Driftwood.

Intruder Alert!! I know have left ball camp for carpets but you guys are alot more talkative. Any chance of some advice - I think it will ring true for both species.

I have three questions regarding some driftwood I have collected off the beaches this weekend.

I know Pine and Cedars are bad for snakes but does this still stand true for driftwood.

How can one be sure that the driftwood you collect is not either of the above?

How would one go about preparing driftwood for a snake?

Thanks in advance of any responses.

Chris

I think driftwood makes a great addition to a setup. I believe you can bake the wood in the oven at 350 deg. for an 1/2 an hour just to kill any insects. Or you can soak it in diluted bleach water, and rinse well, so there is no odor. And you should be all set to add it to your enclosure

I have two pieces of driftwood in my set up.
BP enjoys crawling underneath them from time to time.
Great addition to any good set up IMO.

Thanks for the replies so far but does the fact that driftwood was originally pine or cedar matter?

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Originally Posted by porangi.chris

Thanks for the replies so far but does the fact that driftwood was originally pine or cedar matter?

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The problem with pine and cedar is the oils in it. IF the driftwood has weathered long enough, it shouldn't be a problem. The question is, how do you know if it has weathered long enough???

Steve

If you are going to put the driftwook in make sure that you toss it in the oven at a minimum of 350 for about an hour - this will ensure than any bugs etc have been killed off. Once that's been done you should be okay.

Most drift wood you buy is grapewood. The reality is the wood is for your visual pleasure. BP's are not aboreal and don't need the wood, it's merely a decoration for people with glass tank enclosures.

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The reality is the wood is for your visual pleasure. BP's are not aboreal and don't need the wood

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I don't have balls anymore I have jungle carpets hence looking to driftwood! :)

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The problem with pine and cedar is the oils in it.

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And I guess its the oils that give it the smell?



Thanks again guys for the help. I soaked the wood in a bleach solution yesterday and and going to soak in normal soap solution before sticking it in loft for a few weeks to dry out. When I return to school (Teacher not Student!) in September I will see if our kiln is large enough.

Thanks for info on grapevine - may see if I can source some from local grape growers or is that not the same?

Cheers

Chris

there is a driftwood jackpot up the street from my house, past the woods. right around the banks of randolph, ma's local reservoir. i just scored a few peices yesterday and tossed them in the oven for about 45 minutes, smells like a woodshop upstairs!

I'm on holiday at the moment and have picked up some nice pieces for my new AP cage - the problem is that they are too big to fit in the oven - they are well weathered pieces - is it going to be ok to soak them in bleach solution in the bath?