can i use "wild" wood in my cages? - Page 3

galad · 04-24-05, 12:41 PM

Deff to each their own. But why go through all the trouble?
a solid peice of wood with no insect holes in a environment that does not use pesticides is all you really need.
Its not like wood contains the black plague or anything, people worry way to much.
Anouther member on this site said he has used wild wood untreated for decades with not one single probleme.
You just have to be smart about the wood you are choosing.

A freind of mine is studying microbiology I'll see what he has to say on the matter.

peace
ws

C.ADAMANTEUS · 04-24-05, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galad
Anouther member on this site said he has used wild wood untreated for decades with not one single probleme.
You just have to be smart about the wood you are choosing.

A freind of mine is studying microbiology I'll see what he has to say on the matter.

peace
ws

Not everyone here is a "wood-ologist". they may not know the "good" stuff, from the bad. Thats why he's asking for oppinions. People have tried, and shared their many Ideas.
IMO either the person you mentioned has either been lucky, or perhaps lives in a prime area where such problems are at a minimum.
I think he's smart to at least ask others, instead of going into it with NO worry about his pet at all.

Ciao,
Rick

striko_69 · 04-25-05, 02:54 PM

Whoa chill out dude, we're just saying we dont think that there is a great risk. Branches come from trees which dont harbour parasites made for reptiles (i'm in england we have few wild reptiles).

C.ADAMANTEUS · 04-25-05, 04:36 PM

Did not mean to sound abrupt. Perhaps i'm guilty of sarcasm.
My point being this. King Nick cares enough about his pet tp inquire as to what others have done in the same situation.
I here MANY (including Me) saying to sterilize, clean, or otherwise seal the wood. Are we all "worrying too much"?
There are other things harmful to herps besides parasites MEANT for herps.
If is grows some kind of mold, or something that releases spores. Not so concentrated in the wild, but in an enclosed VIV, the PPM count goes way up, and more chance of inhalation. Some may be dangerous in higher quantities.

Perhaps a drastic example, but like so many have already said....Why even take the chance. better safe than sorry.
Basically to be cautious.

Just my $0.02

Rick

striko_69 · 04-27-05, 01:18 AM

Yes i think that there probably is good reason to sterilise all logs and such. The reason is because of things like what you sed rick, these things do happen. I think the extra effort of sterilising the branches helps but when the branches are way too big to be sterilised, it becomes a less than needed job when the risk factor is thought to be very low. Of course as soon as any strange behaviour is noted the branches should be the first to be replaced as they would be the only variable.

Branches should always be replaced as soon as mould or any other substance are "growing" on them. Otherwise if the branches look okay i'm sure they dont pose that great a risk.

Kyle Barker · 04-28-05, 12:50 AM

i do agree that sterilising is good. but i think many people over do it. parasites haev been covered hundreds of times.

with moulds and such...the problem isnt going away with just sterilising the wood. if anyone here is into mycology you will undoubtedly know tons about moulds. their spores are everywhere. litterally. within seconds fo taking it out of oven/bleach whatever there will be new spores on that log. the problem lies more with the mold maturing and spreading its millions/billions of spores all over the place. once you see mould, its probably been there for a while (days-weeks). its usually the spores that are going to cause health problems so just be sure to get rid of it once it becomes macro'd.

boas_and_such · 04-28-05, 06:12 AM

i think if i were going to use wild wood i would do what Ken suggested...

i don't think i would take the chance of anything surviving...

i always try to take great caution when dealing with my herps and i think going that extra mile in this case would be a very good idea...

striko_69 · 04-29-05, 12:38 AM

Well i think that to sterilise any logs that you can is a good idea but what do we do when the logs are the size of say my leg? I tried sterilising some bark i found, and a piece of grapevine. Without realising my aga oven was way too hot at the top, then realising that the grapevine had been toasted lol. The bark underneath was fine though. I think perhaps it is a good idea to sterilise anything you can but when you cant is it really that bad?

ccarr1 · 04-29-05, 02:45 PM

Everyone has there own opinion.Think about it for awhile;these snakes generations have lived in the woods.There hasn't been anybody there to delute any branches for them.There is a limit to how much is too much.I love my snakes but there's a limit to how much you can make it safe for them!!!I just think that going through such a process is too much.Like someone said earlier,you hav e to watch what kind of wood you pick up.

DragnDrop · 04-29-05, 03:25 PM

If you're going to sterilize all the branches, wood and bark, go ahead, don't let me stop you. However, don't get a false sense of security that all is well.... just because the wood has been baked, boiled, sanitized, chemically assulted and drowned in bleach.
The minute you allow some air to get at it, you'll have a fresh batch of spores landing on it - mold, mildew, fungus, mushrooms and moss. Let the resident herp poop on it and you've got another whole branch of the Tree of Life taking hold, growing or festering in the cracks and crevices.

You'll never get it CLEAN as you think you can.
And it will never stay that way if you take it out of the oven .... the cooking pot ..... the autoclave...

C.ADAMANTEUS · 04-29-05, 05:30 PM

But if you can seal it, than it wont get air, moisture, repti-pooh, on it. Polyeurethane does wonders, however you need to have fairly smooth wood....... Even though this horse has been beat already.

Rick

Shane Tesser · 04-29-05, 07:33 PM

This is a lengthy thread and i admit ive not read all of it. Some pretty varying differences of opinions here. If you will indulge me, being an aquarium guy where we all know that our aquatic friends are perhaps even a bit more sensitive to stuff in their surroundings, ill give you an idea of what i do.

I have in the past done the bake, the bleach, boil, vinegar etc. I have even tried sealing it ( that went very bad in the water lol) What ive found as rule of thumb is that if the wood is very water logged, moist, has mould....especially the white coloured mould....you must at least attempt one of the methods of removal such as bleach or vinegar. If you find the wood to be fairly hard, solid, non mouldy, i usually just clean them with a pressure washer for asthetic reasons only....then throw them in my aquarium......and ive never had a problem...and i keep very sensitive stuff. But the old saying goes that one can never be too careful!

Oh....for the chlorine suggestion. There is actually chlorine stabilizers that are available at aquarium stores. I think i currently pay $8 for a bottle and basically what it does is remove the chlorine. One bottle will remove it from nearly 1000 gallons of water....so unless thats one hell of a big piece of wood, it may be value info to alot of you. Vinegar is the next best choice imo as its a natural product. Hope this helps

Shane Tesser · 04-29-05, 08:03 PM

This is a lengthy thread and i admit ive not read all of it. Some pretty varying differences of opinions here. If you will indulge me, being an aquarium guy where we all know that our aq

striko_69 · 04-30-05, 02:07 AM

Hang on i asked earlier what to do with a piece of wood which has woodworm in it. How would you handle parasites in wood? These are however fairly large parasites. And it is a pice of wood of approx (in boxed area shape if you know what i mean) 2.5'x1'x1.5'

I was thinking of cutting it into quarters and then baking each to kill the damn bug. Then sticking it back together with some kind of glue. Any ideas on glue type and that sort of thing?

galad · 05-01-05, 11:12 AM

Or you could just not collect wood with wood worm in it, lol.
Any peice of wood that has holes in it or mold on it throw it to the side and look for anouther piece. Most of this is common sence here guys.
Soft wood will easily rott and mold in a moist environment. Even the hardest of wood will rot and mold in a warm wet environment, if you get it from the store or the woods: if you treat it or don't treat it.

Wood in an enclosure needs time to dry off, if it is consantly wet, in the open air you will have problemes. Wood under the water line is quite different.

This thread is doing alot of repeating of its-self.

But really if you have the spare time to wash and bake all the wood you gather go for it. Your certanly not hurtin anyone, if it makes you sleep better at night. Do it.

peace

ws

p.s ccarrl I couldn't agree more.