using branches from outside

[Theo's Keeper]

I couldn't find a suitable climbing branch at the pet store, so I grabbed a branch from the woods that looks perfect. I'm pretty sure it's sourwood, and it's definitely not pine, so it should be safe. How long should I bake it, at what temp, and should I remove the bark? thanks for replies.

 

[bkelm18]

Not sure about the bark, but I bake my wooden things at 250F for about 30 minutes.

 

[Theo's Keeper]

thanks bkelm.

 

[dickdeuel]

If they fit, just wet them down a little and put them in the microwave for two or three minutes. The steam will kill anything in there.

 

[Scrufdog]

i leave the bark on any 'naturals' i find. Bake for 250-300 for about 30 minutes.

 

[army_greywolf]

As they said, safest to put in the oven at any temperature above boiling for a good amount of time. Because spores survive some pretty high temps, best to leave it in there at least an HOUR. When I was alot younger and had a friend with a baby king snake, we decorated the cage with all naturals, and despite being wetted down, heated in the oven for id say 20 minutes I don't remember, they STILL molded up after about two weeks. You can prevent that by extended heating as far as I'm concerned. At least an hour.

 

[Theo's Keeper]

I baked it for about 2 hours at 250 last night. better safe than sorry.

 

[swishyfish2003]

and it's definitely not pine

Is pine unsafe for corns?
Sorry for the noob question, but I'm actually considering switching my corns current substrate to shavings, and all I know for sure is that Cedar is no good.

 

[kalena]

If you've got crepe myrtles up in SC, the branches from those are AWESOME. I use those in all my tanks. When the neighbors trim their crepe myrtles, I take the piles of branches and save them in my garage until I need them.

 

[wstphal]

swishyfish, pine is NOT recommended, it contains resins too.

 

[swishyfish2003]

Very good to know
ty n.n