Cedar Wood

[eyeofowl]

My question is simple, why is cedar toxic to snakes? Is it the fumes that it emits or the oils when in contact with a snakes scales. What specifically does it do to snakes? Can someone answer my question? It seems like every place I find on the net just says "don't use cedar".

[Alice]

I'm like you, I've heard not to use it but haven't done any research to find out why until now.

Kevin's book says "Do not use bedding that containes cedar - the oils in cedar are TOXIC to reptiles." The Barkers' new book says "A word or caution: never use cedar shavings in a snake cage. For that matter, never use any strongly scented wood shavings in a snake cage." In the book "What's Wrong with My Snake?" by John Rossi, DVM, MA the author states "A chemical irritant such as that found in cedar shavings and cigarette smoke, high ammonia levels in dirty cages or an allergen such as the dust on corncob litter may produce mild sinusitis, with consequent respiratory signs."

Still not very clear: goes from toxic to mild respiratory problems. Anyone else have any thoughts?

[sho220]

I believe it depends on the degree to which they're exposed, from mild exposure causing mild problems, to high exposure causing death. It's definitely something you just plain avoid for safety sake.

[TekWarren]

I believe its the chemicals and oils in cedar and some pine bedding used to cover the smell of the animals in it. Those oils can cause respiratory infections in small animals. Doing a Google search for "why is cedar bedding bad" brings up instances of death and illness in many types of animals not just reptiles. Also if you use the search here on the forum you will find more reasons NOT to use it.

Aspen works great for me, there are other safe substrates such as cypress mulch as well.

[eyeofowl]

Thanks for the replies. The question was just out of curiosity. The real question at hand is that I recently bought an antique hutch, which is made from Walnut (supposedly a phenol containing wood. My plan is to put my Ball Python's Aquarium within the hutch. The wood doesn't have an overtly strong odor and just in case I have covered the inside of the hutch with tin foil. I'm wondering if the fumes from Walnut can cause the same symptoms as Cedar? It's not as if he will be lying on a bed of walnut shavings and the doors to the hutch will be open the majority of the time. Opinions? And also I know that some of you will say it's a risk and for those of you who say this, why is it a risk? What exactly in certain woods causes deathly RI's? Anyway's this is probably me being over zealous considering that I work at a Medical Facility and I just want to know the processes of the toxicity.

[hoo-t]

I'm sorry, I can't say what it is about cedar that is toxic to snakes, or even if walnut is. The general recommendation is no softwoods (cedar, pine, junipers), and hardwoods are ok. Walnut is a hardwood. Further, if the hutch is an antique, its been sitting around gassing off for a very long time. As long as you don't sand it or cut it, there shouldn't be any aromatic oils coming off it to hurt your snake.


Steve