a reptile which is not native to that area.

so yes. cooties, if you want to call it that.

and no i do not subscribe to the belief that reptiles are some kind of invincible force of nature who cannot succumb to alien parasitic, viral or bacterial infections, simply by keeping their temps up.....nor do many other people, casual keepers, scientists and vets alike.


on top of the biological reasons - what else could be on the branches? petrol? pesticides? ...the list is endless...

Parasites can NOT cross contaminate via a tree limb, they transfer from animal to animal... they require HOSTS to carry them.

And unless you are picking up limbs in downtown New York City, inside a factory smoke stack or hanging over a highway just exactly HOW are these mysterious pollutants going to get there?

Driftwood from the Thames would not be something I would even want touching my skin.. so London would not a place to gather it..

[formica]

Originally Posted by infernalis

Parasites can NOT cross contaminate via a tree limb, they transfer from animal to animal... they require HOSTS to carry them.

And unless you are picking up limbs in downtown New York City, inside a factory smoke stack or hanging over a highway just exactly HOW are these mysterious pollutants going to get there?

Driftwood from the Thames would not be something I would even want touching my skin.. so London would not a place to gather it..

not all parasites are internal, not all parasites require a host at every stage of their life, many parasites which require multiple hosts also require excretion at some point. fleas, mites and ticks, to name but a few, are several examples of parasites which are not necessarly picked up from direct contact with other animals.


Pesticides, herbicides, and many other harmful but frequently overlooked chemicals, find their way across our country side in amounts which can be dangerous.

Insects inside wood, can not only carry parasites, but a host of bacteria and viri which can be dangerous, not to mention the build up of dangerous chemicals which they absorb from their food.



then there are molds and fungi, many of which can be harmful, esp regarding Respiratory Infections, lungs are the perfect environment for fungal infections, they are warm and moist, and full of nutrients from an ever constant blood supply.


what about other insects, would you really want to introduce a termite or carpenter ant queen into your enclosure? you can be sure that if it surivives, it's workers will find somewhere nice to setup camp... and if its a wooden enclosure, then you really are in trouble.


the list of things that can be found on untreated wood is endless - it is perfectly acceptable for people to choose to ignore those risks, when they understand them, but imo its not acceptable to completely deny them, ESPECIALLY when discussing these topics with people who may be new to keeping reptiles and dealing with natural decor collected from the wild.


lastly, woodworm....and extremely common and massively damaging little grub which can litrally pull a house down.