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Stripping bark?

Plissken

Plissken

Crazy Snail Lady
Hey everyone, just another quick silly question:
I'm setting up the tank for my first snake which is coming this week and yesterday I went out in my garden looking for branches. I sawed some nice branches off a tree in my garden, but I'm not sure what kind of tree it was. I do know that it doesn't have pesticides or anything on.

Anyway I have sterilized the branches and cleaned them off, but to make sure I had done it right I did a search for the best ways to prepare branches, and I saw lots of recommendations that the bark should be stripped off branches.

I didn't do this because the branches are thin the bark isn't rough at all, it's smooth and clean which is why I chose it. So to cut a long story short, is it absolutely neccessary for me to strip the bark off? I fail to see how smooth bark could hurt my snake, but I thought I had better asked anyway :)
 
When i took a big branch from outside, i did strip the bark off then sanded it down perfectly smooth.... only because the wood quality wasnt great but it was the perfect shape :)
 
Well, the wood quality is quite nice on these branches. Very smooth and clean, no rough edges. So do I not need to get the bark off? I can't honestly see any need for it... it's not like wild snakes sand the branches down before they climb on them :grin01:
 
Ok, I guess we need a lesson on trees... Think of bark as dead skin that locks wastes in dead cells and resin. The bark is also susceptible to fungus and parasites so removing it takes away that extra risk, not to mention that as it breaks down it turns to a fine dust (possible RI causing?). Good rule of thumb is "It's better to err on the side of caution." hope that helps...
 
I would have to go with CaptBogart there could still be organisms in the bark. BTW did you happen to bake the branch in the oven? Thats a really good way to kill insects and stuff on the branch.
 
Live branches should not have any insects in them. Usually it's deadwood that is inhabited. I've never stripped off the bark completely from the branches that I placed in my Green tree python's cages and I've never had a problem. I've only stripped off any loose bark. If it was firmly attached I left it. Gives them something to shed on.
 
CaptBogart said:
Ok, I guess we need a lesson on trees... Think of bark as dead skin that locks wastes in dead cells and resin. The bark is also susceptible to fungus and parasites so removing it takes away that extra risk, not to mention that as it breaks down it turns to a fine dust (possible RI causing?). Good rule of thumb is "It's better to err on the side of caution." hope that helps...
Click to expand...

That was my line of thought, and since this wasnt a live tree branch i though id take the extra precautions...
 
MegF. said:
Live branches should not have any insects in them. Usually it's deadwood that is inhabited. I've never stripped off the bark completely from the branches that I placed in my Green tree python's cages and I've never had a problem. I've only stripped off any loose bark. If it was firmly attached I left it. Gives them something to shed on.
Click to expand...

Yup, these were not branches I picked up off the ground. They came from a living tree. The bark is very firmly attached.

No, I didn't bake the branches in the oven, but only because they wouldn't fit.
 
I would strip it. As said before, the bark contains all the toxins and bacteria from the old wood, so it is best to remove it. Or bake it to kill the bacteria. Better to be safe than sorry.
 
But I did already sterilize the branches. Wouldn't that have killed anything on them? :shrugs: I know not everyone bakes branches because they don't always fit. So even though I didn't do that, I would imagine the branch is still clean because I HAVE disinfected it and so on.
 
Should be Ok (As long as the disinfectant was snake-friendly) I suppose :) But I still wouldn't, I am very cautious. Probably overcautious lol.
 
Lol. No harm in that.
I think it will be okay... I don't want anyone to think I am willing to risk the snake's health or anything by not stripping the bark off. I just really think it can't do much harm. I'm not meaning to be irresponsible... I'm actually really careful...but I just think snakes are hardier than people give them credit for. It's not like the snake will eat the branch. :)
 
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