Silver Maple branches

The one positive about the annoying nor'easters we've gotten here on the east coast this year is that it usually takes down some trees and branches with it. Good thing, if you're looking to decorate your enclosure (assuming no one was injured or killed, of course).

Anyways...

I've got some nice branches from a silver maple tree. Girthy enough for the kingsnake... ranging from an inch to an inch and a half thick.

Question... is silver maple wood safe to use?

And, second, if it is, should I carve off the bark? Does it matter? or is that purely aesthetic and fine either way?

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...n/Branch_1.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...n/Branch_2.jpg

Silver maple should be safe, I use it in my chameleon enclosures and never had any issue, and my tortoise will occasionally eat the leaves. As far as bark goes it's up to you.. can't imagine anything wrong with either choice.

Maple is fine but you need to season it first. There really is no way to properly rush seasoning but at the very least letting it back at 200-250 for several hours in the oven is a good way to at least get hitchhikers off.

The best way to season is let it dry for 3-6 months i the house.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SDA

Maple is fine but you need to season it first. There really is no way to properly rush seasoning but at the very least letting it back at 200-250 for several hours in the oven is a good way to at least get hitchhikers off.

The best way to season is let it dry for 3-6 months i the house.

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So... even with the 200/250 in the oven, I'm still months off before using it? Or, is the oven treatment good enough? Not sure I understood your post. Is that just to dry it out?

No you can use it if you are impatient. Make sure to bake it first to kill anything like fungus, mold, parasites, etc from coming into a cage. The best thing to do is let it dry and season inside to fully prevent it from ever molding or peeling/cracking inside a cage.

Personally I never put anything in a cage before letting it fully cure for 6 months but if you can't wait then at least bake it.

Got you. Thank you.