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Converting cedar chest to a boa enclosure

Dakota314

Dakota314

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I have a roughly 6' long by 2' wide by 1.5' tall cedar chest that would be prefect for a boa I plan on getting this summer. I know cedar is toxic to corn snakes, but is it toxic to boas too? Would a cedar chest be safe to use or no? It smells like cedar when it's opened, so I don't know if it would be giving off harmful fumes to the boa. And thoughts on this?
 
I wouldnt chance it, I have a cedar chest I got when I got married, and I keep it on a whole different floor than the animals to be safe.
 
The reason that cedar was traditionally used in chests and closets is because it is toxic to the moths that might destroy clothes. There was even a study done in Europe many years ago showing that rodents kept on cedar without a lot of ventilation had some health problems, too, although I can't remember the details. The reason that cedar is often used for rodents in spite of this, is probably because rodent cages usually have a lot more ventilation than reptile cages, and rodents generally have much shorter life spans that many reptiles. With shorter lifespans, many chronic or degenerative diseases may not show up before the animal dies of old age.

In summary, I would not advise using cedar in any close animal contact (including humans) except when there is a lot of ventilation, it is only for a short time, or the amount of cedar is very small (such as a cedar chest in a large bedroom with lots of ventilation - probably not a problem for people or other animals that only spend part of their time in the room. That is very different than as bedding or cage enclosure for a small animal 24/7).
 
Thanks everyone. I won't use it. Which is kind of a good thing; now I get to hunt around for other things I could convert into an enclosure :) Are cedar and pine the only woods bad to use for enclosures, or are there other woods to avoid?
 
I would avoid using any kinds of wood in cages if they have a scent of oil, tar, chemical, or anything other than just "earthy". Conifers of any kind have some phenol, as far as I know. And some kinds of pressure treated woods contain (or maybe formerly used?) arsenic, I believe.
 
Thanks Kathy! I'll probably be taking a trip to goodwill this weekend anyway, and that's always a good place to find tables just begging to be snake enclosures. Lol
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong please but my father told me that cherry is also toxic. This is apparently why you don't see kitchen utensils made of it. I know cherry is used in a lot of high end furniture and such so I'm not sure how toxic it is (if that makes sense) but I would avoid it as well. If I am right that is. ;)
 
Here is an interesting link about safe and unsafe woods to use for birds, which often peck and ingest it. Some woods may be safe for either birds or herps, but not for the other. But I would always rather be safe than sorry. If it is considered even possibly unsafe for one group of animals, I would avoid it without further convincing info about safety for herps. Take a look:

http://www.birdsafe.com/woods.htm
 
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