Safe Woods for Snake Enclosure?

[wilomn]

I would assume, since you would be sealing it anyways, it should not cause any problems.
I have heard that there are supposively strong toxic oils in pine (hence, why you should not use it for reptiles or rodents in bedding) which I can understand more with a shredded product, but not as much with a plywood. I was always curious about it though, because I used pine with rodents for years without issues.

Also, Wes, the redwood thing is new to me. Clear me up on this?

The tanins in the redwood, the microorganisms that keep it from rotting for so long, are not good for breathing. Even when sealed or painted you can still smell that redwood tang.

Of course, sealants have come a long way in the last few years and may now be good enough to completely mask these.

I never really gave that one a whole lot of consideration. I know though that when I was doing custom cages I never had a single request, not did I make on spec, a single cage of redwood.

Made a few decks, but no cages.

That may just bear some further inquiry.